Verdict

Pros

• Dedicated scan and copy functions
• Paper tray cover
• Clear controls

Cons

• Annoying wake-up button
• No XL cartridge option
• Poor driver interface

What is the Canon i-SENSYS MF4890dw?

A simple mono laser all-in-one is often all that’s needed to handle the paperwork in a small office. Canon’s i-SENSYS MF4890dw takes the big four functions: print, copy, scan and fax and adds in a duplex scanner, duplex print engine and wireless connection.

Canon i-SENSYS MF4890dw – Design and Features

Canon has decided a tall machine with a small footprint is the way to go and we tend to agree. This device is styled in black and white, with some large radius curves softening the otherwise functional appearance.

At the top is a generous, 50-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF), with a duplex feed which automatically reverses double-sided originals to scan both sides as a single task. The lid lifts for a regular flatbed and below that and to the front is a full-width control panel.

The controls are pretty much what you’d expect, though there’s a five-line, backlit LCD display, which gives a bit more room than most and dedicated buttons to scan to either of two network PCs, which you can select.

There’s also a small, illuminated button to switch the machine out of standby mode, though it would be a lot easier if pressing any key did this automatically. As it is, until you press the wake-up button, none of the keys on the keyboard does anything.

Below the control panel is a slot where printed pages feed out, onto a swivelling paper support with a flip-up end-stop. Paper feeds from a 250-sheet tray, formed by the front cover of the machine, when folded down.

Behind this is a fold-down paper cover, a neater solution than a separate, clip-on cover. Just above this cover is a single-slot feed for special media.

Canon i-SENSYS MF4890dw – Connections and Driver

At the back are sockets for 10/100 Ethernet and USB, though the machine also supports wireless connection, which is very easy if you have WPS on your router. Although Canon claims the model is mobile ready, this is currently iPad/iPhone only; the Android version of the software isn’t available until June.

The printer driver has some quirks. For example, setting toner-save mode isn’t a single-click affair, but is found under the Quality tab, where you have to select Advanced Settings, pick Toner Save from a list and then select On from a drop-down menu. It’s a five-click process from the control panel, too.