With its compact design fit for most any desktop, the Sharp AL-840 digital laser copier/printer produces high-resolution copies, even from photographs and illustrations. A special photo mode provides enhanced digital reproduction of half-tone originals. Plus, you can reduce or enlarge from 50 to 200 percent without sacrificing image quality. Sharp's AL-840 digitally scans an original into memory in one pass, and then the digital laser copier goes to work producing eight copies per minute. The 250-sheet paper cassette supports printing or reproducing lengthy documents without frequent stops to add paper.Solidly designed at just over 24 pounds, the AL-840 inspires confidence from the start. It is easy to set up, with plug-and-play convenience. The cartridge pops in without mess or confusion. Install the software and then load paper (letter or legal) in the back and you are ready to work. The slide-out document tray seems less substantial, so we recommend that you slide it back into the base when not in use. The buttons on the face are easy to interpret, but as always, we recommend referring to the user's guide.
With copy quality at 600 x 600 dpi, producing about eight copies per minute, we were satisfied with the AL-840's copier results. Larger-size originals of 10 by 14 inches can be easily reduced to fit the maximum copy size of 8.5 by 14 inches. While lacking some of the brilliance or intensity provided by better printers, this unit delivers a very serviceable product. We liked the easy one-scan operation for producing multiple prints. We especially appreciate the zoom function, reduction, and enlargement in one-percent increments.
The AL-840's photo mode improves copies of your photographs, yielding crisper, clearer images. For busier offices, Sharp has designed the AL-840 with dual parallel ports so two PCs can be connected at the same time. The automatic power shutoff mode is a money- and energy-saving benefit. Sharp offers a generous three-year limited warranty and a second-day exchange program. --Barbara Price
Pros:
- Easy and quick setup
- Convenient printer and copier combination
- Larger paper cassette tray is an added attraction
Cons:
- Flimsy output tray, holds only 50 sheets
- Slow print/copy speeds
