Dell 1720 mono laser printer

The good: Inexpensive; low print costs; excellent text print quality; fast prints; generous support terms; built-in networking and duplex in the 1720dn.

The bad: Minor cross-hatching in graphics prints.

The bottom line: The Dell 1720dn offers fast prints and good print quality, making it an excellent mono laser printer for small offices or work groups.

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Description: The Dell 1720 is a 30 ppm, monochrome workgroup laser printer. Compared to other monochrome workgroup lasers on the market, it is very inexpensive at around $160. This unit features 1200dpi.

Pros: At 16" x14" x10", this printer doesn't take up much room, making it ideal as a desktop printer or for use in a small office. Capable of connecting to a computer with a USB port, this printer also has a parallel port for older systems. Holding 250 sheets without using optional trays, this product goes longer between refills than many other printers. At 366 MHz this printer has a fast processor, which speeds up the printing of complex documents such as images. (A fast processor allows complex documents to be translated into printed graphics and text at a faster rate.)

Cons: This laser printer does not support two-sided printing.

Suitability: A monochrome workgroup laser printer, suited for high volume document printing. This printer can handle legal (8.5 in x 14 in) and A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in) documents.

Value: In view of its very inexpensive price, this laser printer has great features for the money.

Suggestions: For help in finding the right printer for you, visit CNet's buying guide for printers