Canon Pixma MP490

Canon Pixma MP490

It's a surprisingly decent multifunction printer for the price, but the tradeoff is its high black ink costs. Canon's Pixma MP490 color inkjet multifunction printer (MFP) has a superlow price ($100 at this writing) and a simple-to-use design that should appeal to home and student users. If you print a lot, however, look elsewhere, as its ink costs are high. I don't expect much from a machine this inexpensive, so to its credit, the Pixma MP490 has some thoughtfully designed features. A small, front swing-out door protects the three media slots. When you raise the flatbed scanner unit, a vertical support bar automatically props it up, and an animation appears on the color LCD showing you how to replace the ink cartridges nestled inside. Lifting a small top lid exposes the 1.8-inch color LCD and the control panel, which sports a compass-style navigation wheel and clearly labeled buttons. Other design elements are less successful. The scanner lid is held in place by plastic connectors that are not firmly attached, so it clatters when lifted. The 100-sheet vertical input tray has a rickety plastic support panel that pops off too easily.