(snip)
Pierre - first of all, pay no attention to Measekite. He is our resident
misinforming troll. While he is correct that this was a bottom end printer,
if you like the prints it produces, it is certainly worth the minimal effort
to try to clean the printhead. In addition, if you use aftermarket
cartridges or refill them yourself, the IP4500 (which is a better printer
than the ip3000 or the troll's ip4000) presents a problem with stopping the
ink level monitoring and canceling your warranty.
For the best information on cleaning Canon printheads go onto the
nifty-stuff forum, go to the first FAQ on what to do if your printer doesn't
print properly, and read the entire thread. Start with the least agressive
approach and be patient. If the nozzles are clogged you can usually unclog
them.
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/