Review: Dell Color Laser Printers 2130cn 2135cn Good Deal?

Dell Color Laser Printers (2130cn, 2135cn)

*Good deal only if you plan on using compatible or re-manufactured toner cartridges – or if you want to refill your own cartridges.  Dell toner prices are incredibly high, do not buy these printers if you plan on using Dell brand toner.

$209 for the 2130cn -- $299 for the 2135cn

Same Cartridges:

While these two printers use the same toner cartridges, the Dell part numbers are different for each printer.  The manufacturer part number is the same, but the dell part numbers are different. The Dell color laser printer 2135cn has multifunction abilities, while it’s sister the Dell color laser printer 2130cn is simply a printer.

At some point the transfer belt and print head, which are buried deep inside the printer, will need replacing.  As far as we can tell, these are not user replaceable, and there are no part numbers or ways to order on the Dell.com website. We assume that the transfer belt and internal print head would be covered by the warranty – if still under warranty.  It might be a good idea to pay for the additional service option if the printer will see heavy use.

New Design:

What peaked our interest in these printers is the way that Dell/Lexmark have designed the actual toner cartridge.  Cartridges for this printer are merely “toner holders”, and there is a “trap door” that releases toner as needed into the printer.  The only moving part inside the toner cartridge is a scooper that turns when toner is required by the printer.  Very neat design, but one has to wonder how long the internal belt/print head will last.

Toner cartridges for this printer series go in the side of the printer - they are nothing but "toner holders." There is no printing hardware in the individual cartridges.

Toner Cartridges:

Again with the two different “sizes” of toner cartridges.  Funny thing is, they are NOT different sizes; Dell puts less toner in the cheaper cartridges, and a full cartridge will cost you full price.  The cartridges are physically the same size and shape, but one is full and one is “half-full.”

Dell 2130cn Half Full Cartridges:

• Black – T102C – 330-1416 – 1,000 pages – $49.00
• Cyan – T103C – 330-1417 – 1,000 pages – $65.00
• Magenta – T105C – 330-1419 – 1,000 pages – $65.00
• Yellow – T104C – 330-1418 – 1,000 pages – $65.00

Dell 2135cn Half Full Cartridges:

• Black – T102C – 330-1385 – 1,000 pages – $49.00
• Cyan – T103C – 330-1386 – 1,000 pages – $65.00
• Magenta – T105C – 330-1388 – 1,000 pages – $65.00
• Yellow – T104C – 330-1387 – 1,000 pages – $65.00

That is $244.00 for a single set of toner cartridges.  Using the 5% coverage rating the cost per page clocks in at a hefty .24 cents per print, however you need to read this about what 5% coverage really looks like.  Actual cost per page will be much higher if you print full page documents.

Dell 2130cn Full Cartridges:

• Black – T106C – 330-1436 – 2,500 pages – $73.00
• Cyan – T107C – 330-1437 – 2,500 pages – $100.00
• Magenta – T109C – 330-1433 – 2,500 pages – $100.00
• Yellow – T108C – 330-1438 – 2,500 pages – $100.00

Dell 2135cn Full Cartridges:

• Black – T106C – 330-1389 – 2,500 pages – $73.00
• Cyan – T107C – 330-1390 – 2,500 pages – $100.00
• Magenta – T109C – 330-1392 – 2,500 pages – $100.00
• Yellow – T108C – 330-1391 – 2,500 pages – $100.00

That is $373.00 for a single set of toner cartridges.  If we use the 5% coverage rating, you are looking at .15 cents per print. There are inkjet printers on the market that have a lower cost per page, and that total price for a set of these toner cartridges is $164.00 more than the printer costs!  Still need evidence that printer manufacturers make all their money on toner/ink/consumables?

Both the Dell 2130cn color laser printer, and the 2135cn are identical in design (internally) to the Dell 1320c color laser printer we took a look at last week.

This cartridge is identical to what is used in the Dell 1320c color laser printer.

But wait, it’s a Dell printer!

Why anyone would purchase a Dell printer is confusing – you can only get toner from them, and they run out frequently.  On the surface this looks like a terrible choice for a printer as nobody prints at 5% coverage – that would be a small paragraph of text on every page.  A more realistic coverage estimate would be in the 20%-30% range, and that would put the cost per page into the stratosphere.  Having had multiple bad service experiences with Dell in the past, we are hesitant to recommend these printers – however, the availability of compatible toner cartridges for $20-$35 each, and the low entry price of $209-$299 from Dell direct make this printer a gamble worth taking.

Compatible Cartridges Only:

Compatible cartridges have received good reviews, and you can also refill them yourself – but there is a catch.  Dell puts a chip on the cartridges that must be replaced once the cartridge reaches “empty” on the status indicator – you cannot simply refill the cartridge and start printing again, the printer (via the chip) will think the cartridge is empty.  Fortunately the folks over at Static Control have “cracked the code” on the chips and replacements are available.  The chip on the cartridge cannot be reset, it must be physically replaced.  Compatible cartridges include a new chip necessary to register on the toner level indicator – so you know when to change cartridges.

