Samsung ML-3471ND Printer Review
The Samsung ML-3471ND is a monochrome laser printer designed for small to medium office environments. Its toner save feature will save on operating costs, and its speed and print quality will impress. Home offices users should probably consider a smaller model.
While the ML-3471ND is designed for small offices, that does not mean it can't handle high-volume printing. In fact, some of its capacities and specs would lead one to believe it is intended for bigger uses. It has a monthly duty cycle of 50,000 pages, enough for a high-volume office. Its paper capacities include a 250 sheet standard tray and a 50 sheet multipurpose tray. If that is not enough, a second 250 sheet tray can be added for more capacity.
The ML-3471ND also has some nice convenience features. Two of its major features are easily accessible from its front panel: duplexing and "toner save" mode. When invoked, the duplexing feature will make two-sided printing the default, saving on paper costs. The "toner save" mode uses less toner per page, greatly reducing toner costs over the life of the machine.
The printer support a wide variety of media types and sizes including transparencies, envelopes, card stock, labels, and postcards. It features a fold-out output option for media that will not easily bend to accommodate the upper output tray. It supports all modern versions of Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It includes USB 2.0 and parallel connections as standard, and an ethernet port on the "N" models.
Print speeds are downright fast, at up to 35 pages per minute, and its first print out time of 8.5 seconds or less means no long wait times for printing to begin. Print quality is especially sharp, owing to its 1200 dpi printing engine.
Overall, the Samsung ML-3471ND is an impressive laser printer with just the right balance of features and price. Although it is priced a little higher than competing models, the total cost of ownership can be lowered if users implement the duplexing and toner saving features on a regular basis, and it is still much more affordable to maintain than some.
