Dell 1710n

The Dell 1710n is the networked version of the indomitable 1710 monochrome laser printer. It is targeted directly at home users and small businesses and is the ideal candidate if you’re looking for a good quality, cost effective laser printer.

The 1710n comes with networking as standard, with a 10/100 Ethernet port. Dell also offer a wireless adapter which adds a lot of freedom when it comes to cabling and placing the printer. It also has the standard USB and parallel ports if you don’t want to network it.

The build quality is solid, the design functional. It’s basically a black and grey box with the paper output on top and the connections at the back. The control panel consists of two buttons and some LED’s which warn of jams, low toner and all the usual printer statuses. The two buttons are to either start or stop print jobs, so use is simple and trouble free.

The hardware is also built to last. The chassis feels solid, but isn’t too heavy. Inside there is a 366Mhz processor with 16Mb of memory which can be expanded to 144Mb. The paper drawer can hold up to 800 sheets of paper, but with the output being on top, there is no way the printer could be left to its own devices too long before the prints were all over the floor.

Print speed was impressive at 27 pages per minute, which is pretty quick for this kind of price. The quality on text prints was very good, with clear edges and even spread no matter what size the text was printed at. Images weren’t so good, but then this is a laser printer, which is designed for document printing rather than images. Reproduction was still pretty good, but there was definite banding visible when printing a photograph.

Changing paper and toner is as easy as it gets. The paper drawer slides out easily, and a button on the side releases a flap on the front to reach the toner. The cartridge provided will print up to 3000 sheets of standard 5% coverage, which should last the average user quite a while. Replacements are decent value and are rated to last for 6000 prints. Most online retailers like Quikshiptoner.com have them in ready supply, so there is no problem replacing them when the need arises.

Overall the Dell 1710n is a worthwhile contender for the home/home office market. It’s no-nonsense styling and operation will suit most people who don’t want to waste time sifting through hundreds of options every time they want to print something. Cost of ownership is credibly low, which adds to the attraction of this good value machine.

Source: http://hubpages.com/hub/Dell-1710n

PostScript Level 2 Advantages over Postsctipt Level1

PostScript Level 2 provides the following improvements over PostScript Level 1.

Composite Fonts: PostScript Level 2 supports character sets larger than 256 characters, unlike in PostScript Level 1. Japanese fonts require character sets larger than 256 characters.

Device-independent Colour: PostScript Level 2 supports the CIE (Commission International de lEclairage) colour system, as well as CMYK and RGB. The CIE system enables users to create, view, and print colours with more predictable results on a variety of displays and printers.

Forms: A form is a set of graphics, text, and/or images stored in memory for overlaying onto printed pages.

Better Halftone Algorithms

Improved Memory Management: Memory in a PostScript Level 2 device is dynamically-shared between all resources (font cache, form cache, page buffer. etc), resulting in increased efficiency. The memory taken up by each resource expands whenever necessary.

Patterns: PostScript Level 2 allows patterns in addition to solid colours. Recently used patterns are cached in memory, optimizing repeated use of the same pattern.

Printer-specific features: PostScript Level 2 can specify the requirements for a page and can control standard features (e.g., number of copies) and optional device features (e.g., duplex printing, multiple paper trays).

Copystar CS 2030

The Copystar CS 2030 is a well-built copier that has the multi-function capability that all businesses require in today’s technology dependent world. The CS 2030 is another in the long line of efficient but sturdy copiers produced by Copystar, the MFP division of Kyocera Mita America.

As a basic unit, the CS 2030 is a digital copier capable of digitally storing an original document and printing it multiple times. This allows for noise-reduction, but more importantly helps preserve and shield original documents from the wear and tear of older model copiers. In fact, the CS 2030 can continuously copy up to 250 pages automatically

As for specifications, the CS 2030 comes with a standard copier memory of 64 MB RAM and can produce an impressive volume of up to 30,000 pages per month. Furthermore, it has two paper drawers that each has a paper capacity of 250—along with a multi-purpose tray that can hold an additional 50 pages. Copystar claims that the CS 2030 can print 20 pages a minute—however, consumers should remember that this number refers specifically to pages printed in black-and-white.

The CS 2030 advertises a warm-up time of 30 seconds and a first-copy time of about 5.5 seconds. The consumer would be pleasantly surprised to find out that these figures are fairly accurate in practice.

