• Recommend:
• 0 Comments

Proletariat Printer: SuperScript Gets the Job Done

NEC's new $349 SuperScript 870 laser printer delivers crisp text and graphics in a low-cost package.

By Laurianne McLaughlin and Karen Silver, edited by Glenn McDonald   

For small or home offices, NEC's new $349 SuperScript 870 is a solid player. It costs slightly less than the popular Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 6Lse (which sells for $399), and it runs faster. In PC World lab tests of a shipping unit, the NEC printed about 7 pages of text per minute and 3.9 pages of graphics per minute--quicker than most lasers in the same price class. The HP 6Lse, for example, runs at 5.1 pages per minute for text and 3 pages per minute for graphics.

As for print quality, NEC's 600-by-600-dpi resolution produces text that looks crisp and clean, even at small sizes. Graphics seem a bit dark but show good detail. The SuperScript 870 has a sleeker, more stylish and compact design than its predecessor, the SuperScript 860.

The printer's simple control panel is a plus, as is the straight paper path that accommodates a wide range of paper, envelopes, and cards. Home-office users will appreciate the Learning Company applications bundled with the printer: Project Manager Pro 1.0, Labels Unlimited 2.0, Business Card Pro 1.0, Form Designer Pro 1.0, and Calendar Creator 5.02.

One small gripe: Though the printer manual includes a good nine-page troubleshooting section, we would have preferred more illustrations and a more complete index. Overall, with its combination of speedy printing, low price, and ease of use, the SuperScript 870 is a winner.

For the complete story, see the upcoming September issue of PC World magazine.