Tech Review: Canon MP160 Print Scan Copier

Its almost a week that I've become used to my new gadget in my Computer Trolley - the Canon MP160 MFD. Though it has a large Form Factor (i.e. bigger in size), it turns out to be a decent MFD (Multi-Function Device) by paying out Rs.4000 at Cassette World, Lamington Road. Its a Print-Scan-Copier bundled package. I actually had planned to buy HP DeskJet F380 but ended in buying the Canon one after the shopkeeper suggested. So let me list some positives & negatives about this MFD.

Positives:

• Low Price
• Ease of installation of Printer & Cartridges
• Paper Feeder is from top & so easily picks up paper
• It has a Flat Bed scanner & so it becomes easy to scan thick documents
• Scanning quality is also pretty good, though some other reviews suggest it to be a bad. As far as my experience goes, a human eye cannot differentiate minor errors in scanned images
• Since it is a bi-directional printer, print speed is really quite fast
• The printer driver provides a feature which can select the Ink tanks intelligently if any of the Inks (Black or Color) runs out & you have not replaced the same cartridge
• Printed very neat passport size photos on Photo Glossy Paper using the EasyPhotoPrint bundled software
• Scanning software provided (MP Navigator) is very easy to use
• OCR software provided (Scansoft Omnipage) is easy to use & feature rich. I printed a formated excel worksheet & then scanned it & did an OCR. The text recognition was 100% & also the software allowed be to export the scanned document in excel format once again
• Copier does good copying both in Black & Color mode
• Can print directly through the PicBridge Port from Canon Cameras or any other Camera supporting PicBridge standards

Negatives:

• By shelling out little bit more money you can buy the Canon MP180 which provides more copying features like Enlargement & Reduction. The MP180 also has a memory slot
• Takes a pretty long time to print the first page
• USB Printer cable is not included in the pack
• Large Form Factor
• The LCD gives you to select 9 copies in the copy mode & after that it shows "F" which means 20. So you cannot select anything between 9 & 20 copies while copying

All in all it is a very good SOHO printer. But I would personally suggest you to buy a Canon MP180 which provides little bit more copying features though the Print & Scan qualities are identical.Canon MP160 gets a rating of 4.25 out of 5 by the Gadget Guru.