Canon Pixma iP4200 Printer Review & Canon Pixma iP4200 Ink Cartridges

Everybody has an opinion, which is for sure. The one consensus opinion about this Canon printer is that it gives good final print with great color images. Generally, there are a few issues that you might find with just about any printer today but the lower price, under .00, makes for allot of forgiveness when the issues do pop up.

Slow off the line

Canon printers are usually fairly quick when it comes to page per minute counts. The Canon Pixma printers, however, takes a few seconds to get it moving. Once it is all warmed up it can meet its 56 second 4x6 claim but it has to work to get there.

Talk to me

First, remember that there is no computer cable included in the price of the unit so be forewarned and buy one before the unit gets through your front door. Anyway, there does appear to be an issue with the unit talking to PC printer drivers. Many have complained that they did not have the compatible drivers for the unit. The problem is easily solved by visiting the Canon printers' website but it is just another little thing, in what seems to be a long line of “little things” that keep you from hooking the unit up and printing in five minutes. If your original intent was to use the unit for digital camera snaps you might be advised to just forget about the PC and keep the unit separate. Don't get me wrong the Canon Pixma iP4200 printer works great once you get it set and stretched out but you just have to get it there.

The age-old ink issue and smart chips

This would not be a printer review if the cost of ink and printer manufacturers gouging with high refill ink prices was not mentioned. This issue is just the same here as it is with any other inkjet printer. Low up-front printer cost, high back-end ink cost. There is very little new about this issue other than the Canon ink cartridge in this instance burns through quite a bit of ink to arrive at its great color images. It is really a case of; you want solid quality deal with the price. The smart chip issue appears to be a real pain with the Canon Pixma printer. If you try to substitute a refill cartridge for a Cannon ink cartridge be prepared to reset a bunch of stuff. This particular smart chip likes to teach lessons to those that try to use refilled non-Canon cartridges. There is an Epson chip resetter available maybe one for Canon will appear soon.