Color Laser Printer: Your Thoughts?

[indolikaa]

How-Dee!


I recently sold my Konica Minolta 2300W, and I've come find I really miss having it around. I am considering a couple of models, and was wondering if anybody had any input. This printer will supplement the work my -R200 does for DVD and CD covers, will handle 'Owner's Manuals' in PDF format that are in color, and will be used for otherwise general printing needs. Speed is not really an issue, nor is connectivity: I would take Ethernet if it was available, but USB is fine.


1) Samsung CLP-550

I've always had good luck with all Samsung products, and so have my peers in the IT business. This printer is not only priced nicely at $503 with shipping, but it comes with a full set of toner cartridges, not starter cartridges! The black is rated at 7K pages and the colors are rated at 5K pages, which is respectable. I haven't found a good line on consumables, but I've heard they're about $100 for black and $125 for each color. This printer has a USB 2.0 connection and 64MB RAM.


2) Konica Minolta 2300W

I've owned this one before, and I wasn't disappointed. The consumables are cheap for a color laser printer and readily available. What I didn't like about it was the way it handled envelopes, but that may have been a machine-specific problem and not a model-specific one. It is $499.99 with shipping, and there is a $100 rebate available. I do not believe it comes with full-yield toner cartridges, and the USB connection is only 1.1, and on top of all that, it's base memory is only 32MB.

I think the extra $103 is well worth it. The toner catridges alone I think justify the upgrade to the Samsung.


I am not a fan of Xerox. I would consider the Phaser 6100 if there is an audience of satisfied customers. My previous experiences with Xerox have not been particularly beneficial, but I realize companies can and do change.


As always, your thoughts are welcome!

[808smokey]

Personally I would go for the Samsung, Just seem to have better luck with them I guess. Another Reason

it comes with a full set of toner cartridges, not starter cartridges!

That right there is almost reason enough

[indolikaa]

Personally I would go for the Samsung, Just seem to have better luck with them I guess. Another Reason

it comes with a full set of toner cartridges, not starter cartridges!

That right there is almost reason enough

And I knew it was too good to be true.

newegg makes a note that the printer comes with a full set. But Samsung's interactive sales presentation, which is annoying as hell once you can work past the disco porn music, only quotes 2K for black and 1.5K for color.

Typical.

[rallynavvie]

Voip.

Xerox 6100 for $500 from Xerox. I'm sure there are resellers letting it go for less. Duplexes and handles legal so you can get better bleeds for your DVD covers.

I use Xerox for color printers whenever possible. I've got a 7700, two DocuColor 12s with Fiery rips, and one 6060. Service contracts are a pain on those though