Sharp AL-1642CS Toner Cartridges

Sharp AL-1642CS Printer Review

The Sharp AL-1642CS multifunction laser copier builds on the success of smaller models in its line and expands with twice the paper capacity and the same fast speeds of up to 16 copies per minute and 12 pages per minute while printing. Its Sharp AL-1642CS printer toner is still just as affordable, however, and it still sports a compact design that is great for a small office.

With the alternate name of AL-1642, the CS in the model name draws attention to its excellent copying and scanning functions, which are very well-designed. Sitting atop the machine is a 30-sheet automatic document feeder for quick scans, and two 250-sheet input trays are available as well. A 50-sheet bypass tray can handle media like envelopes and transparencies.

The machine measures 18.3x20.4x19.4 inches and weighs a little over 50 pounds, though this includes the weight of the drum unit and Sharp AL-1642CS toner supply. Both a USB and parallel interface are included for connecting to a computer for printing and scanning, but only Windows PCs are supported, with Mac and Linux users forced to look elsewhere.

High-capacity toners can make all the difference in operating costs, and Sharp AL-1642CS toner cartridges have a surprisingly large page yield for such a small unit, with up to 6,000 pages. This keeps the cost per page of Sharp AL-1642CS toner cartridges well below one cent, and makes the machine very affordable to operate.

The AL-1642CS provides a lot of functionality in a very small package. It could be a comfortable fit on most desk surfaces, and yet it offers quick speeds and fast response times, along with inexpensive supplies, making it an excellent value and one of the better models in its class.