A few years ago, I received a Canon Pixma MX310 All-in-One Printer as a graduation present. I’ve used it for a few years now, and would like to share my take on the quality and features of the product and provide some kind of final verdict.
Faxing, printing, scanning and copying are features offered by the MX 310. I have used all the features rather extensively except for the fax component. I will talk about each feature individually and then discuss a few other printer considerations.
The print feature on the MX310 is excellent. The software and manual are comprehensive and simple to get through and I was able to successfully connect the printer and print off a test document within minutes of opening the printer. Printing is reasonably fast and doesn’t seem as prone to jams as other printers on the market. Ink usage is rather high, unfortunately, and the ink cartridges cannot be refilled like many other popular models. Replacement ink is not badly priced online, however, where it can be found for as little as $22 from a reputable dealer. For the tech geeks, it prints up to 600×600 dpi in monochrome at 22 pages/minute and 4800×1200 dpi in color at 17 pages/minute.
Copying is also easy. The ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) is reliable and holds up to 30 pages comfortably.. Quality, of course, is great, as would be expected from Canon-branded anything. The copying of photos to high-quality photo paper results in photos that are almost impossible to pick out from professionally-developed stills.
Scanning produces similar high-quality results. I do have an issue with the printer, however, when it comes to scanning. I have always had issues getting the printer to shift to the scan function. It will generally take several attempts of pressing the ’scan’ button before the machine ambles into the scan function. After the scanning is complete, the quality, however, is great.
I don’t know much about the fax. From what I’ve read online, reviews seem to be mixed. The MX310’s lack of fax options is a high point of dismay, but the 20-number fax storage capacity is appreciated. I would really suggest you try elsewhere for information about the fax’s specific capabilities.
My biggest complaint about this printer is its size. The printer is gigantic. It sprawls over half of my desk! Not even my laptop fits on the desk if the printer is in place. The printer also makes a lot of noise. The printer indicates its ready for an ink refill, however, when there are still 30-40 pages left in the cartridge. It’s not very eco-friendly, and I hope it wasn’t intentional on Canon’s part.
Pros: Good quality, very efficient.
Cons: High ink usage, unwieldly size. Can’t use ink refills for printers.
Final Verdict: A 3 out of 5. Even though the quality and productivity are excellent, the cost to replace the ink and the large physical size is damning. It is a quality printer, but when I buy my next printer model myself, I will be looking for a smaller, quieter and more ink-efficient model.