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Controls/Buttons/Dials (8.00)
The control buttons on the PIXMA MP600 are large, clearly labeled, and easy to use. Plenty of spacing and clear graphic and text among controls allows for easy use. The Color and Black Start buttons can assign specific commands to them for the scan function from the software. This is helpful if you scan lots of the same type of documents or photos at the same settings and want them all saved to the same location.
Menus (7.50)
The MP600’s on-unit menus are bright, clear, and easy to navigate, with an easily readable sans-serif font. User interface is basic, with options for each function on the main circular menu animated to the scroll wheel’s movements. Menu options include Easy photo reprint (for printing scanned photos), Memory card (with options for layout and multiple images per sheet, DPOF printing, printing EXIF data), Copy, Scan (to File, to PDF, Open to application, and Attach to e-mail), CD/DVD label print, Sheet printing (for multiple images on one sheet), and Settings. Most of the basic maintenance settings and some basic device settings can be accessed here.
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Main Menu
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Options
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Easy Photo Reprint
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Printing from scanned photos.
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Memory Card
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Layout, Multiple images per sheet, DPOF printing, print EXIF data.
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Copy
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Document/Image size, Paper type, Print quality.
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Scan
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To File, To PDF, Open to application, Attach to e-mail.
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CD/DVD label print
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For printing presized labels.
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Sheet Printing
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Multiple images on one sheet.
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Settings
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Maintenance, Device Settings.
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The copy function includes choices for document/image size, paper type, and print quality. The settings within the menus are presented as a list, with the scroll wheel animating the list, bringing each option forward with the scroll, to be selected by the OK button. The Back button below the scroll wheel makes it easier to back out of a menu without having to hit the Home button. A nested menu design, like on MP3 players, might have been more user friendly, with the scroll wheel and buttons allowing access between and within windows. Other multifunction printers, like the HP Photosmart 5180, have different control buttons to access specific menu items—for print, copy, and scan functions— which are much less confusing than the four-way controller approach of the MP600. Also, the MP600’s LCD screen does not offer information about printer status beyond what function is being performed (e.g., Printing…, Scanning…, Copying…). More detailed information about number of pages/photos printed and to be printed would be helpful. However, the printer driver does provide this information.
Size / Footprint (3.62)
With the scanner door and all trays and doors open, the MP600 measures 17.7" wide by 15.3" deep by 7.6" high and weighs 22.3 pounds. With all trays open, the printer measures. However, the MP600 packs up neatly, to 17.7" wide by 22.5" deep by 18" high; this compact design makes it is relatively easy to move around the desktop or from table to table.
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