Printer
Canon PIXMA iX6770
The Canon PIXMA iX6770: Is It Right for the Everyday Home User?
The Canon PIXMA iX6770 is a specialized machine that blurs the line between a standard home printer and a professional studio tool. But does an A3+ wide-format printer make sense for the average home user, or is it overkill? Here is a breakdown of what the PIXMA iX6770 offers and whether it fits into a typical home printing environment.
What Makes It Special?
The standout feature of the iX6770 is its ability to print up to A3+ (13″ x 19″) borderless photos and documents. For home users who are amateur photographers, graphic design students, or hobbyists, this is a massive advantage over standard A4 printers. It delivers stunning high-resolution output up to 9600 x 2400 dpi, producing vibrant, professional-looking prints right from your desk.
It achieves this using a 5-color individual ink tank system. By separating Pigment Black (for crisp text) from the Dye-based CMYK colors (for rich photos), it ensures high quality across both everyday document printing and specialized photo output.
Everyday Home Use: The Pros
- Versatility in Media: If your home projects include printing spreadsheets, crafting materials, envelopes, or high-gloss photos, the iX6770 handles it all. It supports various media weights and types, including Canon’s “Everyday Use” glossy photo paper.
- Decent Speed: For general home use, it prints documents at a respectable speed of 14.5 images per minute (ipm) for black and white and 10.4 ipm for color.
- Individual Cartridges: You only replace the color that runs out, which is generally more cost-effective than a tri-color cartridge system if you print a lot of color documents.
Everyday Home Use: The Cons
Before bringing it into a standard home office, there are several limitations to consider:
- Size and Footprint: This is not a compact device. Measuring 584 x 310 x 159 mm and weighing 8.1 kg, it requires significant desk space.
- Single Function Only: The iX6770 is strictly a printer. It does not have a scanner or copier built-in. If your home office frequently requires scanning documents or making quick photocopies, you will need a separate machine.
- Connectivity Limits: Unlike many modern home printers, the iX6770 does not feature built-in Wi-Fi or mobile device printing (like Apple AirPrint). It relies entirely on a standard USB 2.0 connection to a single PC or Mac.
- Running Costs on Standard Cartridges: While it uses individual cartridges, they are standard-yield. If you plan to use this for high-volume daily text printing—like a home-based business or printing out whole textbooks—the cost of replacing ink will quickly add up compared to an EcoTank or Megatank printer. Some users resort to aftermarket Continuous Ink Supply Systems (CISS), but this can lead to color fading and reliability issues.
The Verdict
The Canon PIXMA iX6770 is not the best choice for the average home user whose primary needs are printing homework, scanning bills, and wirelessly printing from a smartphone.
However, if you are a home-based creative, a student of architecture or design, or someone who specifically needs to produce large, high-quality A3 prints without spending a fortune upfront, the iX6770 is an incredibly capable machine that fits perfectly into a specialized home workflow.