wvabackpacker's Full Review: Samsung ML 1210 Laser Printer
Can't afford that new HP printer around $400? Why not buy the Samsung ML-1210, it's basically the same as an HP, in fact, I'd bet it really is an HP. Allow me to explain.
As an ex MicroCenter employee, we serviced many printers, dot matrix, LED, Color, Laser, etc. One thing I found out quickly...HP makes a good deal of the laser printers out there. Many of the Apple laser printers we worked on were made by HP. The only difference...usually the Apple printers did not have the LCD screen that their HP counterparts have, something handy for diagnostics. I believe this is the case with the Samsung ML-1210.
All of the internal parts seem to be HP made. I can't find the HP-equivalent model on the net (using part numbers from the toner and printer), but I'm sure I've seen it. I will post it at the bottom of this article as soon as I find it. So if you're really interested, check back occasionally.
With that in mind (that this printer is probably HP-made) lets go over the specifications.
12 papers per minute
600DPI Resolution
66mhz Risc Processor
8mb built in memory
Toner Save with Button
Reprint and Cancel Button (Very handy when windows doesn't respond)
Energy Star Compliant
IEEE1284 (Parallel Port) and USB Standard
150 Sheet Multi-purpose input tray
Extra sheet feeder for envelopes, labels, card stock or transparencies
RedHat Linux 6.0+ Compatible
Mac OS 8.0+ Compatible
Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP/NT Compatible
Those are the features I feel necessary to list. If you're looking for more specific details see http://www.samsungprinter.com
On to my epinion.
You can now get this printer for $99-149 online, an excellent deal. I have used the printer for about 8 months, almost 1000 pages. I've never had a paper jam thus far. I've printed graphics, envelopes, barcodes, and just normal text documents for school and work. All of the pages come out crisp and clear whether or not the printer is set to toner saver or not.
The standard life of the toner (which comes with an image drum attached--a plus for better pictures, a minus for increased price) is 2500 pages or 2.5K. If you use the toner saver you can extend the life of your toner to around 3500 pages or 3.5K, a 40% savings. I paid $199 for the printer and it came with TWO Toner cartridges, both new, and both full (some printer companies only halfway fill the toner cartridges to save money). The toner cartridges are available on the net for about $53-63 a piece, around $63-73 with shipping, not bad for a 3.5k yield. So keep an eye out for the bonus toner, it's a great deal.
Keep in mind that this laser printer, like most others, only prints in black and white and grayscale. Color inkjet printers are way overrated. I can't tell you how many times my color ink just dried up. Plus the price per page to operate a color printer is much higher then a laser printer. How often do you print in color?
So to wrap things up, here's what you get. An ultra-fast reliable 12ppm printer with 600x600DPI, low noise, low maintenance cost, 150 page input tray, a small footprint (around 13"x14"x9"), 8mb of memory, a cancel and reprint button. The standard warranty is 1 year. Laser for $199, it's hard to beat that price for quality.
Other noteable features. The input tray is upright and will print to an output tray that is upright or horizontal (selectable on the front of the printer). Also, the input tray has an adjustable width which is handy for variable paper sizes and printing on envelopes. To load a new toner, the front of the printer bends down on hinges and allows easy installation of new toner cartridges.
Software installation is easy. I currently use Windows XP and it installed the printer without any drivers. On other OS's, simply insert the install CD and click "install drivers and software" from the auto-run screen. For other operating systems (as well as windows) the printer comes with an illustrated step-by-step install procedure for both the hardware and software.
Please rate my review honestly! If I encounter any problems or new information regarding this product I will update this article. Thanks for reading!
Updated 6/6/2002 - I think I found the HP counterpart printer, the HP LaserJet 1100.
The Samsung ML-1210 brings a new level of performance to the home or small office. Its 12 ppm engine and 66MHz CPU deliver a faster printing speed tha...More at eBay
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