Similarly, the $100 Dell Photo 926 offers memory card slots, the ability to print a scannable photo index, and e-fax, as well. You can even get an optional wireless adapter for networked printing. The $80 Lexmark X3550 offers memory card slots as well as a PictBridge port, the ability to make up to 99 copies at once, and advanced copy features such as resizing, image repeat, and N-up copies. It's easy to write off the lack of features by pointing out the Pixma MP210's tiny price tag, but looking at comparably priced offerings from the competition, the MP210 seems lackluster. We'd like to see Canon support the latter feature, as we find it useful. The USB port can be used to connect PictBridge-compliant cameras, camcorders, and camera phones, but not USB storage devices.

Though the printer lacks an auto duplexer, the driver will assist you with manual duplex tasks. You can also attach scans to e-mails or save them to your PC. Within the custom scan tab, you can do advanced actions such as scanning originals larger than the platen using stitch assist and scan into a software program (such as Excel or Word). In MP Navigator EX, you can specify the type of original, change resolution, choose a format in which to save the scan (TIFF, JPEG, PDF, BMP), and edit the resulting scans. You can initiate a scan via the scan button on the printer or by launching the MP Navigator EX software from your PC (the scan button will launch the same software). With one touch, you can do a fit-to-page copy, too. When copying, you can make 1 to 9 copies, or 20 copies-that's right, it jumps from 9 to 20. Canon offers drivers for both Windows and Mac PCs, so both camps should be satisfied. The Pixma MP210 prints, scans, and copies over a USB 2.0 connection. While these numbers seem high, they are in line with print costs from other budget all-in-ones. Canon estimates that a black-only print costs about 4 cents per page while a full-color print costs about 12 cents per page. The larger black tank costs $20 and the larger tricolor costs $25. The standard capacity black costs $16 and the standard tricolor costs $20.

The Pixma MP210 is compatible with two sets of Canon inks. For the majority of paper types, keep the lever to the left for envelopes and T-shirt transfers, switch it to the right. Deep within the bowels of the output tray is a lever that changes the distance between the print head and the paper. A panel on the front folds down to serve as the output tray.

The paper handling is typical of Canons: The input paper support folds out from the rear and holds up to 100 sheets.

Canon mp210 printer usb port