Canon Pixma MP640
The basics
This high-end wireless Canon printer lets you print photos straight from a memory card, camera or mobile phone without having to fiddle with a PC. It has Wi-Fi, Ethernet connectivity for use with wired Internet connections, Bluetooth and a print resolution reaching 9600x2400 dpi.
The good
As a photo printer, the MP640 is every bit as good as a standalone machine, producing bright, vibrant and true results every time. In fact, it's an impressive performer all round, and Canon hasn't forgotten that even the longest feature list in the world is no substitute for quality.
Usefully, you can set up plain and photo paper simultaneously, while duplex printing is as speedy as we've seen, with an impressively short delay while the printer switches sides.
Wi-Fi is a welcome inclusion too – and a sensible one: after all, what's the point of all those features if they're a pain to access?.
The bad
The MP640 is probably a bit of overkill for the average home user, and the downside of its flexibility is that some features may end up never being used.
And while the MP600 series has generally aged well, the interface is starting to look dated, and we won't be surprised to see an overhauled touchscreen interface finding its way into Canon's next wave of releases.
The bottom line
The MP640 is by no means perfect, but that's forgiveable considering just how high it's aiming. Like most Pixmas, however, it does all the important things well, and does nothing badly, which is a good start. If you can justify spending this much on a home all-in-one, you certainly won't be disappointed.
User comments
Be the first one to leave a comment.
Join Channel 5
Creating an account is free, will only take a few moments and will allow you to enjoy the full benefits of 5FWD and Channel 5:
Leave a comment