Samsung ML-1630

Despite the Samsung ML-1630's budget price tag, it stands head and shoulders above its competitors in terms of looks; so much so that Apple has deemed it stylish enough to grace its online store.

The sleek black design is minimal to say the least, with just a touch-sensitive job-cancel button on the top, and a power switch on the back. The display is a matrix of blue LEDs, which show information such as how many sheets are left to print and, occasionally, some animated eye-candy.

The chassis itself is very small, too; 330 x 370 x 120mm is compact even for a personal laser. The only sticking point is the paper guide, which juts out of the front as if it were an afterthought. The construction is very solid overall though, and it feels built to last.

There are problems, however, with speed being the main disappointment. Averaging 15 pages per minute in our mono document tests, and slinking down to 13 pages per minute for more complex PDF documents, it's trounced by the A-Listed Brother HL-5240 (web ID: 110661), which manages nearly twice that rate.

The paper tray is also relatively limited at a 100-sheet capacity - a necessary concession given the form factor of the printer. While that's fine for occasional home use, it's inconvenient in an office environment. The lack of network attachment also reduces its appeal when used in more complex home or small-business setups.

One element that isn't in question is the quality, with text showing the requisite crisp edges and solidity that we'd expect from a modern laser. Graphics are reproduced with reasonable ability, too, and while there's a slight over-enthusiasm with toner amounts, there's no discernable banding and the dithering patterns are subtle.

In the home, the modest speed and paper capacity won't be that much of a deterrent, and it will certainly sit happily alongside any PC, no matter how stylish, delivering more than adequate quality and running costs.

However, if you want to equip an office where capacity and speed are more important, you'll find the Brother HL-5240 is both cheaper and faster.

Author: Matthew Sparkes