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![]() print quality.
The control panel LCD also provides menus to operate the copy and fax modes independently of a PC. One nice touch: the LCD displays small and large type on the same screen, allowing more information about a print job to show at one time.
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![]() the best optical-character recognition software on the market, and NewSoft's Presto PageManager 6.0, one of the best document-management databases available.The MultiPass MP730 won't replace top-of-the-line printers and scanners, but its print and scan speeds keep up with other multifunctions' as well as that of most as midrange ink-jet printers and scanners on the market today. In our tests, it printed ordinary text at 6.4 pages per minute and printed CNET's high-resolution test photo in 3.7 minutes. For comparison, the Lexmark X5150 (only $149 but without fax capability or automatic document feeder) prints text at a more common 5.2 pages per minute, and printed our test photo in about 2 minutes. Canon's MP730 scans a page of black in 9.4 seconds and a page of color in 20 seconds; that's seconds faster than the HP PSC 1210. And the Canon makes copies in 18.7 seconds; that's almost twice as fast the HP PSC 1210.
Unfortunately, the MP730 delivers a mixed bag on image quality. When printing, better paper has a big effect. When we printed text on ordinary paper, for instance, it looked grayish instead of black, and a gray shadow haunted the edges of letterforms, while on coated (not glossy) inkjet paper, text popped out in a solid black and looked much cleaner. Our color photo on ordinary paper looked very dotty, had rough transitions between shades, made a blob of detailed areas, printed lines with jagged edges, and mixed inappropriate colors; coated inkjet paper improved detail and let colors appear in the right hues, though much too saturated. And on top-quality glossy paper, textures, shading, and transitions suddenly looked right, and we saw sharp, clear detail.
Grayscale scans on the MP730 when compared with other scans seemed overexposed, losing paler shades of gray along with some detail, while color scans showed accurate colors and fairly good detail despite somewhat grainy textures.
One other post-purchase consideration is the MP730's relatively modest ink prices: CNET's tests show that a page of text or a fax costs only 2.4 cents to print, and a page of color graphics (though not a heavily inked photo) should run about 18.7 cents.
Multifunction printer text speed (Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Canon MultiPass MP730
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Dell A940
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Lexmark X5150 all-in-one
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HP PSC 2210
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Canon provides reassuring support for the MP730. You get one year of warranty coverage, including live-human toll-free telephone support on weekdays from 8 a.m. to midnight and on Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. EST. After the warranty expires, tech calls cost $10, which is fair. The warranty provides next-business-day replacement on repairs and can be extended to three years for $135.
Canon's support Web site, however, offers only a limited list of FAQs, although its searchable knowledge base covers more ground. The site also provides e-mail access to technicians and downloadable documentation and drivers.
The MP730 ships with an impressive documentation set as well, including an eight-page setup brochure with excellent illustrations and a clear description of procedures; a 100-page quick-reference guide that covers the basics of everything the MP730 does; and a CD with extensive, detailed manuals on each function as well as on the bundled software. Hide Review
Average User Rating 3.5 stars out of 30 user reviews Rating Breakdown -
5 star: 10 -
4 star: 12 -
3 star: 4 -
2 star: 3 -
1 star: 1 My Rating 0 stars click stars to rate product Most recent user reviews Showing 3 of 30 reviews 2.0 stars Pros: Multiple functions in one machine Cons: Mediocre print quality, printhead issues, interrupted telephone calls Summary: I have had this product for almost four years now, and I have been VERY disappointed in it. The biggest issues I have with the machine are as follows:
1)The printhead went out about two years ago, after warranty, of course. The color printing now is two-toned with horizontal ... Expand full review Summary: I have had this product for almost four years now, and I have been VERY disappointed in it. The biggest issues I have with the machine are as follows:
1)The printhead went out about two years ago, after warranty, of course. The color printing now is two-toned with horizontal streaks. I have just been making do with it for the past little while, as it will cost a minimum of $130 to get the printhead replaced.
2) The quality of the color printing never was the best even when the printhead was working; my sister has a similar multifunction machine made by HP (Office Jet G85), and the quality of her color printing was always better than my Canon.
3) This machine interrupts my telephone calls, mistaking them for a fax. Very annoying and very embarrassing, particularly if it is a business call. And there is no good way to immediately terminate the phantom fax other than unplugging the phone line from the wall.
If I had to do it over again, knowing what I know now, I would NOT buy this model. 1.0 stars Pros: All functions work rather well. Cons: Printhead Woes Summary: Let me begin by saying that this printer worked wonders for me and my home office, and I couldn't have been happier with another printer... until about a month ago.
I have owned this printer for about 2 years, and now the printing is very streaky and not clear ... Expand full review Summary: Let me begin by saying that this printer worked wonders for me and my home office, and I couldn't have been happier with another printer... until about a month ago.
I have owned this printer for about 2 years, and now the printing is very streaky and not clear at all and print quality just plain sucks. I always have at least 4 of each cartridge stocked, so I am sure my cartridges are full.
Anyway, after replacing the black ink one day, the printer decides to show an error message: "Wrong Cartridge." I had no idea what this meant, because I kept changing all the cartridges since I had a bunch, but nothing worked.
After doing some research online, I figured out that this is a fairly common problem. Do a Google Search on "MP730 Printhead." Many people suggest replacing the printhead, which I ordered one, but after reading more, it turns out that some people replace the printhead and still have this problem. I can only pray that my printhead will fix the printer because I spent a good amount on it.
Anyway, this printer has served me really well and I couldn't be happier with it, until I heard of this flaw. If my new printhead doesn't solve the problem, I'm going to take the printer out back, grab a sledgehammer, and I'm going to buy another one (that isn't made by Canon). Thanks for your submission!
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Which printer is right for me?
Choosing the right printer can be a daunting task. There are several different types of printing technology to choose from, each suited for different needs. Printers come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny travel companions to workgroup workhorses; some are geared toward photographers, others are for multitaskers. And the many specifications for resolution and speed can be misleading. As a rule of thumb, inkjet printers are a must for long-lasting photos, while laser printers are best to produce speedy text documents.
We've compiled a handful of typical user experiences that should help outline what type of printer is right for you. Chances are, you'll fall somewhere in between two or more of these archetypes, so carefully consider what you'll be using your new printer for.
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