Sharp AR-M257 Toner Cartridges

Sharp AR-M257 Printer Review

The Sharp AR-M257 is a multifunction copier that starts with copying and basic printing functions, but can be upgraded to include network printing, scanning, and even faxing. Its print and copy speeds of up to 25 pages per minute are fairly slow, but low prices for Sharp AR-M257 printer toner are its most appealing aspect.

Although the AR-M257 comes with a print feature in its standard configuration, it is pretty limited, with only a USB and parallel port available for direct connection to one PC. This is not particularly useful for such a large device, but network printing is available as an upgrade, allowing it to be shared among multiple users in a networked office.

The network scanning feature is also a very worthwhile upgrade that can help users save on Sharp AR-M257 toner by embracing digital workflows instead. The included Sharpdesk Software makes it easy to manage scanned documents, and quickly share them around the office. Users can also send a scanned document right from the touchscreen control panel, sending it via email, saving to a desktop computer or FTP server, or even sharing a URL that links directly to the file, saving on bandwidth by allowing access to many users from a single upload, and all in one step.

Toners are easily replaced from the side panel, and the single Sharp AR-M257 toner cartridge has a large capacity of 25,000 pages, so users won't have to be replacing them often. Third-party sellers offer compatible Sharp AR-M257 toner cartridges at a lower price than OEM supplies, which gives users a cost per page that is only a fraction of a cent.

With solid paper handling and a bevy of upgrade options to choose from, buyers can really customize the Sharp AR-M257 to their liking. Its slower speeds could be an issue in a fast-paced work environment, however.