In terms of digital resolution, the CS 2030 offers a crisp 600 dpi to its users. It also has a copy ratio from 50% to 200%—in this new era of digital copiers this ratio is industry standard. The copier, while advanced, is not cutting-edge, as can be seen from its ability to print in grayscale and not color ink, as some businesses might require.

The Copystar CS 2030 really starts to become attractive when considering the array of options that are offered. The CS 2030 is modular in design, allowing it to be easily fitted with a printer and fax-machine, making the CS 2030 an MFP that most offices would look to buy. As this standalone digital copier can be converted in to a fully functional network-connected printer/scanner/fax machine, it is ideal for a smaller workgroup or a division of an office.
The optional printer comes with an upgradeable 8 MB memory and is compatible with PC’s and Mac’s. The fax machine capability uses the industry-standard Super-G3 Laser Fax, making the machine ready for everyday faxing. The optional scanner is also fairly standard, as is an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) allowing for increased productivity.

The Copystar CS 2030 is a solid digital copier. However, its true quality is unveiled when it is converted into an easy-to-use multi-purpose copier/fax-machine/scanner, which is ideal for most small business units.

Brother DCP 7020

The Brother DCP-7020 is a laser copier, printer and scanner all in one.  It doesn’t offer fax, which is why it isn’t classed as a true multifunction device, but it’s as near as you can get to one.

As a copier the Brother DCP-7020 is very good.  It can output monochrome copies at a rate of 20 per minute and can do it all day long.  The reproduction is excellent, text and images are reproduced with clarity and have a definite crispness to them.  Images and photographs are also copied and printed well.  Even though the machine is monochrome, a color photograph is translated well into the varying shades of gray.
As a printer, the Brother DCP-7020 works very well.  The prints are also produced at a steady 20 sheets per minute and are of a high quality, as you would expect from a laser device.  There are all the usual features you would expect from a printer such as multi-printing, enlargement or reduction, configurable contract, brightness and tone levels as well as a large enough paper tray to hold 250 sheets of paper.

The scanner works in color and allows you to scan normally on to paper, or electronically into an email or pdf.  Again, the quality is good, and the 35 sheet paper tray means you can leave it alone to do its work.  It can also copy books and magazines.

Setup and configuration is a breeze, with an easy to use menu system and extensive configuration options.  Everything you need is on the driver CD included in the box, and Brother seem to release updates regularly.

Cost of ownership is modest, with a reasonable purchase price, Energy Star compliance and reasonable toner cost.  It even comes with everything to get you started , except paper of course!  The starter toner is good for around fifteen hundred pages, so it will be a little while before you need to order more. 

These benefits make it ideal for the small or start up business.  Large organizations can still benefit from the DCP-7020 as it is a real workhorse.  It rises to every demand made of it, and will copy and print all day long.

After-sales support is also good.  If, in the unlikely event you find yourself needing it, the toll-free number actually puts you through to a native English speaking representative who can talk you through troubleshooting the device.  If your problem isn’t solved, they will call you back and an engineer will offer their assistance until the problem is addressed.

The true value of a product can only be assessed when it is in use.  The DCP-7020 won’t let you down.  For businesses of any size looking for a steady, reliable printer, copier, scanner could do a lot worse than the Brother DCP-7020.

Ricoh Aficio MP 5500 MP 6500 MP 7500 configuration page

You can print a configuration page from an Aficio MP 5500, 6500, or 7500 with printing capability that will show you a lot of information about the printer.  Some things included on the config page include the printers page count, an estimate of how much toner is left in the bottle, installed printer languages, and network settings.

To print the configuration page from an MP 5500, 6500, or 7500:

- Press the User Tools/Counter button.
- Select Printer Features on the touch screen.
- Select Configuration Page.

Dell Laser 5330dn configuration page

The configuration page for a Dell 5330dn laser printer includes a lot of information, including page count, IP address and network settings, amount of toner remaining, and fuser page count.  To print the configuration page:

- Press the Menu button
- Scroll down to Reports
- Press the check mark button
- Scroll down to Configuration
- Press the check mark button

The Samsung ML 3051ND Laser Printer

OVERVIEW:  Samsung offers a laser printer that is big enough to handle the demands of over 20 networked computers, but still be reasonably compact and priced. At the top of Samsung’s ML-3050 Series, the ML-3051ND is a monochrome laser with a built-in Ethernet network and duplex printing capability.

