A truly wonderful all-in-one printer

This printer carries a great list of features and specifications and a few (actually very few) improvements on its predecessor -- the wonderful MP600, which was widely acknowledged as one of the best inkjet all-in-one printers on the market.

In fact about the only two noticeable improvements on the MP600 are the changed exterior appearance, and the improved scanning resolution. Print quality is about the same (thats a good thing as the MP600 was top-rated), and print speed is almost identical.

On to the features...

This printer puts out AMAZING quality photo prints. I'm printing 4x6's so far on Canon glossy photo paper, and there is absolutely NO way to tell they didn't come from a photo lab. And they are spit out of the printer VERY fast. I don't see how this printer could be any better in the photo department.

There are tons of nice features on this printer. The user interface - for the most part - is quite intuitive and easy to navigate.

Some nice features:

- Can print two-sided output, without the need for the user to manually turn the pages over.

- You can have two different paper types loaded simultaneously - and its easy to choose which source to use, either through the printer driver on the computer or through the nice user interface on the printer itself.

- Can accept most memory media - such as memory stick, memory stick PRO, compact flash cards, and SD secure memory cards. The main exception it can't read is xD-picture cards, but it is possible to buy a compact flash adapter for xD cards - so don't let that sway you from this printer. Also memory card access is easily accessible from the front of the computer.

- PictBridge compatible. I've used this feature myself, and it works just fine, the port is easily accessible on the front of the printer, and it works. But I think its probably a lot easier (and definitely more easy to use the vast array of features on the printer) by just taking the memory card out of the camera and putting it in the printer memory card slot.

- Five separate ink cartridges. This is very nice. You only have to replace the color that runs out instead of buying a whole new multiple-color cartridge when only one color is out. This helps cut down on the cost of ink a bit. There are four dye-based inks (black, cyan, yellow, and magenta - and one larger pigment-based ink for text printing).

- Great scanner. This is one area (perhaps the only one) the MP610 noticeably improves on the MP600. This unit has an optical scanning resolution (not interpolated) of 4800x9600.

- Nice 2.5 inch LCD screen. Makes it easier to use the printer - through the nice user interface - and also makes it easy to do neat things like edit and preview your images before printing without needing a computer.

What it CAN'T do:

- Its an all-in-one printer, but the one thing it can't do is fax. However, you can do this pretty easily from your computer and, the printer excels at all the other all-in-one functions.

- Some printers out there now can print on special cd media. This one can't.

- No built-in networking support. A lot of inkjet printers in this price range are including networking and wireless support. This one doesn't.

Thats basically it. The list of what it can't do is pretty small.

But what do you usually buy a printer for??? QUALITY photo prints and nice text. How does this one stand up? Well, honestly, this printer just blows the competition away. Its predecessor, the MP600, was a great printer, and this one is just as good - and maybe just a tad better. Photos are outstanding and text is as well. 'nuff said.

Conclusion

This printer is just about as close to a no-brainer as you can get. Wonderful photo prints, top notch text quality (about as close to laser quality as you can get with an inkjet), and great speed. Usually you have to compromise on one or two of these qualities when selecting a printer. With the PIXMA MP610 - there is no need. This printer is a definite winner. WELLLLL, almost.
Keep reading to learn about my experiences with getting a working printer....

Possible QA/QC Issues??

I researched this printer purchase very thoroughly before making the plunge and ordering this off the internet. The printer arrived quickly and its box was in good condition. I unpackaged it following the instructions and turned it on - only to receive a dreaded 5010 error message. Called Canon Technical Support only to hear that this meant the unit was basically dead and that they would send a replacement. Fine. Waited a few days, got the second unit in, unpacked it, turned it on -- guess what -- another 5010 error, another call to Canon Technical Support, and yet another promise of another unit to be sent. This time, to their credit, they sent it via next day service. This printer - thank goodness - worked just fine. The only reason I go through this narrative is because this sort of experience should be almost unheard of. Two printers Dead-On-Arrival with the same error code. Now, I might be the victim of a statistical anomaly (I just got unlucky), or there might be an issue with this printer. I hope the former and not the latter is the case. Again, I must say that Canon's Technical Support was great. I was never on the phone waiting for more than a minute or two and they sent me replacement units quite quickly. The technical support people I talked to were in VIRGINIA - not India - and were both polite and very knowledgeable. There were also very apologetic about the problems I experienced. This flies in the face of a bunch of other reviews I have read that - while praising Canon printers - were very critical of Canon's Technical Support. Maybe the company has worked to improve in this area.