The Canon PIXMA MX870 is an inkjet all-in-one that prints, scans, copies and faxes. In addition, it features auto-duplexing, a 35 page ADF, a 2.5” LCD, and Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity. You can also print from your iPhone or iPod Touch with the Easy-PhotoPrint app, and you can print PC-free via memory card and PictBridge. So while the MSRP isn’t exactly cheap at $200, you get pretty much every feature you could ask for in a home or small office inkjet all-in-one printer. But is the PIXMA MX870 as good in practice as it should be in theory? Some online reviewers have tested it for themselves, and they like what this printer brings to the table.

Sarah Meyer of PrinterComparison.com gives the PIXMA MX870 a strong 4 stars out of 5. It’s easy to set up, easy to use, and print quality is excellent for both text and photos. On the other hand, print speeds are on the slow side due to processing delays when “printing larger documents or when waking up from energy saving mode (being idle).” She also finds that scan quality can be uneven for letter-sized text documents. But despite the shortcomings, Meyer concludes that “in a small business, small workgroup in a larger office, or a home office, I think the MX870 could really shine.”

ComputerShopper.com gives the PIXMA MX870 a very good 7.5 out of 10. The extensive feature set is impressive, and everything works reasonably well and intuitively. The problem is that while other inkjet all-in-ones have evolved, with some of them offering touchscreens and web connectivity, the PIXMA MX870 is too much like its predecessor, the PIXMA MX860. Plus, the scanner lid is heavy, and print speeds are nothing to write home about. The review does note that auto-duplexing for printing and scanning is convenient and easy to use, and output quality is very good.

Finally, Kristofer Brozio of TestFreaks.com gives the PIXMA MX870 an excellent 9 out of 10, making it worthy of a TestFreaks Recommended seal. On the negative side, scanning can be a little dicey, and its bigger size won’t save you as much space in the office. That said, it’s easy to use, the range of features is impressive, and output quality is very good for text and photos. In addition, print speeds are fast, and cost per page for ink is affordable.

Overall, while it may not be the fastest or most advanced MFP around, the experts seem to give the Canon PIXMA MX870 a collective thumbs up for its output quality and overall functionality.