Thursday, March 25, 2010

Canon's Cantankerous All-in-One Printer


When Canon CA Junveil the Color ImageClass MF8050Cn, it billed the color laser printer as a device that could robust the needs of small businesses and home offices looking for a quality all-in-one printing device.

A $499 device that incorporates printing, copying, scanning, and faxing into a 52-pound design, the ImageClass boasts some features that might please both groups of users, but its advantages are overshadow by a series of glitches that make printing a hassle.

To its credit, the ImageClass can print and copy in color at a respectable 6 to 7 pages a minute—though Canon puts the number at 8. For black-and-white, the ImageClass handles 12 pages a minute. It also includes a built-in Ethernet port that lets you network several office computers, and a 50-sheet auto document feeder and a 150-sheet paper tray.

My tests were inundated by paper jams and an incapability to wake the device from its sleep state for a quick printout. It lacks wireless connectivity and it's heavy, particularly in a home office setting. At 17 in. wide, 19.1 in. deep, and 16.9 in. high, it's a beast just to get out of the box. And make sure you know where you're going to place it once you do; there's no easy footing or other way to get a good grip, especially in tight spaces.

Related Content

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...