Photograph: Marc SimonWith its tiny size and tiny price--the lowest we've seen yet for a color laser printer--the $399 Konica Minolta Magicolor 2400W fits easily into any home office that often needs to produce full-color documents. Simplicity is the key to this attractive color laser, from its two-button control panel to its uncomplicated software.
To achieve this simplicity, the 2400W depends on your computer's CPU to render the pages, allowing the printer to use less memory and a cheaper processor of its own. This USB 2.0 printer works only with Windows PCs, not Macs. Plus, it lacks integrated ethernet and support for Windows printer sharing, limiting its appeal for small businesses.
Its single 200-sheet paper tray further restricts its appeal: Though that quantity will suffice for most home users, it may not be enough for a business. And with the 2400W, unlike with many other color lasers, you can't buy larger paper trays or a duplexer.
Nevertheless, the shipping 2400W that we tested proved a tremendous performer. It churned out text at 13.6 pages per minute and graphics at 3.2 ppm--slightly above the average mark of the color lasers we have tested recently. Print quality was outstanding, beating that of printers several times its price. We saw nice, sharp text, and even diminutive fonts were legible. It deftly handled our challenging line-art test, showing no evidence of banding. Photographic images were a little grainier than we usually see from laser printers, and the dark areas of our color image did lose some detail. However, color accuracy was excellent.
If you have modest paper demands, the new Magicolor 2400W is a good, economical choice for adding a splash of color to your printing.
Great for personal use, this low-price printer produces attractive color documents.
Price when reviewed: $399
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