Samsung ML-1630

To supplement this Times-Square-like light show, an icon of the printer, installed in Windows' system tray, brings up on-screen status alerts in plain English and includes buttons that lead to helpful, context-sensitive troubleshooting guides; driver settings; or online supply ordering. The PDF-based User's Guide is helpful and detailed, though it suffers sporadically from bad translation.

Can this thing print? Yes. Text pages appeared at an average rate of 17.2 pages per minute, while photos topped out at a reasonable 6.2 ppm--good clips for a home or small-office model, though the HP LaserJet P1505, which has the same price, was significantly faster on both counts. Text samples we printed looked delicate, but black and precise. Photos tended to come out dark and showed slight banding, but were satisfactory.

The ML-1630's consumables are as compact as the machine itself--which also makes them costly. When you finish the 1000-page starter cartridge, the 2000-page replacement will cost you $69--or about 3 cents per page.

The very stylish ML-1630 flouts the monochrome laser printer's reputation for dull efficiency. It's a decent machine whose low-capacity input tray and pricey toner restrict it to individuals or small offices that wouldn't mind sacrificing some usefulness for style.

--Melissa Riofrio