Dell 2130cn

March 2009. Reviews say the Dell Color Laser 2130cn is a quality budget laser printer for PCs, best for occasional home use or light office work. The price is not as low as the well-rated Dell 1320c (*est. $300), but the 2130cn comes with a lot more standard features, making it a better value. Another plus is a small footprint, about 16 inches square, although some owners still find it rather large for home use. Reviews say the print quality is very good on text, and graphics print reasonably quickly. Like all laser printers, the 2130cn's color photos are not as good as those from an inkjet printer, but reviewers are still pleased with its photo test results, noting that skin tones reproduce especially well. However, toner costs are reportedly high, especially for the standard (as opposed to high-yield) toner cartridges. Printers at this price are designed primarily for personal use. For a busy small office, reviews suggest the Xerox Phaser 6280N (*est. $500), which has a higher duty cycle, a larger paper tray and faster speeds.

The best comparative review for the Dell Color Laser 2130cn is by PC World, which shows how the printer's good and bad features rate relative to other current models. The U.K.'s Personal Computer World and Australia's Good Gear Guide also provide adequate coverage, although both reviews are not as comparative. In addition, their discussion of starter and operating costs isn't relevant to U.S. consumers as pricing is different abroad. Since the 2130cn is only available from Dell, most user reviews are available on the Dell website, though TestFreaks.com compiles owner reviews and lists other review-related statistics.