I bought this printer on spec after reading several glowing reports in the computer press and seeing how good a mates printer was. Having had 4 Epsons bomb out in as many years (just out of warranty of course), I will never touch and Epson again. And their print heads are too susceptable to air bubbles and early failure.
Canon have been at the leading edge of product design and innovation for years. And NO I don't work for them.
I love their cameras, lenses and now their printers (but not the cheap ones).
Sorry to sound prescriptive, but the Canon cheap range printers use tiny cartridges that run out very fast and cost the same as the bigger ones for iP3000.
Setting up the iP3000 was a doddle and the software installation is hassle free (well it was for me, so there!!).
As with the earlier i560,
the print head is not fixed to the carrier, dead handy if it needs replacing.
The cartridges are a simple affair and unlike the rip-off HP and Lexmark items, do not have a built in print-head, so generic replacements are dead cheap (although the genuine Canon ones are quite dear).
The iP3000 takes four cartridges, a large BCI-3eBk black and three seperate BCI-6 c/m/y cartridges, meaning that you don't waste a load of ink having to replace an entire cartridge just because one colour has run out.
BEST place for cartridges, www.choicestationery.com superb service too. You get a full set of cartridges supplied with the printer, but at some time you will need replacements. Don't even think about refilling them as the Choice compatibles are undiscernable from the originals.
As I said, setup is a doddle. paper feed is also very versatile with a bottom paper tray as well as top feed for card, envelopes, paper. An added bonus is the facility to print on printable CDs and DVDs (yes they MUST be the correct type or you will sod up your CD/DVD drive) it works beautifully. The iP3000 also allows duplex (two sided) printing which it does well albeit slowly. Ordinary printing is blindingly fast though.
Mustn't forget the PictBridge interface that allows compatible digital cameras to print direct without the need for the machine to be on. it is a simple USB connection between the camera and the printer. The printer does NOT have memory slots and relies on the camera's LCD screen to frame the pic prior to printing. I haven't tried the PictBridge as my camera (typical) doesn't support it. Most new ones do.
The print driver is very comprehensive and allows easy switching between formats, sizes and print quality. Likewise the Easy-Print software makes outputting photographs simplicity itself. Oh yes, and it prints borderless up to A4 as well.
I use my printer for producing leaflets, flyers, invoices, letters, CDs and photographs. Apart from only being able to print CDs one at a time (understandably) this is the BEST printer I have ever had.
It is fast, quiet, easy to use, cheap to run and the quality is exceptional. Apart from the addition of a parallel port, i can see no point in going for the dearere iP4000 or even the iP5000.
Photographs are absolutely STUNNING and the 2 picolitre droplet size meas that you cannot see any grain in the pics. I also DEFY anyone to spot the difference between the output of this four colour CMYK printer and a supposedly dedicated "photo printer" with the extra photo cartridges.
Forget the "cheap" Lexmark and HP ranges or those given "free" with a new system. Wait until you see the cost of the cartridges.
All I can say is that if you are still faffing about, wondering what to buy, BUY THIS PRINTER you will not regret it. Get your refills from Choice Stationery and you will be laughing. Add in "Inksaver 2" software (extra) for everyday printing and you cannot get a more economical outfit.
Finally, it prints on almost anything and even on cheap photocopy paper at £1.99 a ream, the results are excellent.
If you need a printer with a parallel port, then buy the iP4000, they re both very similar, otherwise the USB only iP3000 is the Dog's Wossnames!!!
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Pay less printing cost - with Inkrite it's easy. The dyes and pigments used in ... more
Inkrite inks are specifically tailored to each printer to ensure the highest quality print with the maximum longevity possible. Ongoing research constantly improves the quality of printing. - Easy Open Blister Packs - Image ID for easy recognition - Higher Page Yield (up to 3x) than OEM - EcoSaver Design reduces costs and waste - Recyclable PET packaging - Long lasting colour with high UV resistance - Smoother ink flow due to the patented smar
Postage & Packaging:free Super Saver Delivery Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours......
Pay less printing cost - with Inkrite it's easy. The dyes and pigments used in ... more
Inkrite inks are specifically tailored to each printer to ensure the highest quality print with the maximum longevity possible. Ongoing research constantly improves the quality of printing. -Easy Open Blister Packs - Image ID for easy recognition - Higher Page Yield (up to 3x) than OEM - EcoSaver Design reduces costs and waste - Recyclable PET packaging - Long lasting colour with high UV resistance - Smoother ink flow due to the patented smar
Postage & Packaging:£4.50 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days......
Advantages: Ability to print straight onto the surface of a CD Disadvantages: Front door flap for outgoing paper tends to bang down giving you the impression that it may break
missnixon 26.01.2005 ·
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Review of Canon PIXMA IP3000
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