Dell M5200n

Average User Rating

2.5 stars

5 reviews

Pricing not available

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CNET Editors' Review

The good: Good print quality; network ready; high maximum paper-input capacity; plenty of expansion options; low price.

The bad: Plastic paper trays and doors feel lightweight; slightly less IT-oriented support than you get from HP.

The bottom line: This low-cost, Ethernet-ready printer will grow along with your business, but Dell's IT-support offerings don't yet match the competition's.

Review: Dell's new 35-page-per-minute workgroup laser printer, the M5200n, is competing for small businesses' printing needs against industry stalwarts, such as Hewlett-Packard's ... Expand full review
Dell's new 35-page-per-minute workgroup laser printer, the M5200n, is competing for small businesses' printing needs against industry stalwarts, such as Hewlett-Packard's LaserJet 4200--and in most ways, it holds its own. The base-model M5200n that we tested costs less than $1,000--quite a bargain for a workgroup printer. For the price, you get a speedy, expandable, network-ready laser that costs considerably less than a similarly equipped model from HP. We have two reservations: Some parts feel flimsy, and Dell offers slightly less-comprehensive IT-support resources than HP does.

The Dell M5200n is about the standard size for a workgroup laser printer, measuring 17.2 inches wide by 20.2 inches deep by 16 inches high and weighing 45 pounds. It sports a curved belly that breaks up the monotony of its otherwise cubic shape; its black and gunmetal-gray plastics match Dell's PC color scheme. One USB and one Ethernet port are built into the back of the printer (cables are not included). A single-line LCD command center built into the front of the printer lets you manage the resolution and the toner levels, select the printer language, and access the network menu.

Text  
Text/graphics  
HP LaserJet 4200
24.2 
7.7 
Dell M5200n
19.3 
10.7 
Xerox Phaser 4400N
19 
12.5 
HP LaserJet 2300dtn
18.1 
13.9 
Note: Pages per minute.
Laser printer quality
•Poor   ••Fair   •••Good   ••••Excellent
 Printer  Text  Graphics
 Dell M5200n ••• •••
 HP LaserJet 4200 ••• •••
 HP LaserJet 2300dtn ••• •••
 Xerox Phaser 4400N ••• •••

When it comes to service and support, Dell's offerings are nearly on a par with those of corporate printing giant HP. The M5200n's standard package includes a one-year warranty with next-business-day onsite service, access to Dell's 24/7 phone support, and a wealth of Web-based tech-support options, such as e-mail support, a searchable knowledge base, downloadable drivers, and community forums for discussions with other users.

It's also easy to upgrade your service and support options when you buy your printer. Options include extending the warranty to three years ($199) or four ($349). Buying the three-year Gold Technical Support package ($89) gives you access to a separate 24/7, dedicated technical-support service, which, according to Dell, is more responsive.

What you don't get from Dell, however, is access to interactive, IT-oriented support through the printer software. For example, HP's workgroup printers include the HP Toolbox, which creates an Internet link between your printer and HP Instant Support. This link sends real-time information about your printer to HP for on-the-spot diagnoses; it also offers dynamic Web resources for troubleshooting. If an issue arises that you can't resolve by yourself or with a phone call, you'll have to wait for the technician to show up; depending on your service package, this could take between 4 and 24 hours.

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User Reviews

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Average User Rating

2.5 stars out of 5 user reviews

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star: 1
  • 4 star: 1
  • 3 star: 1
  • 2 star: 1
  • 1 star: 1

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Most recent user reviews

Showing 3 of 5 reviews

4.0 stars

"Excellent Value for the Money" By ljkdhall

Pros: Quick, good quality, easy to service

Cons: Nothing significant

Summary: Bought 3 of these to upgrade departments at my employer. Also looked at printers by HP and Lexmark, but this printer was half the price of
comparable printers. Fast printer, easy to setup and run. Reliable so far...we have a system that puts some demands on printers, especially that
... Expand full review

3.0 stars

"ENVELOPE FEEDER MAKES A HORRIBLE RATTLE" By

Pros: inexpensive, highly scaleable, and good looking.

Cons: ENVELOPES MAKES A HIDEOUS AND HORRIBLE "RATTLE" THAT IS --GET THIS-- "BY DESIGN." Apparently, the printer generates air pressure to keep the envelopes from crinkling. Its called "envelope enhancement." You can turn it off, and get mangled envelopes. L

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Which printer is right for me?

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Choosing the right printer can be a daunting task. There are several different types of printing technology to choose from, each suited for different needs. Printers come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny travel companions to workgroup workhorses; some are geared toward photographers, others are for multitaskers. And the many specifications for resolution and speed can be misleading. As a rule of thumb, inkjet printers are a must for long-lasting photos, while laser printers are best to produce speedy text documents.

We've compiled a handful of typical user experiences that should help outline what type of printer is right for you. Chances are, you'll fall somewhere in between two or more of these archetypes, so carefully consider what you'll be using your new printer for.

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