Here we have a multifunction center that fully embodies the concept of a small office printer. The Canon Copier ImageClass MF4690 has all of the features you’d expect from a Canon all in one, but doesn’t go overboard with the bells and whistles, which plants this unit firmly in the realm where performance is balanced with value.
The Canon Copier ImageClass MF4690 is a network printer with a built in Ethernet port which allows access to the hardware for an entire small (or large) office. It also includes a UBS 2.0 hi-speed port for direct connection to a single unit and, additionally, provides a front USB port for direct connect to a USB memory device. When using a portable memory device, the dedicated “scan to” features allow you to scan documents directly onto your thumb drive or other device in JPEG, PDF, TIFF, or BMP formats. You can also use this function to send data to a computer you are interfaced with without bothering with PC software.
If you do choose to go with the Windows or Mac based software, compatibility will not be an issue, as both TWAIN and WIA types are supported. Scan quality is decent, with optical topping out at 600 X 1200 dots per inch and interpolated at a maximum of 9600 X 9600 dpi. While color scans are an option, printing is monochrome only, but the quality is also more than suitable and can be set at either 600 X 600 or 1200 X 600 dots per inch which is enough to make your text documents crisp and professional looking, and keep black and white charts and graphs looking fairly clean.
Speed of print is more than adequate, with 21 pages per minute for both printed documents and copies. The real gem of this unit’s paper handling abilities, however, is the implemented duplex printing feature. Automatically printing double sided documents is a feature genuinely worth having, and can cut down on costs while increasing the look and feel of your work. Duplexing is something almost any business can use, and is usually worth shelling out the extra cash for.
Canon’s imageCLASS series is unique in the way that the models in the line operate on a single cartridge system. This system simplifies the toner/drum combo into a single unit for slightly easier toner swaps and a small reduction in the overall size of the units. The yield is not as high as toner cartridges in other models, but still ranks in at 2,000 pages, which should be plenty for businesses with low output demands.
With a maximum monthly duty cycle of 7,500 pages, we see that the MF4690 was not manufactured for the user with extremely high paper output demands. The hardware floats squarely in the middle of the road, across the board, and also offers the luxuries of duplexing and networking, among others (35 page ADF, 33.6 kbps modem, etc.). Like all Canon products, the Canon Copier imageCLASS MF4690 is designed with a specific user in mind, specifically the small office that demands all the features with light output.
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