Pixma MP560 MFC product reviews

At first glance, apart from a few minor structural differences, this unit looks remarkably similar to it's more powerful cousin, the MP640, in both looks and features... however there are some very significant differences under the hood. Let me explain...

For a start, this model's control panel is located on the right hand side of the top, and is separate from the lid of the scanner... and though it has a slightly smaller screen, I found it just as easy to use and navigate as it's bigger cousin. This did mean, however, that in order to make that extra space, the case had to be slightly wider... a matter of less than 2cm, which surprised me.

Lacking the ability to print onto discs no great loss if it's not a feature you need. Scan resolution is lower than the higher end model, as is to be expected, but the print resolution is equally impressive. Other than lower res, on the print side of things this unit matches up very well against the '640... so really, go with the higher model if you want high quality photo printing suitable for framing, but if you are after 'scrapbooking-level' photos then this unit will serve you well. 'Nuff said.

One little drawback when it comes to the scanner side of things... apparently there is no 'scan' functionality for Mac users if you run OSX 10.5.x or lower... However, if you are running with OSX 10.6.x or higher I have seen reports that say you should be able to download drivers that will open up this function. Hopefully, Canon will remedy this is a firmware upgrade or driver enhancement in the *very* near future.

Setup is as simple as it can be, the only hiccup I experienced was that almost at the end the system burped up an error "Unable to copy files..." and aborted the install. A re-run of the installer showed no such error, and all I needed to do then was delete the first print driver and rename the [copy 1] version. After that, all functionality was fully available. Again, it self-integrated with the TWAIN system in WindowsXP SP2 seamlessly, giving immediate access via all Adobe software, OCR and DTP packages and assorted Microsoft applications.

You still have the same 5 ink tanks, CMYK + big black, which will set you back around $120 a full set for genuine authentic Canon-brand (which we strongly recommend over so-called 'compatible' versions which *will* cause you trouble and void your warranty if used), and you still have the same WiFi and USB connectivity, though you lose out on the Ethernet port... which won't be a problem for most home users really. You still have the ability to copy documents in colour or B&W, and of course it still has auto-duplexing for double-sided printing onto standard papers, and of course dual paper trays allowing for hassle-free printing of documents and glossy photos without having to raise bum from seat... provided you pre-loaded both trays before sitting down.

Overall, though this model is a little lower on the scale, it's about two-thirds the price of it's bigger family-member, so becomes a very affordable unit to consider for personal use. Underpowered even for a small home business, it is ideally suited to hobbyists who enjoy home crafts, self-produced hardcopies, and thanks to some very interesting hardcoded templates, even DIY calendars direct from your camera card or USB pendrive.