The full list of the iX6520's direct competition is a short one, consisting of the Epson WorkForce 1100 ($199.99 direct, 3.5 stars), the HP Officejet 7000 Wide Format Printer ($229.99 direct, 4 stars), and, arguably, Canon's own Pixma iX7000 Inkjet Business Printer ($399.99 direct, 4 stars), the Editors' Choice in the category, but also significantly more expensive than the others.
The iX6520 is clearly meant as a more direct competitor to the Epson and HP entries, not just in price, but in features as well. Where the iX7000 offers duplexing (two-sided printing) and a 250-sheet paper tray, for example, the iX6520 offers only a 150-sheet tray and no duplexing, putting its paper handling in the same category as the Epson and HP printers. Also unlike the iX7000, it's limited to a USB connection only, so you can't easily share it on a network.
Setup and Speed
Other than needing to find enough space for the 6.3- by 21.7- by 11.8-inch (HWD) iX6520, setting up the printer is absolutely typical. I installed and tested it on a system running Windows Vista, and timed it on our business applications suite (using QualityLogic's hardware and software for timing) at a more than reasonable 2.9 effective pages per minute (ppm).