( 1 reviews )
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( 13 of 14 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 20 2004
Pros - It is relatively inexpensive, easy to set up, easy to use. Print quality is excellent. Speed is wonderful (19ppm after having lived with 6 ppm for years on my trusty HP 5MP, which is great except for the absence of duplex and the slow speed). Cons 1 - Comes without any cables to connect it to computer. 2 - It curls the paper. This can be fixed by laying the paper out (after printing) with a weight on it. I wish the hassle was not there, but it is a price worth paying for the duplexing. 3 - Big Consequence: It gives no warning that when it cannot handle the graphics within a document that has a lot of images. As a result, you can print the entire document, only to find out later that the graphics are blank. I work around this by rebooting and then printing that document, one at a time, waiting for each one to completely print before sending the next one. 4 - Big Consequence: When the 2000-page starter toner cartridge was running low, the print quality was still perfect. But when duplexing, the left side (as you face the printer) of each sheet started getting toner residue. I opened the front up, and there was toner dust on the left side inside and on the inside of the drum case -- and on the drum itself. 5 - Unknown concern: It looks like replacing the drum is probably going to be a normal part of maintenance, though I am not sure how often. This is a completely new issue, which I never had to deal with in my HP 5MP. I have no idea how much a drum costs, but it looks like I will soon be forced to find out. Other Things To Know 1 - There is special care and special maintenance needed when replacing a toner cartridge. It is not just a matter of taking out the old cartridge and putting in the new one. You also need to use a soft cloth to clean the toner dust inside the drum casing -- being very careful not to touch the drum. The toner kit comes with a cartridge and a special little device with which you should clean the corona wire -- another task that is unique in my experience to this printer. 2 - You have to keep the drum from exposure to light. I only change the toner cartridge (or do anything else in which I have to remove the drum)in a darkened room. The drum arrives with not just buffered packing around it but with a black paper to reduce light hitting the drum. Bottom Line In spite of the limitations, this is a very good duplex printer for a good price, as long as you are willing to live within its limits.
