Samsung ML-2510

If you're after a small printer for high-quality, text-based documents, a personal mono laser could be the answer. Sheer print speed is the ML-2510's chief advantage. All our tests either matched or exceeded Samsung's claim of 24ppm. After a lengthy processing time of 25 seconds, a 50-page document printed in 2mins 26secs, while a complex 12-page Excel document finished in just 40 seconds: final print speeds of 25 and 26ppm respectively. Even a 20-page PDF with plenty of pictures didn't trip up the ML-2510: it finished in 47 seconds - a highly respectable 26ppm.

Text quality is as flawless as we'd expect but, as with all laser printers, complex graphics pose more of a problem. Our business charts were reasonably well presented: virtually any coloured background will produce obvious dithering, but it wasn't bad enough to obscure contrasted overlying text. Photographs and more complex artwork were unacceptable, though, as we saw not only unsubtle dithering, but also repeated instances of banding - indicative of a less-than-flawless paper mechanism. Images were recognisable, but not of sufficient quality for important documents.

On the plus side, the ML-2510 is exceptionally easy to take care of. The only removable part is the combined toner and drum, which means replacing a toner cartridge is a job that will take less than a minute. The cartridge itself will cost £49 (www.inmac.co.uk) and will print 3,000 pages, although the starter cartridge supplied only runs to a decidedly stingy 1,000 pages.

Still, once you're using the full-sized toner cartridge the ML-2510 runs relatively efficiently, costing just 1.6p per page (paper not included).

The ML-2510 has a few small advantages over the Lexmark E120. It's exactly the same price, which is impressive in itself, but is also cheaper to run than the Lexmark - 1.6p per page versus 2.3p. The Samsung is also four-pages-per-minute quicker, which will feel significant when it comes to printing larger documents. The only serious omission from the ML-2510 is an Ethernet port, which will be handy for the more advanced home office. The Lexmark does offer this, but this disadvantage aside, we recommend taking advantage of the Samsung's excellent speed and economy.

Author: Dave Stevenson