Take RAM and hard drive prices for instance: today, you can buy 32 MB of either EDO or SDRAM for your computer and you'll pay less than $90. As for hard drives, it's been only two years since we tested the very latest 1.2 GB drives which, at the time, were considered so roomy that it was hard to imagine ever running out of space.
Today, we're seeing average hard drive capacities of 3.2 or 4.3 GB, while, the latest generation of 8.4 GB models sell for just over $500. We're also seeing video cards with 8 MB RAM, CD-Recordable drives selling for under $500, 120 MB floppy drives becoming the PC standard-and the list goes on and on.
Where will it end? It won't! So if you're waiting for just the right time to make a purchase, forget it. You might as well just buy it today and enjoy the benefits and stop thinking about the fact that six months from now it'll be half the price. And don't lose any sleep over knowing that one year from today, there will be something newer and better on the market, because we all know it's true and every bit as predictable as the setting sun.
The fact is that because technology is moving at such an incredible pace, it's next to impossible to keep up unless you have more money than you know what to do with, or you happen to work in The Computer Paper's Test Lab.
This month we look at another great example of technology that has become so affordable that every home and small business will be using it as often as they use the fax machine. Indeed, the laser printer has become not only affordable, but an indispensable tool that can save you time, money, and even a lot of suffering.
Buying a personal laser printer should be treated no differently than buying any other piece of hardware for your PC. You're looking for reliability, price/performance and overall quality. The good news is you don't have to be a computer expert to buy a good laser printer. All it takes is a little bit of research (which you're already doing), a bit of comparative shopping, and of course, some of your hard-earned money.
The models we review this month range from very basic models to units with lots of bells and whistles. All offer something to meet the individual needs of your home or small office. If you're on a tight budget, you'll find the Okidata 4w, which offers 600 dpi (dots per inch)-class output, an average speed of 4 pages per minute (ppm) and sells for around $299 on the street. If you're looking for something with a little more zing, the Fujitsu PrintPartner 10v offers 600 dpi output at 10 ppm for roughly $750. No matter what your budget or needs, there's something in this month's roundup of printers that is sure to please.
Just like a PC
Much of a printer's performance will depend on its internal design and engineering, just as your computer depends on its own makeup of components. A laser printer has a CPU, its own RAM, and a performance factor that is generally a combination of the two.
The CPU inside a laser printer is commonly referred to as the raster image processor, or RIP. This processor is responsible for "rasterizing" the image that you want to print. This process involves communication between your computer and the printer's RIP. Basically, the computer sends all of the required image details to the image processor, which translates that image into a pattern of dots (called a bit-image) before it is printed.
This bit-image is like a blueprint of whatever it is you are about to print. It's actually quite a feat for the printer's processor to complete this task, considering that it has to plan out the entire image to be printed and must know the exact number and positioning of each and every dot that will be put onto the paper. As you can probably guess, the RIP inside a printer will play a significant role in determining the printer's overall speed.
Depending on the printer, its internal processor can range anywhere from 12 MHz in the average consumer-oriented product, up to 66 MHz RISC processors in network lasers. The printer's processor will also determine how long you have to wait before your first page begins to print after you've pressed the print button.
A printer with a more advanced processor will begin printing even the most complex documents in just a few seconds. For the most part, if what you're printing consists mostly of text, this really won't be an issue since every printer has enough processing power to handle simple tasks.
The only time you should be concerned about getting a unit with a more advanced processor is if you frequently print large documents that contain both text and graphics, or simply graphics alone. But for the average user or small office where letters, reports and the odd charts are being printed, any one of the models we reviewed this month will do the job quite admirably.
If you're really curious as to what processor is inside the printer, you may be able to find it on the manufacturer's Web site under the technical specifications for your printer, or in the manual. This tends to be the case mainly with high-end networkable lasers where the printer's processor is highly relevant, and not so much with entry-level models.
When deciding on the speed of your future printer, try not to concern yourself too much with the processor, since you will seldom have a choice. Be glad that the printer has a processor at all, saving your PC's processor from having to do even more work. For a home or small office, a printer capable of printing at 4 to 6 ppm will serve you just fine. Anything beyond that and you can expect to pay a premium, although not nearly as much as a few months ago.
