Sharp AL-1220 Toner Cartridges

Sharp AL-1220 Printer Review

Sharp has practically perfected the concept of the affordable and compact laser copier, and the Sharp AL-1220 is no exception. Though its speed of 12 copies per minute won't compete with large models, it should be more than adequate for the small office or even the home. Good detail and output quality combine with affordable Sharp AL-1220 toner supplies to make it much less expensive to operate than the average inkjet model, and only a little larger.

In a small office, and especially in a home, space is often a major consideration. The AL-1220 impresses with measurements of 15x20.4x18.8 inches and a total weight of a little less than 50 pounds (including Sharp AL-1220 toner cartridges and drum). Despite its small size, however, it is solid on performance, with a fast first copy time of 9.6 seconds.

The basic control panel provides just enough control of features without being difficult to use. A few features, like the Toner Save mode that reduces Sharp AL-1220 printer toner usage per page require a little more button pushing than users might like, but keeping the manual handy can alleviate these minor issues. Copies can be reduced and enlarged from 50 to 200%, and both automatic and manual exposure settings are available for fine-tuning.

Of course, the main draw of a laser model like the AL-1220 is its inexpensive toners. While the cost of replacement supplies might seem steep to buyers used to inkjet models, the 6,000-page capacity of each Sharp AL-1220 toner cartridge will quickly change their mind, as it results in a much lower cost per page.

The Sharp AL-1220 is a great solution for a small office of a few users or even for the home office that goes through a lot of copies. Its low retail price and affordable supplies along with its simple operation make it an excellent value.