Samsung ML-1630W

Key Specs
Print Technology : Monochrome laserInterface : USB, Ethernet, wirelessMax. Paper Size: 8.5 x 11 inchesMax. Resolution: 1200 x 600 effective dpiDimensions (HWD): 14.1 x 13.8 x 4.8 inchesWeight : 15.3 pounds

Review
Reviewed by: Daniel Grotta & Sally Wiener Grotta Review Date: February 2009
The stylish and sexy Samsung ML-1630W laser printer resembles a fine Bang & Olufsen stereo component more than it does a piece of office equipment. Beyond its stunning appearance, the ML-1630W is a compact, quiet machine capable of generating very good text and business graphics. But setting up wireless network connectivity is overly complex, consumables are on the pricey side, and its paper-handling capabilities leave much to be desired.
At just under five inches high, the ebony black ML-1630W presents an attractively slim and sleek profile. Its super-shiny plastic surface is prone to showing dust, however, and an ugly, utilitarian 0.5 x 3-inch silver label on one of its sides mars its otherwise attractive appearance. At the rear are ports for the power cord, USB, and network cables. The only controls, Power and Stop, are touch spots on the unbroken top surface, and the neat-looking, electric blue LED control panel is similarly recessed and invisible when the power is off. A removable flap at the rear is good for clearing paper jams, and the front lid opens up for easy insertion or removal of the drum/toner cartridge.
Popping the top lid open for the first time can be a challenge because the recessed release is not apparent, nor is its location revealed until nearly halfway through the PDF user manual. Once we discovered how to open the lid, setup took less than 30 seconds. The only piece that must be attached is the clear plastic paper output tray. We would have preferred a built-in slide-out tray that can’t get knocked off and lost.
Software installation is simple—unless you are configuring the ML-1630W as a wireless network printer. First, you'll have to attach the printer to the Internet via a network cable; disable the computer’s firewall; hold the printer’s Stop button for four seconds, to print out the printer’s IP address on a configuration sheet; then manually type that IP address (first using the http:// command) in the browser’s address line. When the Samsung screen comes up, you click on Network and (finally) select either Manual Installation or Wizard. If the Wizard is unable to detect and initialize your printer’s wireless interface automatically, however, you will be required to enter your printer’s MAC address and router’s SSID address manually.
Despite repeated attempts—plus an hour on the telephone with Samsung’s tech support—we were unable to make the ML-1630W’s wireless interface work. Perhaps, as Samsung theorized, our router's hardware was not compatible with the printer's, but this whole process stands in stark contrast to the wireless setup for the Epson Artisan 800 inkjet MFP we tested recently; its setup wizard found our Wi-Fi network automatically and configured the printer accordingly.
It’s unfortunate that we were unable to attach the printer wirelessly, because we never got a chance to test Samsung's Smart Panel service, which sets up the ML-1630W to automatically report your printer’s current status or problems, change settings, or even order supplies by e-mail.
Because of its size, the ML-1630W paper tray can accommodate only up to 100 sheets. There is no built-in duplexer, nor can it print envelopes or on legal-size paper, and you must feed special media into the tray one sheet at a time. Worse yet, the discharge tray can only hold 30 sheets. All these compromises make the ML-1630W unsuitable as a SOHO or workgroup printer.
Print quality is very good. Although its default optical resolution is 600x600 dpi (which can be interpolated to 1200x600 dpi), text is sharp, clean, and well-formed, down to 4 points. Business graphics are good, and although photos exhibit no true blacks or whites, quality is typical for a laser printer. Although the interface also allows users to select normal, light, or dark output, as well as grayscale and toner-saving settings, we didn’t detect a significant difference between the various settings.
The ML-1630W print times are about average for this class of printer. Our 10-page test file of text, graphics, and photos took 45 seconds to print out at 1,200 dpi, with the first page taking 13 seconds. At 42 seconds, it was only marginally faster at 600 dpi. What’s nice is the blue LEDs in the lid display the number of pages printed.
The ML-1630W’s average cost per page is 4 cents, higher than many comparable laser printers. Frequent or heavy users should also factor in the cost of having the transfer roller, fuser unit, and paper feed roller replaced after only 50,000 copies.
We like the Samsung ML-1630W for its size and style. Its initial $199 price is attractive, too, although that's quickly overshadowed by the high cost of its consumables. If you want a pretty printer for occasional use on a fancy desk, you’ll love this unit. But if you have heavy printing requirements or need it to work on a wireless network, you can do better. Price (at time of review): $199.99