Lexmark E352dn

The rest of the design is generally good. Duplex printing comes standard, along with parallel, USB, and ethernet connections. The 250-sheet, letter/legal-size input tray has a little flex, and its length guide suffered from hard-to-see markings. A 550-sheet input tray is available. A manual-feed slot feeds thicker media through to a foldout rear exit tray.

A side button pops open the printer's front to reveal the toner cartridge assembly. A generously sized, 3000-page recyclable cartridge comes with the printer. The toner and the photoconductor are separate parts; though this design should make for cheaper consumables, the E352dn's costs are just middling. The returnable replacements cost $95.50 for 3500 pages (2.7 cents per page), or $175.50 for 9000 pages (1.9 cents per page). The nonrecyclable versions cost a little more. The photoconductor lasts 30,000 pages and costs just $37.50 to replace, adding a small fraction of a penny per page.

The automated installation requires only a few clicks to select the files and connection type. The documentation includes a largely wordless setup poster (in 14 languages) and PDF-based guides to menu options and basic use, as well as an all-encompassing user guide that covers maintenance and other topics. Network management and status utilities are available on the CD as well.

The E352dn is compact enough to fit in a small-workgroup environment, but it's got the power and expandability to accommodate growing needs as well. The higher price includes many features that will pay off in the long run.

--Melissa Riofrio