Dell 1720dn

With offices that have workgroups distributed all over, having the Dell Laser 1720dn handle different printing jobs is definitely worthwhile. This black and white printer comes in a small, sleek model which belies the number of its specifications.

First of all, the printer comes with a 250-sheet paper tray placed at the bottom of the printer’s body. If that isn’t enough, then Dell offers an optional 550-sheet drawer which can be attached to the printer. Dell states that the Dell 1720dn can print up to 30 pages per minute, yet, speed may vary from one printer to another with use. Other media can also be printed thanks to an adjustable manual feed tray. Thicker material will be a problem for the printer’s rollers, thus you should be careful when using those.

Due to its 1200 dpi resolution, the quality of the printer’s output is quite good. Black and white text printouts are sharp and clear, even when the font printed is small. Yet, when it comes to graphics, despite the Dell 1720dn producing detailed and sharp images, cross-hatching and slow speed were also part of the outcome at times.

Besides all that, the maximum duty cycle of this printer is 25,000 pages per month, which is a good number if you need to print out quite often (slightly less than a 100 pages a day). In addition, the Dell 1720dn comes with an Instant Warm-up technology that reduces the time needed for the printer to actually print the first page.

Another strong point of this printer is its built-in networking. The printer comes with Ethernet connections so that different PCs connected to a network can send their print jobs simultaneously to the printer rather than having to plug each one separately. Even wireless networks can use this printer after buying the Dell Wireless Printer Adapter. As for setting the printer up on a network, all you need to do is follow the automated installation routine that comes with the software bundle.

Speaking of which, the software bundle provides a toner management utility to keep tabs on the levels of toner in the cartridge, and a web-based management utility to manipulate the printer over a network. The latter can also prompt certain users through email whenever toner levels start decreasing.

The Dell 1720dn is a good printer for producing quality text printouts and simple graphics, however, when it comes to serving a network, this printer is quite an asset for any small to medium-sized office.