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We liked
Oki’s colour laser printer has many features to suit a growing business. From its 250-sheet cassette to the high-capacity toner cartridges that can produce around 7,000 pages each, this is a workhorse that can churn out a lot of printouts in a short space of time. At 30 pages per minute, it’s handling of colour documents is particularly fast and always accurate.
With a fast Ethernet connection and USB ports it has the wired connectivity a business requires covered, while there is a wireless module available should you need it.
The large touchscreen is another plus point as it offers an intuitive interface for the apps and features that run on Oki’s smart platform. The security and added functionality you get from this platform will appeal to all businesses. It’s also readily upgradeable through the Oki portal and this printer is well supported by accessories such as additional paper cassettes and a cabinet to stand on.
We disliked
For an A4 printer that includes no scanner or fax, this massive machine certainly takes up a lot of office space. It’s also quite expensive given the limited functionality.
The Wi-Fi module should be included by default, we think, and it’s disappointing that such a large printer cannot handle A3 paper.
It’s not good at reproducing photos either, because the limited palette tends to look unnatural and overly bright. This printer also has a tendency to curl photo paper.
Final verdict
For small, medium-sized and growing businesses, this forward-thinking printer is great for churning out colourful documents in large quantities quickly. The accessories available together with the upgradable open platform the C542dn operates on, ensure that this printer will remain supported and relevant in the future.
In the meantime, its high-capacity toner cartridges and deep paper cassette make it ideal for the busy office that gets through a lot of paper.
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Jim is a seasoned expert when it comes to testing tech. From playing a prototype PlayStation One to meeting a man called Steve about a new kind of phone in 2007, he’s always hunting the next big thing at the bleeding edge of the electronics industry. After editing the tech section of Wired UK magazine, he is currently specialising in IT and voyaging in his VW camper van.