Xerox Phaser 6280N

March 2009. If you need a laser printer mostly for text, but still require color capability, reviews say the Xerox Phaser 6280N is your best bet for PCs and Macs. The 6280N replaces the highly regarded Xerox Phaser 6180N and boasts improvements over its predecessor. Among its features are PostScript compatibility and upgradeable RAM (it comes with 256 MB), which is helpful for networked printers and large jobs. For about $100 more, you can get the Phaser 6280DN with two-sided (duplex) printing. Reviewers agree that color quality can be variable (two noticed a slight imbalance in magenta tones). While this is a concern for some, others find it makes printouts look more vibrant. Photo quality is described as sharp and good for a color laser printer. The Xerox Phaser 6280N is touted as one of the faster printers at this price, and the text quality is as good as you could want. Printers in this class are not designed for heavy office use -- exceeding 60,000 pages in a month could void the one-year warranty -- but for a small office of three or four, it's a good choice.

British publications Computer Shopper and PC Pro are among the first to review the new Xerox Phaser 6280N, although consumers should note that both cite British prices for the printer and its consumables, which do not necessarily reflect costs in the U.S. PCMag.com reviews many printers, including the 6280N's predecessor model, the Xerox Phaser 6180N, but has yet to evaluate the 6280N.