Compatible Cartridges:

• Black – T106C – 330-1436, or 330-1389 – 2,500 pages – $25.00
• Cyan – T107C – 330-1437, or 330-1390 – 2,500 pages – $25.00
• Magenta – T109C – 330-1433, or 330-1392 – 2,500 pages – $25.00
• Yellow – T108C – 330-1438, or 330-1391 – 2,500 pages – $25.00

Using compatible cartridges results in a .04 cents per print range – much better.

Compatible cartridges

Google shopping for the Dell 2130cn color laser printer

Google shopping for the Dell 2135cn color laser printer

Review: Dell 1320c Color Laser Printer – Compatible Cartridges Make It Better

Dell 1320c Color Laser Printer

We are all looking for low cost color printing, and believe it or not a Dell laser printer makes the cut.  Why?  Because compatible cartridges are readily available for this model – they are super cheap and provide excellent printing quality.  If you plan on using Dell brand cartridges, skip this printer, there are better options out there.

The Dell 1320c Color Laser Printer. Good deal when combined with compatible cartridge use.

It’s definitely missing some features – no fax, no auto duplexing (print on both sides automatically), and the 600dpi resolution is low.  At some point the transfer belt and print head, which are buried deep inside the printer, will need replacing.  As far as we can tell, these are not user replaceable, and there are no part numbers or ways to order on the Dell.com website. We assume that the transfer belt and internal print head would be covered by the warranty – if still under warranty.  It might be a good idea to pay for the additional service option if the printer will see heavy use ($39.00 for 2-year warranty, up to $149 for 5-year warranty).

There is a good info page on this printer here:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/printers/review/2007/07/26/Dell-1320c-colour-laser-printer/p1

Dell markets two different toner volume cartridges for this printer, and as of this writing they will only work with this printer.  The low/high capacity cartridges are physically the same size and shape – Dell just puts more toner in the (full) more expensive cartridges, and less in the low capacity cartridges.

Low Capacity Toner:

• Black – T102C, 330-2874 – 1,000 pages – $49
• Cyan – T103c – 330-2875 – 1,000 pages – $65
• Magenta – T105c – 330-2877 – 1,000 pages – $65
• Yellow – T104c – 330-2876 – 1,000 pages – $65

$244 total for all 4 cartridges = .24 cents per print (based on 5% coverage)

Full Toner Cartridges:

• Black – KU052 – 310-9058 – 2,000 pages – $66
• Cyan – KU053 – 310-9060 – 2,000 pages – $87
• Magenta – KU055 – 310-9064 – 2,000 pages – $87
• Yellow – KU054 – 310-9062 – 2,000 pages $87

$327 total for all 4 cartridges = .17 cents per print (based on 5% coverage)

On the surface this looks like a terrible choice for a printer as nobody prints at 5% coverage.  That would be a small paragraph of text on every page – a more realistic coverage estimate would be in the 20%-30% range, and that would put the cost per page into the stratosphere.  Having had multiple bad service experiences with Dell in the past, we are hesitant to recommend this printer – however, the availability of compatible toner cartridges for $20-$35 each, and the low entry price $179 Dell direct make this printer a gamble worth taking.

More on what 5%, 10%, 20%, 30% coverage actually looks like.

Compatible Cartridges:

• Black – KU052 – 310-9058 – 2,000 pages – $25
• Cyan – KU053 – 310-9060 – 2,000 pages – $25
• Magenta – KU055 – 310-9064 – 2,000 pages – $25
• Yellow – KU054 – 310-9062 – 2,000 pages $25

$100.00 total?!  That works out to be .05 cents per print!  That is more like it.

A New Cartridge Design:

What peaked our interest in this printer is the way that Dell/Lexmark have designed the actual toner cartridge.  Cartridges for this printer are merely “toner holders”, and there is a “trap door” that releases toner as needed into the printer.  The only moving part inside the toner cartridge is a scooper that turns when toner is required by the printer.  Very neat design, but one has to wonder how long the internal belt/print head will last.

Use Compatible Cartridges:

Compatible cartridges have received good reviews, and you can also refill them yourself – but there is a catch.  Dell puts a chip on the cartridges that must be replaced once the cartridge reaches “empty” on the status indicator – you cannot simply refill the cartridge and start printing again, the printer (via the chip) thinks the cartridge is empty.  If the chip is not replaced, the printer will still think the cartridge is empty.  Fortunately the folks over at Static Control have “cracked the code” on the chips and replacements are available.  The chip on the cartridge cannot be reset, it must be physically replaced.  Compatible cartridges include a new chip necessary to register on the toner level indicator – so you know when to change cartridges.

Time For A Refresh:

This printer was released back in 2007, so it is due for a refresh and a quick check of Staples.com reports that this printer is a “low stock clearance item.” If you are interested in this printer better act fast as the replacement will likely have different cartridges – these cartridges are just too easy to refill or re-manufacture, and printer manufacturers do NOT make much money on the hardware – it’s all about the ink/toner.

Google pricing info for the Dell 1320c

Compatible cartridges