Product:
Price:
Intended Users:
M252dw
$300
Small workgroup
Speed Color:
Processor:
Memory:
19ppm
800MHz
256MB
Product Overview
The new Color LaserJet Pro M252dw is HP’s newest entry in its single-function printer lineup. At $300, it prints up to 19ppm in both color and black. Its first page out time is 11.5 seconds in black and 13 seconds in color.
The M252dw is among the newest HP printers with its new JetIntelligence, a new toner cartridge technology that delivers higher page yields with less internal wear (requiring less heat to melt). The JetIntelligence cartridges also has anti-fraud features that can identify fake cartridges and allows companies to set printing policies for printing cost management. In addition, a new features called JetAdvantage Private Print helps prevent unauthorized access to print jobs by storing them in the cloud until a users authenticates his/her print jobs for release.
More details on the M252dw is in our Features section below.
The M252dw provides small offices and workgroups strong features that help them save money and get better printing workflows. We are mostly impressed with its new toner technology, mobile printing capabilities, and the JetAdvantage security feature.
Features
The M252dw starts with an 800MHz processor and 256MB of memory (not expandable). PCL, PostScript, and PDF direct printing are supported. USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi are all standard. The M252dw support mobile printing via HP ePrint, Wi-Fi direct printing, Apple AirPrint, and mobile apps.
There is also a 3″ color touchscreen with swiping functionality that displays three buttons (Home, Help, and Back).
Paper handling is a 150-sheet standard input tray. Output is a 100-sheet bin. Automatic duplexing is supported. The monthly duty cycle is 30,000 pages but HP recommends an average volume of 250 to 2,500 pages per month.
In addition to the JetAdvantage Private Print, other security features include password protection and secure browsing in the embedded Web server, enable/disable network ports, and firewall and LDAP authentication in the HP ePrint.
The M252dw is shipped with four toner cartridges (CMYK) that yields at 1,500 pages for black and 1,400 pages for each color. Replacement cartridges has much higher page yields: 2,800 pages for black and 2,300 pages for each color. Based on these higher yields, we calculate the cost-per-page as 3.2 cents in black and 16.2 cents in color. The color per-page cost is a little high but reasonable for this level of the market. With the JetIntelligence toner cartridges and higher page yields, users can still save money in the long run.
- Automatic Document Feeder?
- Duplexing?
- Ethernet Connectivity?
- Wireless Connectivity?
- Mobile Printing/Scanning?
- Finishers?
Shortcomings
With its 19ppm speed and 150-sheet paper capacity, the M252dw is too slow for larger offices.
About
Hewlett-Packard (HP) needs little introduction in any discussion of printers, a market in which it exercises commanding leadership. HP has become a leader in connectivity for its printers, offering a variety of internal and external options. In addition to a variety of servers, many that are Web-ready, HP offers Wireless Ethernet (Wi-Fi or IEEE 802.11b or g) and Bluetooth wireless protocols. In general, the company offers the widest variety of connectivity options in the business.
In addition to printers and MFPs, HP also sells scanners, PCs/laptops, servers, and software.
Ink jets: HP manufactures and sells an extensive lineup of ink jet printers. In addition, it sells one of the few ink jet printers that we classify as “business class,” that is, printers that really have a place in a business environment. The definition of “business class” for us is narrower than that used by HP itself, and it includes the availability of several of the following: networking and automatic duplexing, decent speed at office resolution (600dpi), PCL and/or PostScript, and more than minimal paper supplies. A few HP ink jet models now compete with its own and others’ laser models, and we expect to see more and more advances in this area.
