Canon's Pixma MG8120 Performs Well and Looks Great

The shiny, black Canon Pixma MG8120 color inkjet multifunction printer  (which prints, copies, and scans), is nothing if not cool-looking--the control panel integrated into the top lid is a must see. But it also produces smooth text output at a good clip, and its replacement ink costs are reasonable. Alas, the eye candy will cost you: The MG8120 retails for a whopping $300 as of September 27, 2010.

The Pixma MG8120's most unusual feature is the 3.5-inch, tiltable color LCD with touch-sensitive controls integrated seamlessly into the top lid. The controls light up when they're needed and disappear when they're not. The layout closely resembles Canon's regular control-panel design, including the three buttons for selecting choices shown on the display. We found them awkward to use in conjunction with the more traditional navigation/selection buttons (which are always lit).

Though we wish that Canon had included an automatic document feeder, the Pixma MG8120 is otherwise well-equipped. You get automatic duplexing, a 150-sheet undermounted tray for plain paper, and a 150-sheet rear vertical feed for all other media. A 50-sheet output tray opens automatically from the front when you start printing. The scanner lid telescopes to accommodate thicker documents. USB, ethernet, and wireless connections are available. Wireless setup worked perfectly on the PC. On the Mac, however, the printer didn't work properly until we installed it with a USB cable attached. This might have been an aberration of our testbed; but if you experience a similar problem, using USB may solve it. Canon's Solution Center EX software bundle helps with printing, scanning, and copying chores, and is quite easy to use.