Sharp AL-1451 Review
Overview:
The AL-1451 model was discontinued in 2002; however, replacement parts and consumables such as toner cartridges and drums are still available for purchase. This compact 3-in-1 copier makes a suitable choice for very small businesses or home offices, where printing needs are relatively minor.
Pros:
The unit weighs approximately 49 pounds with dimensions of 20.4” x 18.8.” It need a large sized desk, or a shelf/credenza unit to sit comfortably.
The AL-1451 uses a stationary platen design for scanning, instead of a sliding platform to prevent its footprint from becoming bigger than its physical size. The ADF (automatic document feeder) allows for 30 sheets (single sided) legal sized originals. You can manually add more as your job completes. With 6MG of memory, the AL1451 can produce copies at a rate of 14 pages per minute, up to a maximum of 99 copies.
There are three resolutions and exposure modes with the AL-1451: auto, photo and manual. The default, or auto resolution is set to 600 x 300 dpi. The photo quality is 600 x 600 dpi (256 grayscale.) the magnification ranges from 50% to 200% and can be increased in 1% increments or by going through a set of 6 presets.
The control panel on the front of the AL-1451 is fairly simple to use, and doesn’t require a look in the manual to complete small and straightforward tasks. Users can select quantity, exposure, magnification and letter size (paper tray.) “Toner Save” mode can also be selected. There are indicator lights to warn users of low toner and, and drum replacement, as well as paper jams. It does not indicate exactly where the jam is inside of the unit, so you’ll have to figure that out for yourself.
The paper tray can hold as many as 250 sheets, and they can be either letter sized (8 ½” x 11”) or legal sized (8 ½” x 14”.) Non- standard sizes can also be manually fed (3.5” x 5.5”) for printing envelopes and other needs.
The AL-1451 works with an IBM computer or compatible machine; it works on Windows platforms 3.1x, 95, 98, ME, NT 4.0 and 2000.
Cons:
If you want to expand the memory or increase the paper capacity, you’re out of luck. The AL-1451 does not provide for expansion.
In today’s world of large projects and important documents, the 250 sheet tray seems undersized for an office. Even small businesses can go through at least 500 sheets in one day. Many offices buy their paper in packages of 500, and many even buy cases of 10 packs or more. It is an added convenience to be able to dump a whole package of paper into the tray, and it also saves time; something many users are already short of. When employees have to spend time filling up the paper trays, they are taken away from their duties, and thus, become less productive. This can be frustrating for the employee, and it costs the company money.
The AL-1451 is a unit that was built for compactness, convenience and ease of use. While it was considered fast and had the most up-to-date technology when it was first produced, some users may find that it lacks necessary elements that are needed in today’s world.
The print speed of 12 pages per minute and copy speed of 14 pages per minute are quite slow by today’s standards. Many newer models can handle copy speeds of 20 pages or more.
Many newer models also have a fax machine built-in; this adds further convenience, making it easy for one unit to do many different tasks. Users don’t have to go to several different machines in order to get their projects completed.
As a small business grow, their printing needs may also grow. This unit may not be able to handle larger jobs and projects. Businesses may have to look at their budget and plan on purchasing a newer model that will be able to handle their extra needs.
