Dell 1130

Dell’s recent additions to its range of laser printers include the 1130 and 1130n, the latter of which adds networking and a faster print speed to the main unit.

The Dell 1130 on test has plenty to offer the home user, and perhaps the most important of its strengths is its sheer simplicity. Setting up the printer was as easy as plugging it in and installing the device drivers and software supplied, which includes a straightforward print menu with a range of useful options.

Users can choose to print multiple pages per sheet to save paper. There is a manual double-sided printing option that walks the user through the process by instructing them to remove and reinsert pages at the right times. And you can add watermarks and overlay text at the final stage. All of your typical quality and paper-type settings are here as well, and everything is presented in a straightforward manner.

Dell’s 1130 is one of few printers we have tested that manages to reach or exceed the quoted output speed of 18 pages per minute (ppm), and though it took up to 30 seconds to warm up and get started, this will still be quick enough for most. Quality was excellent with crisp, sharp lettering and no sign of bleed and it retains this clarity even with smaller font sizes and complex graphics.

A 250-page main tray means the 1130 is capable of working through bigger jobs without interruption and a single feed secondary tray handles a range of paper types such as envelopes, labels and high-grade paper. Aside from a rather unsightly protrusion at the rear, the unit is also tidily designed, though a lack of controls aside from two buttons betrays its rather basic nature.

At £88 there are cheaper alternatives available, but Dell has still been able to produce a no-nonsense laser printer that does its job quickly and quietly while offering just enough versatility for the modern home user. Those seeking a straightforward solution for text printing and basic graphics will find much to like about the 1130.