Samsung ML 2251N > Reviews > Network laser with strong price/performance

Author's product rating:   

Picture quality	Excellent
Printing speed	Very fast
Colour sensitivity	Good
Ease of use	Very easy
Value For Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Great paper handling, excellent print quality
Disadvantages:	Support less extensive than better - known rivals

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

By and large, modern laser printers have stunning print performance whatever the brand. What separates the workhorses from the prancing ponies is paper handling, and this is a budget printer that excels in this area.

Holding capacity of 300 sheets is excellent, with an accessible and robust paper tray. The manual feed tray is unusually large as well, holding up to 50 sheets easily.

Print results are great time after time on every type of paper and many envelopes, jams are rare and there's no need for complex software drivers, this is a true standalone network printer. That last feature is rather important in use. Many printers claim speeds comparable to the 22ppm quoted here, but often the printer engine relies on the software driver and speed will suffer with other applications running. Not a problem here - the job goes straight to the printer memory, and prints without any further load on your computer. Fed up with your memory full of printer applications? This could be your answer.

Design is simple and practical. Surfaces are smooth and easily cleaned, so it looks pleasant in home and office environments.

For regular paper use there's no need to get to the back of the printer. But for specialist applications such as thick card, you will want to use the flattest path through the printer which means flipping open the manual feed cover at the front and the exit at the back: both are reassuringly robust and show no ill effects from frequent use.

In normal use, though, paper emerges into a deep tray (flipping out a small retaining arm guarantees that even flimsy paper doesn't curl over and out onto the floor) that keeps it extremely even, important for special tasks like duplexing (assuming you don't purchase a duplexing unit).

Ink distribution is even, and printing at 1200 dpi is of very fine quality, with crisp reading even up close. I tend to have my default print setting as a 2-up format, and these are still easy on the eye with none of the jagged effects or the occasional print glitches that let down so many more economical printers.

There is only one button serving two functions - 'Cancel' or change the toner save status - and two status lights - 'On-line/error' and 'Toner save'. As a network printer, you have the choice of installing standard TCP/IP printing or Samsung's own Syncthru utility that provides some additional management. Power management is intelligent, and the unit uses a standard cable and has a separate on/off rocker switch.

The world of laser printers is highly competitive. With the ML 2251N printer Samsung offers a highly credible choice for small office/home office/workgroup use.