The Infoprint 1372n’s outdated documentation made a bad impression. The setup guide and the CD-based user reference mention
its similar predecessors, but not the Infoprint 1372n itself. IBM says the included “What’s New” booklet covers the Infoprint
1372n’s differences adequately, and the company has no plans to update the rest of the documentation.
Kyocera Ecosys FS-9520DN
Kyocera Mita’s Ecosys FS-9520DN runs neck-and-neck with HP’s LaserJet 9000dn on almost every measure, including print quality.
Its super-low cost of consumables is the envy of all. If you don’t mind a slightly rougher experience, the FS-9520DN is as
good a choice as the LaserJet 9000dn.
After a smooth setup, we encountered an odd problem: We couldn’t access the printer’s CD-based documentation via the disc’s
navigation screen. We had to use the back door — launching Windows Explorer to search for the file. Kyocera said it had not
seen this problem before; we hope it’s a fluke.
The FS-9520DN’s bristling feature set includes standard duplexing, a high monthly duty cycle, the highest maximum paper capacity,
and tabloid-ready paper trays. Its winning performance included the fastest load-test time and excellent print quality. Text
looked clean and precise. Graphics looked somewhat dark and often showed moiré, but their overall quality still exceeded that
of the LaserJet 9000dn. The FS-9520DN’s graphics speed, however, was among the slowest of the group.
A host of mostly minor design flaws separate the FS-9520DN from its more refined LaserJet 9000dn competition. The control
panel’s terse pidgin requires a little interpretation, as do its buttons. Inside the printer, Kyocera colored some user-touchable
handles and levers a noticeably bright green, but others, colored gray, fade confusingly into the mechanics. Sturdy metal
rods can be pulled out from either side of the printer for hauling it, litter-style, but something this unusual should be
labeled. The paper trays have inadequate markings. Worse, as we attempted to remove a paper tray, the rear paper guide caught
on the printer’s casing as we tilted the tray upward to clear the rollers. A metal tab prevents serious breakage, but the
problem persists.
Because you’ll spend far less on the FS-9520DN’s consumables than for those of any other printer we tested, you might be willing
to overlook its minor shortcomings. We consider it the equal of HP’s LaserJet 9000dn.
Lexmark T634
Lexmark’s T634 is virtually identical to IBM’s Infoprint 1372n (Lexmark is the OEM for both), but unfortunately it fares a
little worse in comparison. It’s equally expandable and fast, and it offers the excellent MarkVision management software.
But it also possesses equally annoying design elements, and its print quality and pricing are worse.
The T634’s design deserves points for its maximum 336MB of memory and 4,100 sheets of paper (with optional trays). The paper
trays that come with the printer, however, suffer from cheap plastic parts and imprecise markings for the paper guides. The
multipurpose tray, though cleverly designed, is terribly flimsy. When using the control panel, we often wondered whether to
press the menu, return, or arrow keys. The messages on the LCD were difficult to decipher and generally not helpful. Aside
from a small “What’s New” booklet, Lexmark’s documentation fails to mention the T634 model, only its similar predecessors.
The T634 equals its twin’s performance only in its print speeds. Its print quality was a little worse: Text, though still
well-formed, looked a little heavy. Graphics tended to look dark, with areas of moiré, roughness, or jagged curves.
Cost was the T634’s ultimate downfall. Both the purchase price and the cost of consumables exceed those of its twin (Lexmark’s
Return Program cartridges offer better value). The Infoprint 1372n is the better deal of the pair, but in this price class,
we prefer Xerox’s Phaser 4500N.
Xerox Phaser 4500N
Xerox’s Phaser 4500N is admittedly the lowest-end of the office printers we reviewed, offering a modest 36ppm top engine speed
and a mere 1,800-page maximum paper capacity for its affordable price. We still prefer it, however, to IBM’s Infoprint 1372n
and Lexmark’s T634, because it’s better designed and easier to use. If you need more expandability or features, check out
beefier models in the Phaser 4500 product line.
Using the Phaser 4500N proved largely pleasurable, with a near-automatic setup plus Xerox’s excellent documentation and sophisticated
CentreWare management tools. The control panel is easy to navigate, and the messages on its LCD are wonderfully communicative
and helpful. The design has a few shortcomings, however. The toner cartridge’s complete lack of markings make it unclear where
you can touch it, and the paper-size markings on the trays can be hard to see. A rear-door lever and paper-tray cover are
insufficiently documented. But for a low-end printer, the Phaser 4500N cuts admirably few corners.
Although it can’t possibly keep up with the faster-engine printers in this roundup, the Phaser 4500N competed well on principle,
getting closer to its rated speed than the others on both the load test and the plain-text test, and faring nearly as well
when printing graphics. Quality posed a tougher challenge: Letters erred on the thin-and-light side, going feathery on smaller
and more intricate fonts. Graphics looked rough, with noticeable jaggies; photos looked washed-out, with noticeable moiré
and a little banding.
The Phaser 4500N’s weakest point is cost. Although it’s cheap to acquire, its lower-capacity consumables will cost more over
time. We rank the printer’s overall implementation higher than that of its closest competition, IBM’s Infoprint 1372n and
Lexmark’s T634, however, so we’d still recommend it over the others.
Your choice of fast printers ranges from highly expandable starter models to husky monsters outfitted for the highest and
most varied traffic. Because they all excel in text quality and print at least passable graphics, your criteria should focus
on features, design, and cost of consumables. HP’s LaserJet 9000dn and Kyocera’s Ecosys FS-9520DN get our nod at the high-end,
while Xerox’s Phaser 4500N proved a scrappy entry-level contender.
Contributing Editor Victor R. Garza developed and conducted the load test for this article.
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