12 Color Laser Printers Explored

Lexmark C772n

The C772n is also a senior sibling to the C532n in all the ways that count. It's bigger, with dimensions of 20.8" x 23.8" x 18.5" (52.8cm x 60.5cm x 47cm) and heavier too, weighing in at 105 lbs (47.6 kg). It features an awesome 120,000-page monthly duty cycle, and comes equipped with 256 MB RAM (upgradeable by 512 MB to 768 MB, with the same memory technology as the C532n). It's also considerably more expensive, at street prices in the $950 to $1,110 range. Other than the aforementioned, what else does the added cost buy? Read on for some interesting answers.

The C772n even looks like the C532n's bigger brother!

For one thing, this unit comes with an amazing array of optional paper handling accessories. These include a 5-bin mailbox, a 650-sheet output tray, an automatic stapler, a duplex unit, up to two additional 500-sheet paper drawers, an envelope drawer, and a 2,000-sheet high-capacity feeder. Obviously we're barging into the area where serious office equipment holds sway, but at a very low price for that end of the market. As with other Lexmark printers, the C772n also handles an amazing array of paper types, sizes, weights, and finishes, including all major North American and European formats. The unit is also extremely manageable, and includes a built-in SSL-enabled embedded Web server for remote access, configuration and control.

As with the C532, toner cartridges come in extra high yield, high yield, and standard varieties, with both return and non-return pricing on all items. An extra high-yield black cartridge is rated for 15,000 pages and costs $171 (return) or $197 (non-return). CYM color cartridges are also rated at 15,000 pages and cost $381 (return) or $441 (non-return) each. Standard black cartridges are rated at 6,000 pages and cost $122 (return) or $149 (non-return); CMY standard color cartridges carry the same page rating, and cost $200 (return) or $260 (non-return). High yield cartridges are rated for 10,000 pages, and fall between the two other categories in price.

Other interesting accessories include various wireless print and Gigabit Ethernet print server add-ons, at prices ranging from $150 to $300. A multi-function print (MFP) option for copy, fax, scan-to-email, and e-routing capabilities is available, but costs an impressive $2,100.

All in all, this is one heck of a powerful laser printer that puts out good color and black-and-white documents, and also does a good job with line art, graphics, and near-photo quality image output. It's expensive by personal or SOHO standards, but can handle more and do more than most of the other printers covered here.