Full-page photos took 4 minutes to print, which is rather slow even for a low-cost MFP. Normal-size photos printed at 2.6 ppm on plain paper and 1.1 ppm on glossy paper. CANON MX512 PRINTER DOUBLE PRINTS PCMonochrome pages (text and some graphics) print at nearly 7 pages per minute on both the PC and Mac. The Pixma MX512’s speed won’t take your breath away, but it usually won’t have you drumming your fingers in anticipation, either. Black text looked excellent–crisp and sharp–as did monochrome graphics, though the latter had a purplish tint on plain paper and bordered on sepia with glossy paper. This emphasis adds warmth to many subjects and the effect is quite subtle on glossy photo paper, but on plain paper the spray-tan look that some human faces acquire can be annoying. If you’ve read PCWorld’s other Canon inkjet reviews, you won’t be surprised to learn that our test prints of the Pixma MX512’s color graphics had an orangish tint. Of course, the cost per page will increase if you don’t use the three colors evenly, as you must replace the unified-color cartridge when one of them runs out, even if plenty of the other two colors’ ink remains. Added to the XXL black that comes to a relatively affordable 13.8 cents for a four-color page. The unified-color (three colors in one cartridge) CL-241XL costs $30 and lasts for 400 pages, or 7.5 cpp. Meanwhile, at 6.3 cents per page, the 600-page PG-240XXL ($38) black cartridge isn’t much cheaper. The PG-240XL Extra Large black cartridge ($21) lasts for 300 pages, which works out to a pricey 7 cents per page. The replacement black ink costs are well above average, but replacement color can be relatively affordable. The PG-240 and CL-241 cartridges that come in the box are very low-capacity–delivering just 180 pages apiece–and they are currently not for sale in the United States. CANON MX512 PRINTER DOUBLE PRINTS SERIESThe Pixma MX512 uses Canon’s 240 and 241 series ink cartridges. This arrangement works most of the time, but occasionally a sheet printed in the unit’s speedy draft mode will sail to the floor. The output tray is oddly designed: It’s short, so that paper hangs over the edge and is stopped by the catch extending from the input tray below it. The Pixma MX512’s paper handling features are adequate for light use, with a 100-sheet paper tray, automatic duplexing, and a 30-sheet automatic document feeder for the scanner. Still, the 2.5-inch nontouch LCD display is nice to have. The like-priced Canon Pixma MX410 has a far better control panel design though it still suffers from the three dubious function buttons. Among the control panel’s foibles are three intermittently used function buttons, an odd-feeling four-way rocker, an inefficient layout that requires too much hand movement, and a keypad whose numbers are backlit only when needed–though the buttons have no other use. CANON MX512 PRINTER DOUBLE PRINTS SOFTWARE(The Mac dialog follows the same inefficient multipage template that Apple forces on everyone.)īut while its software is nicely designed, the Pixma MX512’s control panel has a Rube Goldberg aspect to it–and that’s being a bit harsh on Rube’s designs, which, though comically convoluted, are not confusing. The Windows printer properties dialog is exceptionally well laid-out, placing all the basic options on the main tab. MS, MS Duo, Secure Digital, and USB/PictBridge ports are provided for offloading scans and direct photo printing. CANON MX512 PRINTER DOUBLE PRINTS DRIVERCanon provides its usual stable driver and software bundle, which includes OCR and many photo-publishing features. We had no trouble setting up the Pixma MX512, which offers triple-threat connectivity–USB, ethernet, and Wi-Fi. On the other hand, the control panel is inefficient and black ink is expensive. Output speeds were easily fast enough for a home office, and the unit sports Wi-Fi as well as an automatic duplexer. Print quality–aside from color graphics on plain paper, which suffered from an excess of orange–seemed very good. The $150 (as of April 16, 2012) Canon Pixma MX512 inkjet multifunction printer (copy/fax/print/scan) is a bit of a mixed bag.
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