As mentioned earlier, the Fujitsu PrintPartner 10v is a great example of a 10 ppm printer for just over $700. If you know for a fact your printer will be used a couple of times a week, get something that can do 4 ppm. If you'll be printing quite a few times a day, you may want to consider something in the 6 ppm range. Or, if your printer will be part of a small office or shared among several PCs, go for something like the PrintPartner 10v.
Memory needs
Once again, your printer resembles your PC in the way that it uses RAM to store the rasterized image before it will be printed. Some printers, through their bundled software and drivers, will make use of your computer's RAM for storing this information, while others rely on their very own stockpile.
And although RAM prices for PCs have plummeted, this does not necessarily hold true for the printer market. Some of the newer printers use standard SIMM modules, while others rely on proprietary modules. If at all possible, you should get a printer that can accept standard SIMM modules since prices are so incredibly low right now that you can outfit your printer with 32 MB for under $100 (assuming your printer can handle that much RAM).
It wasn't long ago that printers with 16 MB were found only in publishing houses and imaging shops. Today it's a totally different story. To determine how much RAM your printer should have, you once again have to base your decision on what the printer will be printing most often. If it's simply a matter of printing letters and reports, then 1 or 2 MB should do just fine.
However, if your needs include documents that have a mix of text and graphics, you'll want to consider getting a few additional megabytes. But once again, beware! If the printer you're considering does not support standard SIMM modules, you could be looking at spending several times the amount per megabyte.
Some printers available today will have some form of memory management built into the printer. This commonly involves using data compression techniques in order to minimize the amount of raw data needed to be stored in the printer's RAM. This can be a lower-cost alternative to reducing the total memory the printer will have, especially if the printer requires proprietary memory modules. Hewlett-Packard uses something called memory enhancement technology (MEt) to describe its memory management technique.
Lexmark printers, on the other hand, use their own RAMSmart intelligent memory management. Similar implementations are also available from other manufacturers under various names.
Printer resolution
Just as megahertz are used to measure a processors speed, dpi is used to measure a printer's output quality, or resolution. Basically, the higher the resolution, the better the printout quality will be. Although modern laser printers can achieve resolutions of 1,200x1,200 dpi, they are considerably more expensive than the models we reviewed in this month's roundup.
A good resolution for a laser printer is known as true 600 dpi. Whenever a printer is said to be "true 600 dpi" it means the printer can place a total of 600 times 600 dots, or 360,000 dots in one square inch. If the unit is advertised as being "600 dpi-class" it means it makes use of resolution enhancing technology to smooth out edges to give the image a sharper overall appearance.
The resolution of a printer is important because it determines just how good the printout looks. Let's say that you print an image on a 300 dpi and a 600 dpi printer. The image printed at 600 dpi will have four times the number of dots as the image printed at 300 dpi.
Why is that important? Because everything your printer gives you is made up of dots, so the more dots that go into producing an image on paper, the more detail you can see and the better the overall quality of the printout. You'll notice a considerable difference when printing graphical images, but as far as text goes, it would take a trained eye to tell the difference between a letter printed at 300 dpi or 600 dpi. Since most 600 dpi lasers are so inexpensive today, the only reason you should settle for a 300 dpi model is if you're really tight on cash.
Other things to consider
Another important consideration before buying a printer is the cost of consumables. This includes not only the obvious things, such as paper, but also the costs of toner and/or drum units.
Each printer model will have a specific type of toner cartridge that can cost anywhere from $49 to $150. Most cartridges are designed to print at least 2,000 pages at an average yield of five percent coverage. Others will print as many as 5,000 pages, but at a price. For the most part, drum life isn't really a concern with the printers we reviewed since the drum and toner cartridge are purchased as one unit in most of these models
Aside from consumables, you may also want to consider getting a printer with more than one paper tray. If you frequently print on regular letterhead and labels at the same time, it can quickly become a nuisance if you to switch back and forth using one paper tray. An additional paper tray, which can hold from 100 to 250 pages, may cost you a few bucks, but it can be a worthwhile investment.
The bottom line
Shopping for a laser printer should not be a painstaking event, nor should you lose any rest over the matter. When you really think about it, the number of important things to consider is not at all overwhelming. You have to basically decide three things:
We recommend the following. If you can spend the additional cash, go for a printer that can handle 6 ppm. Although you may not think you'll need it, you never know how your needs might change in a few months.
Where resolution is concerned, we recommend getting a unit that can handle true 600 dpi printing. Although the resolution enhancement used in some printers can help a great deal for 300 dpi printers, it's still not quite the same as looking at a document printed in true 600 dpi.
