Dell C1660w Pro Reviews

When comparing the several low-priced laser-class devices on the market today, one thing makes the C1660w stand out—its exceptionally low purchase price, which is certainly enticing. But what many would-be buyers don’t realize is that where companies such as Dell and other printer makers turn a profit on these low-end devices is from selling replacement toner cartridges. While the C1660w is, in terms of quality and reliability, a great little printer, if you use it more than just a little, it’s not, despite its very low price, a bargain. As we repeatedly point out when reviewing machines in this class—or printers in general, be they lasers, LED-based models, or inkjets—the purchase price is not the most important consideration. Unless your print volume is minimal, perhaps no more than a few hundred pages per month, choosing a slightly higher-priced model will save you money over the long haul almost every time. (And sometimes, the haul is just not that long.) When, as mentioned, you use Dell’s higher-yield black toner cartridge with the slightly higher-priced C1760nw, black-and-white pages run about 3.6 cents each, or about four-tenths of a cent cheaper than on the C1660w. Printing 500 pages on the C1760nw would save you $20 over printing the same 500 pages on the C1660w. If you printed those same 500 pages every month, you’d make up the $95 price difference between these two machines in about five months; after that, you’d start pocketing that $20 each month, or $240 per year—enough to buy a new C1660w every year, with a few bucks left over. Our bottom line? Most prospective buyers of the inexpensive C1660w would choose it because doing so saves them money. And that's not necessarily a bad move—it’s a good little printer with respectable print quality, so why not? If you really want to save money, though, make sure to evaluate how much you’ll use it before dropping your hard-earned cash. Saving a little money up front could cost you plenty over time.

The Dell C1660w's expensive toner and light-duty capabilities make it best for small or home offices. Before you reach automatically for a laser, however, it's worth noting that office-minded inkjets offer better speed, competitive print quality, and much cheaper inks--and their multifunction cousins add more capabilities.

The C1660w carries a one-year warranty. You can up that to five years for $80; exchange and on-site services are also available. The drum/fuser is a lifetime unit, and those support options are reassuring when no replacement is readily available. Dell quotes a 30,000-page duty cycle, but in real life this is about a 500-page-a-month unit. Even if the unit can handle heavier use, print more than that and the pricey toner will start catching up to you. In that case you should look for a cheaper-to-operate unit. The Dell C1660w’s expensive toner and light-duty capabilities make it best for small or home offices. Before you reach automatically for a laser, however, it’s worth noting that office-minded inkjets such as the $100 Epson Workforce Pro WP-4020 offer better speed, competitive print quality, and much cheaper inks—and their multifunction cousins add more capabilities.

The Dell C1660w Color Printer$179.99 at Dell, compact and modestly priced, is a solid choice as a color printer for a home or micro office or as a personal printer for any size office. It is compact, has decent output quality, and its speed is passable for a low-priced laser-class printer. It's a bit slower than the Dell C1760nw Color Printer$244.99 at Dell and lacks the latter's Ethernet connectivity and a few other features, but it is a solid, cost-effective alternative for people who can make do with connecting via USB or Wi-Fi.