Canon imageClass MF3010

With a $149 direct price and a footprint that takes up less desktop real estate than most inkjets, the Canon imageClass MF3010 is clearly meant as a personal mono laser multi-function printer (MFP). What largely limits it to that role is that it connects only by USB, and it offers only limited paper handling, with a 150-sheet paper tray, no duplexer, and no paper handling upgrade options. If you're looking for a personal printer for light-duty printing, however, that may well be all the paper handling you need, no matter what size office you work in.

The MF3010 has a lot in common with the Editors' Choice in this category, the slightly less expensive Panasonic KX-MB2000 ($130 street, stars). Both print, scan, and copy; both lack an automatic document feeder (ADF) and fax capability, and both have relatively high running costs, which, not so incidentally, is a another factor that limits them to light duty printing. (More on running costs later.)

There are also some important differences between the two, however. The Panasonic KS-MB2000 offers a 250-sheet paper capacity and a network connector that the MF3010 lacks. These additional features keep the Panasonic KX-MB2000 firmly in place as Editors' Choice. But if you don't need a network printer and don't print much, you may be more attracted by the MF3010's somewhat faster speed. At the very least, that's enough to keep it at least potentially in the running.

Setup, Speed, and Output Quality
Setting the MF3010 up on a system running Windows Vista was standard fare. The speed, however, was a pleasant surprise. Canon rates the engine at a modest 19 pages per minute (ppm). On our tests, however, it was faster than any number of MFPs with faster ratings and higher prices.

I timed the MF3010 on our business applications suite (using QualityLogic's hardware and software for timing) at an effective 10.3 ppm. Not only is that faster than the KX-MB2000's 8.0 ppm, it's faster than most mono MFPs we've seen at prices as high as $250. The Canon imageClass MF4450 ($249 direct, 4 stars) was one of the few that was faster, at 12.9 ppm, but given the higher price, it should be faster. The Brother MFC-7460DN ($250 street, 3.5 stars) was more typical, coming in at 9.9 ppm.

The MF3010's output quality was less impressive than the speed, with dead on par text and graphics quality for mono MFPs, but below par photo quality. Text is easily good enough for almost any business use, even at sizes as small as 5 points for most fonts we test with that would be appropriate for typical business documents.

Graphics are also easily good enough for any internal use. However they show enough flaws, including visible dithering patterns, that you probably wouldn't want them for output going to potential clients or customers. Photo quality is suitable for printing recognizable images from Web pages, but not up to the standards of what you'd probably want for, say, a client newsletter.

Running Costs and Other Issues
The MF3010's claimed running cost is relatively high, at 4.1 cents per page. That's not unusually high for an inexpensive printer, and is even a touch lower than the Panasonic KX-MB2000's running cost, at 4.2 cents per page. As with the Panasonic KX-MB2000, however, it raises the issue that if you expect to print much, you'll probably be better off with a printer that has a higher initial cost but a lower running cost.

The cost per page for the Brother MFC-7460DN, for example, is 3.5 cents, a savings of 0.6 cents per page, or $6 per 1000 pages. Print just 17,000 pages over the printer lifetime?fewer than 475 pages per month, or 25 pages per business day, for 3 years?and you'll save enough on printing to cover the difference in price for the more expensive printer. Print more than that, and buying the more expensive printer will save money, as well as give you a printer with some additional features, like an ADF and fax capability.

Of course, if you print few enough pages?100 or so per month, say?the cost per page won't be an issue. And if your printing needs are that minimal, you probably don't need an ADF or fax capability either. If that's the case, be sure to take a look at the KX-MB2000 as well, but the Canon imageClass MF3010's faster speed may well be the better fit for your needs.

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