Canon imageCLASS MF3240 Monochrome Laser All-in-One Printer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought the Canon imageCLASS MF3240 about a month ago, and so far it has exceeded my expectations. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who is in the market for a multifunction device without the need to print in color. If you prefer getting your digital photos printed by an online or in-store photo processor, a laser multifunction is usually the way to go -- since it's a lower cost per page, it's faster, and the output is better quality than an inkjet.
APPEARANCE/CONSTRUCTION:
You can tell that it's a sub-$200 machine by the construction. Don't expect the same kind of solid feel that you'll get from a much more expensive piece of equipment. A few of the plastic parts feel a little flimsy, like the paper tray. But they all seem to work fine, and I don't have any concerns about durability. Unless you're really tough on your office equipment, you should be ok.
The MF3240 isn't the sexiest looking multifunction out there (if you're looking for a great looking device, try the Canon PIXMA MP830, which uses inkjet technology so you can print in color too). In fact, it kind of looks like a cooler sitting on the desk. But the buttons are laid out logically on the keypad, and from the investigating I've done into a lot of different multifunction devices, the footprint on this one seems to be a reasonable size.
PERFORMANCE:
So far, so good. If you're really a stickler for the highest output possible -- if you need the most crisp, darkest text and flawless images -- this probably isn't the machine for you. Don't get me wrong...the output is very good, borderline excellent. But you can tell that it wasn't printed on a $1,000 heavy-duty laser printer.
This baby is fast! Total time for the first page to arrive in my hand after clicking the Print button (including warmup time) was 13 seconds. It's considerably faster warming up than my old HP laser printer.
It's not the quietest machine I've ever heard, but I wouldn't call it too loud either.
It has a toner saver mode, but I'd call this an annoyance. You're supposed to be able to set the toner saver either directly on the printer control panel or through the printer driver. I've tried a number of times to set up two profiles: one that uses toner saver and another that doesn't. It works sometimes, but other times it'll end up in the wrong mode. Even when I get it to work, I don't notice much of a difference in output between toner saver mode and the regular mode.
I've also been having a minor problem with the fax. I have the MF3240 hooked up to my phone line, and a phone extension hooked into the fax machine. The fax machine is set in Manual mode, so it shouldn't do anything unless I take action on my own. But I've had one or two phone calls on the extension that's hooked up to the fax where the machine hangs up on the person I'm talking to after about 10 minutes! If I can't get this problem to stop, I may end up getting a splitter for the phone line and hooking the phone extension into the line separately.
SOFTWARE:
It comes bundled with a light version of OCR software. I tried it once, and it seemed to recognize every single word on the page I scanned. I was quite impressed -- much better than older versions of OCR I've tried (although I must admit this is the first OCR software I've tried in at least 6-7 years, so I'm sure the technology is much better now).
It also installs a piece of software called Canon Multifunction Toolbox 4.9. This is the most pleasant surprise I've experienced with this printer so far. It allows you to click one button, go through a couple simple settings, and then get a scan and go straight to an e-mail, or straight to a PDF, etc. The smartest feature is that it allows you to pick a target file size, and it'll adjust the resolution to achieve that file size. So it eliminates trying to scan something and then finding out the resulting file is 20MB, then needing to go back and re-scan it at a lower resolution before you e-mail it. You simply pick your target file size (let's say 1MB) and the software will scan your document at the proper resolution to achieve that file size. Very smart!
OVERALL:
Amazon has even knocked ten dollars off the price since I bought it...now it's going for about one hundred fifty bucks...so it's an even better value today. This is a very good multifunction device for light/moderate home or home office use. Given the chance to do it all over, I'd definitely buy the MF3240 again.
UPDATE 9/2010: The Canon Multifunction Toolbox software doesn't work with Windows 7. It's not a huge problem, since you can still use all the main functions of the machine. But you will lose a little functionality, such as the one-touch scanning capability.


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The Canon imageCLASS MF3240 Laser Multifunction Printer is an affordable and efficient multi-function unit that will help increase the productivity of most any business. This compact unit occupies the same area as a stand-alone printer, but is actually a laser printer, copier, color scanner and fax all-in-one. There's no need to spend time and money researching and purchasing several individual machines; the MF3240 offers everything you need to keep your office running smoothly. Plus, its stylish appearance will complement any home or office space.Special Features This multi-purpose, single-cartridge system generates fast, high-quality laser documents. The MF3240 can also quickly send and receive faxes using the built-in 33.6 Kbps super G3 fax modem. The USB 2.0 hi-speed interface and optional external print server ensure speed and versatility. For added productivity, the MF3240 is equipped with color scanning and scanning software.Fast, Reliable Copying and Printing The MF3240 offers an extremely fast black print speed of up to 21 pages per minute. The black print resolution is 600 x 600 dpi, which means all your documents will be sharp and clear. Plus, the output tray has a 250-sheet capacity, so you won't have to continually re-supply the paper.The copier is equally fast and reliable, delivering up to 21 copies per minute. For sharp, readable copies, the system offers 600 x 600 dpi. You'll also never have to compromise when it comes to getting documents that meet your specifications, because this copier lets you zoom in one percent increments between 50 and 200 percent and enlarge to 50, 64, 78, 129, and 200 percent.High-Quality, Efficient Scanning and Faxing The scanner also features time-saving options to make your workday run smoothly. Accepting originals up to 8.5 x 11.7 inches on the plate glass, you can transfer hardcopy documents into editable text on the PC using ScanSoft OmniPage SE Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software, or file systematically with NewSoft and Presto! Page-Manager. Either way, your scans will be achieved with optical resolution of up to 600 x 600 dpi, and an enhanced resolution of up to 9600 x 9600 dpi. The color depth of up to 24-bit internal/24-bit output helps ensure scans are faithful to original documents.The dual access fax with remote RX features eight one-touch speed dials, as well as 100 coded dials, so faxing is always quick and convenient. To ensure optimum productivity, the fax features a modem speed of up to 33.6 Kbps and a transmission reception memory of up to 256 pages. It can easily scan documents up to 8.5 x 11.7 inches, which allows for a wide variety of scanning possibilities. The MF3240 comes with a one year limited warranty and exchange program.What's in the Box imageCLASS MF3240 multifunction printer, X25 full yield cartridge, cassette extension, cassette cover, output tray, power cord, documentation kit, software CD-ROM

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