|
 Likes- Price
- Useful drivers and software
- Excellent color gamut
- Low power usage
Dislikes
- Poor color accuracy
- Poor button placement
- No output tray!
- No media card or direct print compatibility
Conclusion
The Canon Pixma iP1800 is Canon’s least expensive photo inkjet printer, with two ink cartridges. Its simple design, small size, light weight, and easy operation will make it an appealing printer for those who just want something to print snapshots or the occasional enlargement at home.
The iP1800 is simple to setup and operate. The attendant drivers and software programs are the same ones that come bundled with other Canon inkjets, so the budget minded will get some decent software for their money. The Easy-PhotoPrint program makes printing a snap, and the Easy-PhotoLayout program is an easy-to-follow 4 step program for creating calendars, albums, and other materials. Also, the drivers give ample warning when ink is running low. The software section of the Setup / Drivers and Software page gives details on the driver’s and software’s functions and options, while the Print Settings / Options page gives specific details about editing operations possible with the drivers.
One benefit of a stripped down model is that power usage is quite low; in fact, it’s the lowest of any printer we’ve tested. Print speeds on the iP1800 were not world class by and means, but you won’t be waiting all day either. We expected better quality results, but, while the color gamut of the printer is quite good (testament to the standard profiles for Canon’s papers more than the printer), color accuracy—how closely the printer matched standard colors—and dmax, the density of the deepest black, both scored low. The testing sections on the Photo Performance page provide details on the iP1800’s scores.
Functionally an easy printer to operate, the Pixma iP1800 has no confusing buttons or displays to distract the user, but this also means that printing can only occur via computer. There are no memory card slots or direct print connections to be had. There are two buttons on the printer, the Power button and the Resume/Cancel button. Their position on the printer is questionable, as manipulating the paper guide within the input tray can inadvertently cause the user’s hand to hit the power button, turning the printer off, sometimes in the middle of a print job.
Users can hardly go wrong with a $50 photo printer from Canon, despite the print quality drawbacks we’ve highlighted. The decent quality, good software and driver interface, and simple operation should make it appealing for the budget conscious. The relatively cheap unit price does not mean cheap consumables, but the ink cartridges and paper are on par with other manufacturers. That said, for a few dollars more (okay, more like $30 or $40), a lot more options open up while keeping the base printer cost under $100. Consumers can get better connectivity—direct print, media card slots, sometimes optional wireless—and in some cases, a greater number of colors and separate ink cartridges. Check out the Comparisons section on the Overall Impressions / Ease of Use page for details.
As with everything in this world, what you get all depends on how much you want to spend.
|
