Dell 2230d: An Inexpensive Monochrome Laser With Pricey Toner
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Dell 2230d Monochrome Laser Printer
The 2230d offers a few more features than its low-cost competitors do. It lacks ethernet, but Dell bundles a Wi-Fi adapter to supplement the built-in USB and parallel ports. It's the only low-cost model we've tested that offers automatic duplexing (two-sided printing). The main paper tray holds 250 sheets of legal-size paper; a second 250-sheet tray costs $100. A flip-out tray lets you feed single envelopes or other irregular-size media, with a rear exit slot for thicker pieces like cardstock.
Dell is also refreshingly spot-on in its speed claims for the 2230d. Dell says that the unit can print at speeds up to 35 pages per minute--and in our tests it got very close, reaching 33.9 ppm, an above-average speed compared with that of other monochrome lasers in our rankings. Print quality was predictable for this type of printer: No quibbles on the text quality, but graphics were murky and sometimes showed banding.
The 2330d's control panel leaves a lot to be desired. The controls consist of five small, rectangular LEDs and two stacked buttons. Each control is identified by a symbol rather than a text label. You will need to consult the user guide to identify the controls and to decipher the dizzying array of flashing and solid light combinations on the LEDs. That's a chore, too, as the guide lists over 20 pages of sequences.
What you save on the Dell 2230d's purchase price, you will quickly spend on replacement toner. Dell bundles a 1000-page starter cartridge with the printer. A 3500-page replacement-program cartridge costs $111, or 3.2 cents per page. You have no high-yield option. While that's the cheapest toner cost among the $199 monochrome lasers we've reviewed to date, it's still higher than average for this category of printer. If you need to print in high volume, you'll be better off paying a bit more up front for a model such as the Ricoh Aficio SP 3300DN; it cost $269 at review time and is nearly one cent cheaper per page to operate than the Dell 2230d.
The Dell 2330d succeeds in a modest way by providing good speed and paper handling for a low purchase price. Just be sure to keep the manual close by, and save up for the pricey toner replacements.
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