CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Excellent
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 08/15/2006
- Released on: 09/27/2005
The scanner lid is sturdy and lifts smoothly and, like the MP800R's, detaches entirely so that you can copy or scan thick books or documents. On the inside of the scanner lid is the detachable platen protector and behind it is a spot to store the slide or negative scanner guides. Because the MP950 can scan up to 12 frames of 35mm film or up to eight mounted slides, the guides are larger than those on the MP800R, which can scan 6 35mm frames or four slides. With the MP800R, you can store both guides behind the platen protector; on the MP950, you have to choose just one to store in that spot and stash the other somewhere else. The platen itself can accommodate up to A4-size originals, which means you can't copy or scan legal-size documents.
Like the MP800R, the MP950 has a PictBridge USB port for PC-free printing from a PictBridge-enabled camera, an IrDA port for wireless printing from compatible devices, and a media card reader that takes all media card types (some media cards require adapters). You can also plug a Bluetooth adapter into the USB port for printing wirelessly from Bluetooth-enabled devices.
The MP950 has two input trays: one paper cassette that holds about 150 sheets of plain paper and an auto sheet feeder that folds out from the rear of the printer. The cassette is only large enough to handle A4-size paper, so anything longer needs to be fed from the auto sheet feeder. Both inputs have adjustable paper guides. The output tray folds out from the front of the printer with a touch of a button. It has a pull-out extension to keep long pages from flying to the floor.
One major difference between the MP800R and the MP950 is the placement of the control panel. Most of Canon's photo all-in-ones have the control panel mounted on a shelf that juts out from the front of the machine. Additionally, the photo preview LCD (if included) generally folds up from the "shelf," allowing for multiple viewing angles. On the MP950, the control panel is built into the scanner lid, and the LCD is mounted on the inside of the control panel's cover, which folds up to reveal the buttons. While we appreciate the enormous, 3.6-inch color LCD, the design requires the LCD to be at about eye level in order to see it; in most cases, this means you will have to be seated. Additionally, as there is essentially only one viewing angle, you can't adjust the LCD for different lighting conditions. Although this setup does make the printer more compact, we think it's a major design misstep.
The LCD aside, the control panel is standard for a Canon photo all-in-one: a feed switch to toggle between paper input locations; dedicated buttons to switch between functions; menu, settings, OK, back, and a four-way rocker to navigate the menus; a search button to search through photos on a media card; a trimming button that lets you crop photos; a photo index sheet button; and two start buttons (color and black), a stop/reset button, and an on/off button.
Setting up the printer is simple and straightforward: install the drivers and software from the included CD and connect the printer to your PC via USB cable when instructed. Unlike the MP800R, the necessary USB cable is not included (this is the norm for printers). The included installation and user guides should be able to answer any installation questions.Like the MP800R, the MP950 lacks both a fax function and an automatic document feeder (ADF). An ADF would allow you to set up a multipage scan or copy job and walk away from the machine. Instead, you'll have to manually change out each page. Both of these features, however, are more office oriented, and the MP950 is definitely a photo hobbyist printer. (If you need fax functionality, the similarly priced HP Photosmart 3310 offers that feature.) You can print photos without touching your PC from the media card reader, via the PictBridge and IrDA ports, and by scanning slides or negatives. In addition to printing, you can make adjustments to your photos, such as cropping, red-eye reduction, and image optimization, and you can and create borderless photos. Additionally, you can print a photo index sheet of all the images on a media card, mark on the index sheet the photos you want printed, and scan it in. The machine will automatically print only those photos, as well as make the adjustments that you indicate on the index. With the MP950, you can also print double-sided 5x7 and 8x10 photos using special double-sided photo paper, though we can't really think of a reason to do so.
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