Single-function mono-laser printers are
currently enjoying something of a revival in the home and small-business
market. This Dell B1260dn is one low-cost option.
Predictably square and compact, the B1260dn
does its best to appear unassuming in its all-back casing. It feels relatively
robust, and prints efficiently without paper jams.
Dell
B1260dn
Given that Dell’s two key selling points
for this model are price and speed, most features are basic and designed with
usability in mind. The controls are kept to a discreet column on the top right,
comprising warning lights for toner and status, plus four buttons for power,
stop, test print and Eco mode.
The B1260dn is also short on connectivity
options, offering only a single USB 2.0 and one Ethernet port for hookup to a
PC or network. We aren’t surprised to not find Wi-Fi at this price, although
Samsung has .managed to include it in its even cheaper ML-2955DW (reviewed at
tinyurl.com/ccLszdm).
The Dell does support printing through
various mobile platforms, including Dell Mobile Print, AirPrint and Google
Cloud Print.
The input capacity from the 250-sheet paper
tray found in the base is supplement by a 10-sheet multipurpose tray at the
Dell’s front. This tray is frustratingly stiff to release and reconnect.
There’s also a 150-sheet output tray, which folds down from the top and is, by
contrast, very user-friendly.
You
can choose to use a $76.5 standard black toner cartridge that stretches to
1,500 pages, which works out at 3.4p per page, or a $102 higher-yield
2,500-page cartridge, which costs 2.7p per page.
The B1260dn offers fast print speeds. We
recorded 25 pages per minute (ppm) for text documents, which dropped to a still
reasonable 12ppm in auto-duplex mode.
Mono-laser printers often produce graphics
that are noticeably darker than the originals, but the Dell’s print quality is
very good.
Whether the B1260dn is suitable for your
purposes may ultimately be decided by your monthly printing volume. Dell
specifies a monthly duty cycle of 20,000 pages, which is around 1,000 pages per
working day.
You can choose to use a $76.5 standard
black toner cartridge that stretches to 1,500 pages, which works out at 3.4p
per page, or a $102 higher-yield 2,500-page cartridge, which costs 2.7p per
page.
Verdict
The low-cost Dell B1260dn is worth
considering if your business’ print requirements are modest. It’s quick to
print and offers good-quality results, but we’d like to see wireless
connectivity included and slightly cheaper running costs.
Specification
Mono laser printer; 64MB memory;
1200x1200dpi print resolution; 28ppm specified speed; auto duplex; 250-sheet
input; 10/100 ethernet; USB 2.0; 348x338x197mm; 7.2kg
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Details
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Price: $196.5
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Contact: dell.com
Verdict: 3/5
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Build: 3.5/5
·
Features: 2.5/5
·
Performance: 3.5/5
·
Value: 3/5
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