Canon i-sensys LBP3100 - DigitalVersus

Canon i-sensys LBP3100


OYYY	88.13
Misco UK	89.29




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Resolution	600 x 600 ppp
Speed B&W / color	16 / NA ppm
Ink drop size	NC picolitres
Number of cartridges	NA
Number of base colors	NA
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Scanner / Copier / Fax	non / non / non
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Nilofar Hadjanadjiboudine
Test date: December 31, 2008

All-in-one cartridge

When it comes to consumables, you get two options. Either the toner, drum and cleaning units are sold separately and ought to be replaced one by one, or you get the all-in-one version. Such is the case here but is it really a good thing? With separate unit cartridges, with time the printer wears out the drum and the quality of the prints suffers, in theory. The all in one option –which as a matter of fact is not that much more expensive- doesn’t affect the printer.

One can wonder though if it is really necessary to change the drum unit, which is rated at 20,000 pages. The toner is rated at 1,500 pages; this means that you could change the toner up to 13 times before starting to worry about the drum. Will you really be printing that much to use up 13 toners?

Similar in all points to the Canon i-sensys LBP-3010 save one: the LBP-3000 delivers it prints more speedily at 17 pages per minute (as opposed to the 14 ppm count). The warm up process here too takes less than 10 seconds and within 8 seconds your first page comes out.
The price tag is misleading as the cartridge in the box is rated at just 700 pages instead of the 1,500 pages on a regular version. This way Canon forces the customers to start buying consumables sooner. In comparison the Epson 6200L ships with a full capacity toner for 3,000 pages. In order to be able to compare the two, you have to do your maths, basing yourself on a 3,000-page capacity.

Speed and quality

Whereras the 3010 is a rather slow laser printer, the speed on the 3100 is average. It delivers the quoted 17 pages per minute. The first one prints quickly and the quality is very good. Text prints are excellent, deep and crisp. Photos and graphics come out better than with Brother's model, but Epson's and Lexmark's rate even higher. Bascially the LBP-3100 prints just like the LBP-3010.

The print mechanism here too is remarkably quiet, as you can see for yourself.

Cost per page

Its the same story here as for the LBP-3010. : the starter toner supplied is rated at just 700 pages whereas the replacement cartridge will last 1,500 pages.

cartridge	lifespan (pages)
Canon 712	1,500

Cartridge lifespan - ISO test for office

By supplying a toner toner that is only half-full will, Canon makes you spend your money sooner.

good quality text and graphics

quiet print mechanism

produces the first page very fast

all-in-one cartridge

drivers for Windows, Mac and Linux provided

starter toner rated at just 700 pages

cost per page is slightly above average price

Slower than others

No wireless or Ethernet connectivity

A part for being slightly faster than the 3010, everything else is pretty much the same. Quality is better, overall output slower and cost per page higher than with the other models in our roundup .