PROS:
The ML-3051ND’s compact design & footprint takes up only a 1.9 square foot area on a table, while able to still hold legal-size paper within its tray.

The “D” in ML-3051ND is for “duplexing”. Two-sided printing is an economic and environmentally friendly way to save on paper. This feature, along with the options to print pages either Long Edge or Short Edge, enables the printer to be used for desktop publishing of bound booklets, catalogs, and calendars.

The ML-3051ND prints fast--be it single-sided or 2-sided. It does take 44 seconds for the printer to warm up from a cold boot, but once it’s up this laser starts chugging letter-size prints at 30 pages per minute 1-side. Even printing on both sides of a page at 24 ppm, the ML-3051ND is as fast as many single-side laser printers.

At 1200 x 1200 dpi B&W resolution, the ML-3051ND keeps text sharp--even at 6-point font sizes--and does a decent job with graphics. To keep from consuming too much toner, the printer has a 600 dpi resolution with a text-enhance or image-enhance switch.  The Toner Save feature allows for a 40% toner life increase while keeping images clear and readable.

The ML-3051ND comes standard with a 250-sheet cassette tray, with an optional second 250-sheet stacking cassette. The flip-door reveals a 50-sheet multi-purpose tray that can handle transparencies, labels, post cards, envelopes, 3” x 5” postcards up to 8½” x 14” legal paper of various bond weights.

The control panel on the ML-3051ND has a multi-line LCD Display, plus several buttons that make manual control of the printer relatively intuitive, including a “duplex” button for on-the-fly double-sided printing. Through the control panel, printer information, configuration, emulation, and network settings can be done. Administrators can also perform these changes remotely with Samsung’s SyncThru web application.

The “N” in ML-3051ND is for “network is built in”.  The Ethernet 10/100 Base TX interface makes it ready to support networked computers in an office, department, or a classroom. You can choose between Parallel, USB, or Ethernet connectivity. So, no matter how old or new your computer is, the ML-3051ND can handle it.

This laser printer comes stock with 64MB of memory, allowing the ML-3051ND to easily handle workloads from multiple computer requests. An additional DIMM RAM slot is available to expand printer memory up to a whopping 320MB.

Understanding the printing needs of today’s businesses in providing support for the major software applications, Samsung has installed a full set for print emulators that should satisfy the most diverse office. Emulators include PostScript3, HP PCL6, IBM ProPrinter, and EPSON.

CONS:
If you’re used to the smaller ML laser printers, get ready to flex your biceps. At 33 pounds, the densely-packed ML-3051ND will need a study place to stay.

The printer produces 54dB of sound printing, idling at 39 dB. To give you an idea of what that means, 60 decibels is the level of typical conversations and 40 decibels is the level of whispering. You probably don’t want to have this network printer stationed in a conference room printing when a meeting is in progress. But when placed in the copy room or in the middle of a busy office floor, the noise is barely noticeable.

With more bells and whistles than other ML printers, warming up takes the ML-3051ND about 35 seconds -- 44 seconds if in Sleep mode. From Standby it takes 8.5 seconds between print jobs. Delays like this are unacceptable if the printer was for a single user, but in a network environment where it usually takes the user about 3 to 5 minutes to pick up their printout, the delay is hardly noticeable.

INK/TONER NEEDS:
The ML-3051ND’s toner and drum are integrated in a single cartridge, making it easy to maintain. Right out the box, the printer comes with the standard size toner, able to print up to 4,000 pages.  An 8,000 double-capacity toner option is also available to double the time between toner replacements.

SOFTWARE:
The ML-3051ND has one of the better software packages. Not only does it have the basic printing properties for Mac and Linux, but for Windows users there’s an advanced printing section that allows for booklet printing, creating a large poster mosaics, and watermarks.

The drivers also enable 64-bit and Microsoft Server operating systems to be able to use the ML-3051ND. This may be considered a no-brainer, but there are printers with software that absolutely will not install on Server 2003 & 2008.

To make network printer configurations and notifications easy, Samsung’s SyncThru Web Service allows printer changes to be made using your IE, Safari, or Firefox browser. The software is not part of the CD and has to be downloaded from Samsung’s web site.