Thoughts on Canon Pixma iP4300

[philg]

I'm looking for a colour printer that has a good balance between decent borderless photo printing together with good all around graphics printing (not to mention a sensible price) and preferably seperate inks

My eye has lighted on Canons Pixma iP4300 and the ratings I see here and there seem pretty good, but I'd be interested in any real world experiences and thoughts

Or is there something else I should be looking at?

I'll always be printing from a computer so I don't need LCD screens, pictbridge and the like (nor wi-fi - USB is fine)

Many thanks

Phil G

[Buenchico]

Before recommending any printer, my first thought is to check the price of the inks (both 'original' and 'compatible'). The prices for the Pixma iP4300's inks seem to be quite reasonable compared to those for many other printers:
http://www.inkcycle.co.uk/default.php?cPath=17 _4773
(Incidentally, I can recommend that website for compatible inks).

I don't own the iP4300 myself but I've got the iP3000 and I'm very satisfied with it. Not only does it produce good quality results (without a hint of 'banding'), it also comes with some decent software(which I assume would accompany the iP4300 as well). The software makes borderless printing and/or printing multiple images on the same sheet an absolute 'doddle'. Printing CDs is just as easy.

If the iP4300 meets your requirements, I recommend buying it.

Chris

[fo3nix]

I actually bought the iP4300 on Saturday just gone.

Very easy to setup and install.
Very fast printing.
Borderless functions work well.
I have a Mac, my girlfriend a laptop with XP. On both, it was very easy to set up.

I've also set it up onto our wireless network through a print server, which was just as easy.

I assessed all the possibilities as best I could, and bought this printer, and I'm entirely satisfied. Not had a lot of experience with it yet obviously, but so far it seems solid. Of late Canon's range of printers have really caught up with the Epsons (it wasn't like that a year or two ago).

On ebuyer.com it's going for �55. I went to PCWorld and they matched the price for me (it was �70 there).

[ACtheTROLL]

the cannon range currently is getting the best reviews in almost all the mags.

[philg]

Thanks to all for the comments

I'm also interested in running costs, so does anyone know of a good source of comparisons between inkjet printer running costs? Which tend to be good, but they don't cover this printer that I can see

I'm not just talking about the COST of the ink, but how far it "goes" if you follow me

Thanks

[fo3nix]

From what I've read, the Canons seem to be pretty economical with their inks.

[philg]

Thanks to everyone whi chipped in - Santa did indeed bring me an iP4300 for Christmas (just in time for it to be superseded!) and it truly is a great printer

I have no idea how I struggled on so long with the HP 3420 I had before

The Canon is in a different class - just getting my head around all the options in the printer driver took a few days (and I am still finding features!)

My only complaint is that there is no manual, nor is there a printable pdf version - just the on-line help.

This does make it easy to find out how to do things, but only if you already know that the printer can do what you want - there is nowhere, that I have found, that lists all of the things you CAN do!