As far as price goes, this month's survey clearly shows there are great quality printers out there for as little as $400. If you feel your needs are somewhat more demanding, there's even a 10 ppm unit for around $750. With a bit of planning and shopping around, you could quite easily end up the proud owner of your very own laser printer capable of making sharp printouts you once only dreamed about.
This month, we asked manufacturers to send us what they would classify as personal laser printers for either home or small office use. Our only requirement was that the printers should have a street price of $1,000 or less. We received a nice assortment of models ranging from 4 ppm units all the way up to 10 ppm, using resolutions all the way up to 1,200 dpi-class. No matter what your needs may be, there's bound to be something that will catch your eye in this month's roundup.
Brother HL-1060
If your needs are more demanding than those of a typical home or small office user, Brother had you in mind when it designed the HL-1060. It features an impressive resolution of 1,200x600 dpi, and can handle up to 10 pages per minute using its RS3041 20 MHz processor. It comes standard with 2 MB of RAM that can be expanded to 34 MB using standard SIMM modules.
Thanks to Brother's own Advanced Photoscale Technology (APT), the HL-1060 can deliver 1,200 dpi-class output. With two input trays capable of holding 200 sheets of paper each, you won't have to do as many paper refills as you would with other printers. One of the most impressive features of the HL-1060 is its straight paper path, which greatly reduces crumpling on virtually any media type. The toner is good for about 2,200 pages and cartridges cost roughly $45. The estimated street price on the HL-1060 is very competitive at $699, making it an ideal choice for a small office environment.
Fujitsu PrintPartner 10v
One of the most impressive machines in this month's survey is the PrintPartner 10v from Fujitsu. It offers all the benefits of more expensive machines but is priced to be affordable by small offices, while still not entirely out of the reach of most home users.
Based on the SPARC Lite 20 MHz processor, the PrintPartner 10v can print at up to 10 ppm at a maximum resolution of 600x2,400, placing it into the category of 1,200 dpi-class. The user can also configure it to print at either 300 or 600 dpi when the 1,200 dpi-class resolution is not required.
With 3 MB of RAM standard, most print jobs will be handled very well, but should your needs be more complex, you can expand the machine to a total of 67 MB with industry standard SIMMs. This can be a great option, especially for small office environments.
The standard input tray can accommodate 250 sheets, but with the optional trays available, you can increase that to a total of 850 sheets. The parallel interface comes standard with the 10v, but there is optional support for either serial, Ethernet or LocalTalk connections. Toner cartridges are rated at 5,000 sheets and can be purchased for only $50. Since the toner and drum units are completely separate, you'll only have to replace the drum unit after approximately 30,000 printouts.
The PrintPartner 10v is a very impressive machine that sells for $730. It comes with an unmatched 18-month warranty, with the first year being on site.
Hewlett Packard LaserJet 6L
Replacing the popular LaserJet 5L is the new 6L. It offers pretty much all of the features of the 5L, with some additional enhancements. The 6L is a true 600x600 dpi printer, capable of printing at 6 ppm with the help of its Motorola 68030 24 MHz processor.
It has a standard complement of 1 MB RAM, upgradable to 9 MB using proprietary HP memory modules. The typical warm-up time associated with most laser printers is not something you'll have to worry about thanks to HP's patented instant-on fuser. Thanks to HP's Resolution Enhancement technology (REt), your documents look even sharper. The 6L also has 26 built-in fonts, supports PCL5 printing and has a standard 100-sheet paper tray.
A standard toner cartridge is good for roughly 2,500 sheets, and costs approximately $96, and that price includes a drum unit. Priced at about $520, the 6L comes with a one-year Express Exchange limited warranty on parts and labor, which ensures next-business day replacement.
Lexmark Optra E+
It's no secret that the Optra E series of printers are a particular favorite here at TCP Labs. The excellent design, small footprint and superb print quality all combine to make this printer an ideal choice for both home or small office. The all new E+ continues in the Lexmark tradition of offering true 600x600 dpi printing and can do so at 6 ppm with the help of its AMD 29205 16 MHz processor.
The Optra E+ has 2 MB of RAM-1 MB more than its predecessor, the Optra E. That can be further upgraded to 6 MB using proprietary Lexmark memory modules. A parallel interface is standard on the unit, while serial and Ethernet are available as options.
