Canon PIXMA iP1700 Ink Cartridges

Canon iP1700 Printer Review

The Canon PIXMA iP1700 is so compact it actually looks like half of a printer, but make this inkjet model can produce high-quality photos and solid text documents. It's not overly fast, producing a 4x6 inch photo in around 55 seconds, but the focus is on its compact design and output quality. Canon iP1700 printer ink can get expensive, though, so it is only recommended for light use.

At only 6.5 inches tall, the iP1700 barely occupies any vertical space at all, and its footprint of 17.2x10 inches is equally impressive. It only includes a USB port for connection, and it relies heavily on the host computer, as its control panel is extremely limited, with only a power button and cancel button. It also lacks a PictBridge port or media card slots, which are common in many photo inkjet models.

The input feeder can hold up to 100 sheets at a time, but then you get to a very strange design choice: there is no output tray. Instead of an output tray, pages just rest on the table surface as they are output from the machine. This may not be an issue for some users, but a dusty surface might cause problems, or placement near the edge of a table could potentially spill the sheets onto the floor.

Another downside is that PIXMA iP1700 ink tends to be a bit pricey to replace. Since the system uses a combined tricolor Canon iP1700 ink cartridge, there is also more potential for wasted printer ink. Compatible PIXMA iP1700 ink cartridges are available, but don't make the running costs significantly lower.

Canon gets full marks for trying an innovative design with the iP1700 model, and some users may appreciate its ultra-low profile. Others may be frustrated by its limitations, however, and the high cost of Canon iP1700 ink.