For only $100, you can get the Samsung ML 6050 printer. It is intended to replace the more expensive inkjet devices. Ever since it was released, it has dominated the price conscious market. Although it is considered an entry-level printer, it has a performance level and print quality from the ML 6050 toner cartridges that rivals its more expensive counterparts.
The machine can churn out 12 pages in a minute. This makes it one of the fastest sub $100 laser printers ever introduced. It also has a 550 sheet paper tray, which makes frequent loading of paper a thing of the past. These are just two of the features that make this device great.
It is running on a 67 MHz processor and 4 MB memory. The memory is limited, but you have the option to upgrade it up to 68 MB. Installing additional memory will help the printer in terms of handling loads of printing. The memory uses the old 72-pin EDO SIMM, which may be hard to find since it is now rarely used by new laser printers.
This Samsung model was able to deliver good, acceptable printing quality. The texts were sharp and the graphics were fine and subtle. However, we did encounter some problems when using the 1,200 dpi setting under the Samsung Resolution Enhancement Technology. We had to reduce the resolution to 600 dpi so that the printer would print. As with most laser printers, it is not suited for detailed printing.
The package includes a ML 6050 replacement toner that can print 3,000 pages. You can also buy a new one for about $100, which makes each page cost around 3.3 cents. This is a little expensive for a laser printer. If you want to save a lot more money, you can always use the Toner Save feature. This is a great feature if you are printing text documents since it only uses half the amount of toner. A single page can cost 1.65 cents with Toner Save, which is a lot lower than any personal laser printer. Bear in mind this is not recommended for graphic printing since it cause some contrast problems.
As for its connectivity, you can connect it through the USB or parallel ports. Having the option as to which port to use is a big plus; this is especially helpful for people who use a laptop, since they have a limited number of USB slots. Unfortunately, this model does have an Ethernet port. However, you can get its twin, the ML 6060, which has 10/100 Base-T Ethernet port for networking. The only difference between the two is the price and the Ethernet port.
Power consumption is about the same with other laser printers. It uses around 300 watts when in printing. When it is on standby, it consumes 30 watts. The machine also complies with the EPA Energy Star Standard.
It has a standard one-year warranty. Samsung also offers 24/7 technical support over the phone. Additionally, you can get the latest drivers at their website to maximize compatibility.
The Samsung ML 6050 is a great printer if you are on a budget. This inexpensive device outperforms most of its counterparts. The high capacity tray and low printing cost are two main factors that make this product highly recommended. However, if you want a photo printer, you need to consider another model since this is only good for printing documents and spreadsheets.
For the types of printing for which this device is geared, the ML 6050 compatible toner performs admirably. Anyone familiar with Samsung toner won’t find this surprising, however, locating replacement toner online at great prices will be a pleasant find.