HP 6ML Printer Review
The HP LaserJet 6ML is a monochrome laser printer designed for the home or small office user. It has Mac compatibility and excellent print quality to offer, but it is underpowered and slow compared to the competition, such as the HP 1020 toner printer.
For a personal laser printer, the HP LaserJet 6ML is a little light on paper capacity. The printer holds only 100 sheets, while many competing units hold 250 sheets or more. The input and output trays are both located on the top of the unit, making paper jams more likely, as the paper path is bent. Its design is also a little bulkier than the average personal laser. The printer measures 9 inches by 13.2 inches by 12.3 inches and weighs 15.4 pounds.
Another design problem is a lack of connectivity options. The 6ML has only a parallel port connection. As parallel ports are uncommon on modern computers, users will need to convert to USB. Networking is possible with a print server or host computer, but no ethernet port is included. The printer's weak processor of 24 MHz and only 1 MB of RAM will make network sharing a slow process anyway. Another annoyance is the disposal of cartridges, which should be recycled.
HP 6ML toner cartridges are affordably-priced, resulting in a low cost per page. Using the EcoSave mode of the printer will help users get even more from each HP LaserJet 6ML toner cartridge. Each HP 6ML toner cartridge has a capacity of 2,500 pages. Using third-party compatible HP LaserJet 6ML toner will save even more money. Print quality is excellent. Text is sharp and detailed, and graphics are quite good, however if color graphics or photos are desired, try the Dell 3100cn toner printer. Print speed is very slow, at only 6 pages per minute, especially when compared to competing models.
Overall, the HP LaserJet 6ML has the benefit of excellent print quality and Mac compatibility, but its slow speeds and lack of USB port make it a poor value when competing printers offer so much more for the money.
