Lanier SP 5100 Toner Cartridges

Lanier SP 5100 Printer Review

For a desktop laser model, the Lanier SP 5100 is surprisingly fast and capable. It can output up to 45 pages per minute, and prints the first page in as little as 8.5 seconds. It also supports upgrades such as more RAM and extra paper capacity to allow for future growth, but buyers should beware of high operating costs.

Although it sports a desktop design, it may be a bit too large for very tight spaces. The unit measures 13.8x15.5x17.8 inches, and its weight of 43.3 pounds might be a bit heavy for personal use, even though it also includes the weight of the Lanier SP 5100 printer toner supply. With a warm-up time of only 45 seconds, it could feasibly be turned off when not in use without too much of a delay, however, saving energy.

The paper capacity starts out with both a 500-sheet standard tray and a 100-sheet bypass tray for alternative media. Users can then expand it further with optional trays up to a maximum of 2,100 sheets if they need more capacity. Because of its networking support, the device is sometimes referred to as the SP 5100N, but it also includes a USB port for those who prefer to connect directly to a PC.

The process of replacing toners is simple enough, but the cost of Lanier SP 5100 toner cartridges turns out to be a big drawback. Each Lanier SP 5100 toner cartridge has an estimated yield of around 20,000 pages, but prices are higher than equivalent supplies for competing models, degrading its overall value.

Small office users who want fast speeds and sharp output quality will be drawn to the SP 5100, and for good reason. Its upgradeable paper capacity is also a nice bonus for an office expecting to grow in the near future, but the cost of Lanier SP 5100 toner makes high-volume printing an expensive proposition.