Sharp AL-1215 Printer Review
The Sharp AL-1215 digital laser copier has a desktop-friendly, lightweight design and a solid output speed of 12 pages per minute, but it lacks the printing and scanning functions of the multifunction models in its line. This makes it best-suited to low-volume personal or small office use, where its affordable purchase price and inexpensive Sharp AL-1215 printer toner will be the most beneficial.
The unit's light-duty design incorporates a 250-sheet main paper tray with a single-sheet bypass slot for secondary media types. It lacks a document feeder for scanning, but the flatbed platen is flexible, supporting sizes up to 8.5x14 inches, and users can make up to 99 copies from an original. The first copy out time is around 9.6 seconds, so it is very quick to start on a new task as well.
The machine measures 11.6 inches high, with a footprint of 18.2x20.4 inches, which is a little large compared to some inkjet all-in-one models, but pretty compact for laser unit. It weighs only a little over 35 pounds, even with the drum and Sharp AL-1215 toner installed, making for an easy setup process. Users won't get a lot of bells and whistles, but standard features like automatic and manual exposure settings and zoom settings from 25 to 400% provide essential functionality for what users need most.
A Toner Save mode is available, though it is a little challenging to invoke, that will help lengthen the interval between replacement toners. The single black Sharp AL-1215 toner cartridge is rated for an estimated yield of 6,000 pages, so it will last a long time in the average small office. Prices for Sharp AL-1215 toner cartridges are impressively low, keeping the cost per page manageable.
Other models in its series like the AL-1530 offer more features like a document feeder and printing and scanning capabilities, but it is hard to beat the Sharp AL-1215's combination of affordable price and compact size for an individual or a small office. Its simple, single-purpose design could be just what certain buyers need, without paying for unnecessary extras.