Sharp AR-153E Printer Review
The Sharp AR-153E is a digital laser copier and that could fit on a fairly large desktop surface. Printing and color scanning are also supported, but require optional upgrades. Sharp AR-153E printer toner supplies are affordable enough for smaller budgets and the unit can reach speeds of up to 15 pages per minute.
The base model of the AR-153E starts out with a 30-sheet automatic document feeder, and can even be upgraded to a single-pass duplexing feeder for faster processing. The total input capacity is 300 sheets, with a 250-sheet main tray and a 50-sheet bypass feeder. An extra 250-sheet tray can be added, for a total of 550 sheets.
The downside of adding extra paper capacity is that the device will get a bit taller, though its compact footprint of 31.9x19.4 inches will stay the same. It's worth noting that the machine might be a little heavier than some buyers expect, at around 35.3 pounds, and this doesn't include the Sharp AR-153E toner supply.
Output quality is fairly sharp, at a maximum of 600 dpi when copying or printing. Users can connect it via USB or parallel port, and the AR-153EN model comes with networking included. Only Windows operating systems are supported, however, so Mac users are left out in the cold.
When it is time to replace the Sharp AR-153E toner cartridge, buyers might be surprised how affordable replacements can be. Each Sharp AR-153E toner cartridge has an estimated yield of 6,500 pages as well, so they are very cost-effective, and toners are easy to replace.
The AR-153E won't be the perfect solution for every home user or small office, but its optional upgrades, solid speeds, and inexpensive operating costs make it a good value for a low price. Adding printing and scanning will turn it into a small workhorse that can handle a lot of tasks.
