The Dell 3100cn color laser printer is a versatile printer that can not only accommodate a single user but can also can excel in a small business environment.
The clarity of the output of the Dell 3100cn color laser printer outranks most other models in its class. The color graphics are outstanding and rival that of an inkjet without the possibility of blurred edges with wet ink prints. Loading the 4000 page count Dell 3100cn toner cartridges into the machine is a little bit of a hassle as it utilizes a carousel design. In order to load each color laser toner cartridge, you need to use the LCD to rotate the printer toner cartridge to the front. Toner costs stack up well, even with more expensive models. For example, Dell 5110cn toner cartridges have a similar cost per page, despite having twice the capacity. The fact that most of Dell's cartridges are very similar keeps costs low. For example, Dell 3010cn toner is nearly identical in capacity and price. Users who need more capacity will want to not that Dell 3115cn toner cartridges have twice the capacity, at a similar cost per page.
The unit weighs in at a hefty 72 pounds but a remarkably small footprint of 16 square inches. Standard capacity includes a 400 sheet paper tray that will allow for large documents to be able completed without being forced to continuously reload the paper tray. The unit comes equipped with 3 ports: parallel, USB and ethernet for network printing. Other additional options can be upgraded such as a 500-sheet paper tray and duplexing capability.
The print speed is a slow 4 pages per minute color but gets nearly 20 pages per minute while printing in black and white. The substantial increase in pages is based on the fact that the mono prints only require 1 pass with the black toner cartridge while color prints require 4 independent passes from each toner cartridge.
Overall the Dell 3100 is a versatile machine that can be used for personal use or in a small business setting. Available networking capabilities and high volume outputs make this an affordable solution for almost any user.
