Yesterday’s big announcement by Canon - the launch of a brand new printer range, PIXMA - was as much about form as about function. The emphasis was definitely on how the products looked, rather than how they performed (although Canon certainly haven’t neglected this aspect). From the launch party at Pierre Cardin’s designer home in Cannes, to the press photos of printers intergrated into a 21st-century home, PIXMA is a concerted attempt to get away from the “office-product” tag that printers traditionally have, and move towards being a lifestyle accessory that matches the rest of your household furniture.

But do consumers care? Or at least will enough consumers care enough for Canon’s strategy to be a winner? What do you think - is this the direction that Canon should be taking?