Standard issue with every Lexmark printer is the MarkVision print management utility. With MarkVision, the user control of various printer functions in a well laid out graphical interface under Windows 3.x or Windows 95. Here you can monitor printer status, fine tune certain settings and toggle various options on or off. The toner cartridges are good for around 3,000 pages, while the separate photoconductor unit is good for up to 20,000 prints.
Thanks to recent price cuts by Lexmark, the Optra E+ has a suggested retail price of $590, and comes with a standard one-year LexExpress warranty.
Okidata Okipage 4w
We first saw the Okipage 4w around this time last year when the product was introduced. Our immediate reaction was "wow, that is one small printer!" The same thing happened this time around once we unpacked the unit. It's amazing to think of how much work goes into designing a laser printer, and even more so when you look at something as small as the 4w.
Although the 4w lacks any built-in support for PCL emulation, you still have access to any number of fonts within Windows 3.x or Windows 95. Support for DOS applications is also provided, although you must be in the Windows DOS prompt to use it. Considering the fact that this printer can be found for $299, it's an excellent value for someone looking to add a small laser printer to their home or small office.
Technically speaking, however, Okidata printers use LED (light emitting diode) technology rather than laser light to imprint the image onto the paper, but you'll never know the difference when comparing printouts. Output from the 4w looked excellent, with solid black text remaining sharp even on the smallest of fonts. Since the 4w has a limited 128 KB of built-in memory, it will rely on your PC's memory supply to handle more complicated print jobs. With an average street price of $299 and a limited one-year, overnight exchange warranty, the Okipage 4w is very hard to resist.
Okidata Okipage 6e
The successor to the OL600e in Okidata's line of LED printers is the model 6e. It offers an excellent price/performance ratio, not to mention some pretty impressive design specifications.
The 6e is considered a 1,200 dpi-class machine, capable of printing at a maximum resolution of 300x1,200 dpi. With a standard RAM complement of 1 MB and a MIPS R3000 25 MHz processor, the 6e can sustain print speeds of 6 ppm, and can be expanded to a total of 18 MB.
Print quality on the 6e was quite good, delivering sharp text and well balanced gray tones in graphical images. The toner cartridge is good for roughly 2,200 pages and costs about $40. As with its 4w cousin, the 6e comes with a one-year, overnight exchange warranty. With an average street price of $420, the Okipage 6e is ideal for both home and small office environments.
Xerox DocuPrint 4508
The DocuPrint 4508 from Xerox is another machine that we first saw around this time last year. With a true 600x600 dpi resolution and a maximum printing speed of 8 ppm, the DocuPrint 4508 leaves very little to be desired. It comes standard with 2 MB of RAM, which is further expandable to 34 MB using industry standard SIMM modules-a definite bonus.
The standard input tray can accommodate 250 sheets, while an additional 250-sheet tray is available. Print quality was undoubtedly among the best in its class. The standard toner cartridge in this unit is rated for 5,000 pages and costs less than $100 to replace. It comes standard with a one-year, depot service warranty, which can be upgraded to two years for an additional $50. All things considered, the DocuPrint 4508 is a solid performer from top to bottom, for a suggested retail price of $999.
Performance: Fujitsu PrintPartner 10V
It didn't take long to realize that with its 10 ppm print speed and maximum resolution of 600x2,400, the PrintPartner 10V was well on its way to winning the Performance award this month. For an average street price of $730, this printer offers everything you could want in a personal laser printer, and then some.
Price/Performance: Lexmark Optra E+
This month was harder than most to pick a price/performance winner simply because there were fewer printers in the roundup, and of those that were present, each had several desirable options. But in the end, this category looks at how much value you get for your dollar.
Although the Optra E+ may be more expensive than other entry-level lasers, its overall solid design and engineering make it an excellent choice. When you open up the cover on this machine, it has quality written all over it. If you're considering this printer for a small office environment, you'll also benefit from having the option of installing an Ethernet adapter into the printer for instant networkability. There's also a postscript option, as well as a high duty cycle of 10,000 pages per month.
Overall: Xerox DocuPrint 4508
The DocuPrint 4508 from Xerox was a standout. It offers print speeds of 8 ppm, true 600x600 dpi output, a 20 MHz processor, RAM upgradeable to 34 MB using standard SIMMs, and it produces superior printouts. If you want a no-nonsense laser printer for your home or small office, this is the one to get.
The article above is from TCP Online April 1998 Issue