| The PIXMA ip1800 is a no-frills, entry-level | | | | to replace these with higher yield versions |
| printer that retails at under £40, yet | | | | when they run out. The black replacement |
| instead of settling for a humdrum cream | | | | cartridge PG-40 contains 16ml of ink and the |
| casing, Canon has designed a sleek black | | | | colour CL-41 contains 12ml. |
| mirror finish to a case that remains | | | | |
| relatively compact (442 x 237 x 152mm) and | | | | Both of these cartridges are readily |
| weighs 3.3kg. | | | | available direct from Canon, your local |
| | | | Computer store or from an online discounter |
| This is a machine that has been stripped down | | | | like Cartcon. |
| to the absolute bare essentials. There are | | | | |
| only two buttons - for on/off and paper feed | | | | The black tones on both photo paper and |
| - and a USB 2.0 port for connecting to your | | | | standard sheets are on the grey side of pure |
| PC. Curiously, there's not even an out tray | | | | black but certainly acceptable for processing |
| (so you'll have to allow enough desk space | | | | normal holiday snaps or multi-colour |
| for paper ejection), no memory card slots and | | | | documentation. Colours are vibrant with a |
| no PictBridge support. | | | | superior degree of clarity and detail and as |
| | | | the cartridges employ Canon’s |
| You are at least given a flip-up page rest | | | | ChromaLife100 system, your photos are |
| and a page sizer which can accommodate | | | | guaranteed a 100 year life span. Not that |
| everything from 10 x 15cm (4 x 6-inch) | | | | you're likely to be around to contest that |
| borderless photos to A4. Although this is a | | | | guarantee, of course. |
| perfectly serviceable document printer, | | | | |
| you'll undoubtedly reap the best rewards when | | | | The PIXMA ip1800 isn't a slowcoach either, |
| building up your photo album. | | | | managing to deliver a 6 x 4-inch borderless |
| | | | photograph in just 70 seconds. Quoted print |
| Once the software's in place you're ready to | | | | speeds for documents average 20ppm for mono |
| rock. There are just two ink cartridges to | | | | and 16ppm for colour. |
| install, one black and a FINE colour | | | | |
| cartridge that combines three colours. This | | | | The bundled software includes Canon's |
| is where you start to be impressed, as the | | | | excellent Easy-PhotoPrint, which takes the |
| print technology uses Micro-Nozzles to fire | | | | strain out of printing one, or multiple |
| ink droplets as small as 2pl onto the page. | | | | images in a wide range of formats and sizes, |
| As the maximum FINE print head resolution is | | | | as well as Easy-LayoutPrint, which lets you |
| 4,800 x 1,200dpi, the resulting quality is | | | | create your own album, calendar and stickers. |
| surprisingly good. | | | | There's good news for Windows Vista users |
| | | | too, as you won't have to download any |
| As is becoming the norm, the printer is | | | | patches or add-ons to get you started. And |
| supplied with low capacity | | | | it’s Mac compatible too. |
| cartridges,PG-37,CL-38 and it is economical | | | | |