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While it still comes with a CD-ROM it wants to do the whole install from the Internet.

The setup on the printer unit will probably take as long as the software installation – dependant on your Internet speed – the majority of the install time will be for the rather good ‘Image Garden’ software.

This is a five cartridge unit small (normal size) that if you are a heavy user will not last that long. I was also sent ‘XL’ cartridges that I used first and the yield is considerably more so these can be cheaper.

The total space required will be around 42x36x37cm the last figure is with a stack of A4 in the rear upright tray.

The front has the available controls on a flip forward from the base 33cm long panel, this has a total of five buttons and the ubiquitous five position joystick control to handle everything that the display shows. The display is 5.7x4.6cm which gives the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 3 inches. The display is not touch so the joystick has to do the work.

See also: Multifunction printers

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This is mainly divided into three vertical columns, Copy, Scan and Print with three small icons below for ‘!’, Settings and Help.

For Copy there are three options, Standard Copy, Borderless Copy and Photo Copy.

For Scan only two choices Scan to Computer and Attach to E-Mail.

For Print two choices, Print from Memory Card or from Templates.

It is unusual to have any printing option on a unit as most can only print from PC but in a way it makes the unit more independent from the PC.

These days a lot of people print direct from their phones or Tablets so the extra choices here are maybe the way to go. There are in fact eleven templates stored on the printer including those useful for musicians with stave paper.

The SD Card slot is at the front bottom left just beside the paper outlet tray. Paper input is at the back and one ‘sit up’ paper tray needs to be used for all paper.

By default whenever you insert extra sheets it will ask you to confirm the size and type of paper but if you only normally use A4 - or any other single size and type – this feature can be turned off in settings.

The unit can be setup to work either with Wi-Fi or USB. If you use USB this connection is back left and fairly deep in the unit so it can be easy to think you have plugged it in but only to find you have not. My tip is to connect this end of the cable first and when asked to connect the cable plug in the other end to your PC.

The second link at the end shows cartridge capacity.

A 10x15cm sheet should print in around 42 seconds. An A4 image on Glossy paper took 108 seconds and this was especially quiet. The claimed monochrome print speed is around 12.6 per minute while colour is only a little slower at 9 per minute. However the time to first page out will be the most useful for most and this I found to be close to 20 seconds from pressing print but this will vary slightly according to the PC and printing method. Having five cartridges means you only need to replace the ones that need it if you have only two and you use one colour more than the others then you can have to throw away some expensive ink.

The Canon Pixma TS5050 is available from Amazon for £69.99 with free delivery.

http://www.canon.co.uk/printers/pixma-ts5050-series/specifications/