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For small-office situations where good-quality color printing trumps high-speed output, the Canon PIXMA MX892 Wireless Inkjet all-in-one printer is worth considering. For $199 list, the MX892 delivers two-sided color scanning, copying and printing, wireless and remote printing from mobile devices, and brilliant edge-to-edge color output rivaling much higher-end equipment. But with a relatively low paper capacity and cost-per-black-page north of 5 cents, this PIXMA model is clearly not for every situation.
Out of the box, the glossy, black finish of the MX892 makes an impression, as does its multipurpose control panel buttons. Thanks to clever backlighting, the buttons appear as arrow keys (shown) for controlling some printer functions and as number keys for performing numerical functions such as dialing a fax. Impressions continue when the printer's front door automatically opens to reveal output as it enters the lower tray. The unit occupies about 18 inches by 19 inches of desktop space and stands less than nine inches tall, but with its rear feeder and front door open, will require about 13 inches of vertical clearance and about two feet from front to back.
Constructed like a layer cake with rear hinges, the unit's sheet feeder assembly lifts on a spring hinge to reveal a flatbed scanner and copier glass, onto which as many as 35 originals can be fed, flipped over and copied on their reverse side. With the feeder closed, the scanner bed can be lifted and remains up with a plastic bar that's hinged on one side. This reveals the ink heads and cartridge assembly, which moves to maintenance position for installing or swapping out any of its five ink cartridges. To close the scanner bed, simply push the bar aside and it retracts automatically as the assembly gently lowers on its dampened hinges. After unpacking, the printer was set up and ready to use in about five minutes.
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