All-in-one (AIO) printers are multifunction devices that offer print, scan, copy and fax functions in a single device. Most of these AIO printers also add an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) into the mix to allow for easier and faster scan or copy operations without having to repeatedly reload the flatbed scanner. ADF attachments are notorious for sticking out like a sore thumb, riding on top of the cover or right above the flatbed scanner. Canon have taken the integrated approach for the Canon PIXMA MX338 AIO inkjet printer and made the ADF part of the cover for a sleeker, more compact design. How does it fare in terms of performance? Read on to find out.
The PIXMA MX338 definitely looks a lot more compact than its other AIO brethren. The integrated ADF sits in a recessed area of the flatbed scanner cover, with the output tray barely sticking out from the cover. The top and sides are glossy white while the side of the cover and the rear are black plastic. Still, the glossy white surface does not result in the printer becoming fingerprint or smudge magnet. The PIXMA MX338 control panel is embedded directly into the cover and is fairly simple to use with minimal controls for all functions except for fax. The control panel features a square 1.8” color LCD screen for displaying the menus as well as error and status messages. Like most Canon inkjets, the paper is loaded through a rear tray which flips open when required.
Connectivity-wise, the printer has one LAN Ethernet network port, one USB2.0 port and a fax modem port. The PIXMA MX338 uses Canon’s FINE ink cartridges so one cartridge is for the black ink and the other is for the color ink. There doesn’t seem to be a wireless attachment of any sort so make sure to position the printer accordingly.
Performance-wise, the printer has average speeds compared to other similar inkjet printers. Colors in images are accurate and quite vivid with photos turning out great, especially when used with Canon’s Glossy Photo Paper. However, color images on paper have a rather grainy look to them. Thankfully, there are no banding issues visible. Fonts are good but sometimes lack crispness; with some fonts having minutes breaks while others have some ink bleed occasionally. This can be solved easily enough by calibrating the printer and aligning the printer head regularly. The integrated ADF works well, with scan being slightly high in contrast on default settings. The printer uses color ink very efficiently while the black ink isn’t managed nearly well enough. In all likelihood you’ll most probably go through two or three black ink cartridges before you need to change the color ink cartridge.
The Canon PIXMA MX338 AIO color inkjet printer is a good addition to the office. This AIO printer delivers above average quality and performance for the small to mid-scale organization especially for those dealing with photos and other high-definition glossy-paper media.
Canon PIXMA MX338 Specifications :
Type : Inkjet
Input/Output : 1x USB2.0, 1xRJ-45 (LAN), 2x RJ-11 (Fax), 1x USB PictBridge
Print Resolution : Up to 4800 x 1200 optimized DPI color
Scan/Copy : Up to 1200 x 2400 DPI (Flatbed Scanner), Up to 19200 x 19200 DPI (Enhanced Flatbed), Up to 600 x 600 DPI (ADF Scanner)
Fax : 200 x 200 DPI, Up to 50 page (fax memory), 3 sec per page (B/W), 1 minute per page (Color)
Paper Handling : Rear Tray : Up to 100 sheets/A4, Letter, Legal, A5, B5, Envelopes (DL, COM10), 4” x 6”, 5” x 7”, 8”x10”
Dimensions/Weight : 458 x 410 x 198mm / 8.6kg
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