Xerox Phaser 8500DN

Description: The Xerox Phaser 8500DN is a 24 ppm, color laser printer. Compared to other color lasers on the market, it is midpriced at around $1,340. This unit prints at 600dpi.

Pros: With paper trays installed, this printer has a capacity of 1675 sheets total capacity. This printer supports color at a resolution of 600 dpi x 600 dpi. Equipped with an network connection, the Xerox Phaser 8500DN can act as a standalone print-server. This unit also supports duplex printing, which allows you to print on both sides of a page in a single pass. At 600 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: Only prints at 24 ppm speed, which is somewhat slower than some similarly priced lasers. For example, the Xerox Phaser 6360DN , at around $1, 375, prints at 42 ppm speed.

Suitability: A color laser printer, suited for printing images, presentations, as well as documents in color. This printer is capable of accepting pages up to legal (8.5 in x 14 in) and A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in).

Value: Overall, this laser printer's features seem a bit weak for its price, compared to most other lasers. Furthermore, color printers with similar resolution tend to cost closer to $1,033.

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