The Canon PIXMA MP980 All-in-One Inkjet Photo Printer turned heads at the DIMA Printer Shootout back in March, and its ability to print, copy and scan makes it an appealing option for your home office. Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity make this MFP easier to share, and you can print photos PC-free via PictBridge and memory cards. In addition, the PIXMA MP980 features auto-duplexing for eco- and budget-conscious offices. But is the new printer as impressive in real life as it is on paper? Several notable online publications have tried the PIXMA MP980 for themselves and they see a versatile machine with a lot to offer.

 

Justin Yu of CNET gives the PIXMA MP980 a solid 3.5 stars out of 5 and appreciates its fast photo printing, auto-duplexing and compact design. On the flipside, text comes out slower than it should, Wi-Fi can be a hassle to set up, and print quality could use improvement for both text and photos. Yu concludes that if you want a better overall value with fax capabilities, go with the HP Photosmart Premium Fax.

 

TechReviewSource.com gives the PIXMA MP980 an impressive 4 stars out of 5. Text quality is good, and photo quality is even better. As you’d expect, the PIXMA MP980 racks up accolades for its 3-in-1 functionality, versatile network connectivity, built-in auto duplexer, and 3.5” LCD screen for previewing images and adjusting settings. Another bonus is the printer’s ability to scan and print film and slides for users looking to digitally preserve old photographs. Networking-wise, the review notes that you have to plug the printer into a computer via USB during installation, and that you can’t connect via Ethernet and Wi-Fi at the same time, although that shouldn’t be a dealbreaker for most users.

 

Finally, M. David Stone of PC Magazine gives the PIXMA MP980 an Editors’ Choice Award winning 4 out of 5 and points out the same general pros and cons noted in the TechReviewSource.com review. According to Stone, the PIXMA MP980 embodies the old saying that good things come to those who wait – while it takes longer to produce photos than its predecessor the PIXMA MP970, output quality is noticeably improved. While this new MFP lacks some basic office-friendly features like an ADF and faxing, Stone concludes that the general benefits more than make up for it.