Samsung SCX-5639FR Laser Multifunction Printer Driver and Software

Aimed squarely at a micro to mid-sized office, the Samsung SCX-5639FR is potentially useful in a busy, high-demand home office. It offers at least one feature that most mono laser MFPs don’t have: a duplex automatic document feeder (ADF) that lets you scan both sides of a page. If you need to scan or copy double-sided documents very often, that alone does a lot to make it an extremely attractive choice.

Not too surprisingly, the Samsung SCX-5639FR is similar to, but a step up from, the Samsung SCX-4835FR ($450, 2.5 stars) that I recently tested. It offers a slightly faster engine performance at 37 pages per minute (ppm) instead of 33, but it’s really a variation on a theme that’s suitable for slightly heavier use.

Like the SCX-4835FR, the Samsung SCX-5639FRR is too large to comfortably share a desk at 17.6 x 18.5 x 17.2 (HWD) inches, and it can be a little difficult to fit in a home office to find. However, it’s small enough to fit easily into most micro or small offices, and the Ethernet connection makes it easy to share on a network.

The basic MFP features of the Samsung SCX-5639FR include the ability to print, fax and scan from a PC, even over a network, as well as work as a standalone copy and fax machine. It can also both print from and scan to a USB memory stick. As with most MFPs, it offers a letter-size flatbed, with the 50-sheet ADF allowing you to scan pages up to legal size. Note, however, that while the duplex ADF allows you to copy both single- and double-sided originals into single- or double-sided copies of your choice, sending faxes is limited to single-sided scans.

The paper capacity is suitable for most micro and small offices, with a 250-sheet paper tray, a 50-sheet multi-purpose tray for easy printing on various types of paper, and a built-in duplexer (for two-sided printing). . For those who need more, Samsung sells an optional 520-sheet tray ($200 street) for a total capacity of 820 sheets.

Setup, Speed and Output Quality

The setup of the Samsung SCX-5639FR was absolutely standard. For my testing, I connected it directly to a network and installed the driver and software on a Windows Vista system. On our business application suite (timed using QualityLogic’s hardware and software), it reached an effective 9.7 ppm, which is a reasonable but not impressive speed for the 37 ppm engine rating. By comparison, the Editors’ Choice Brother MFC-8480DN ($400 street, 4 stars), rated at 32 ppm, achieved an effective speed of 10.6 ppm.

Output quality overall is just a touch below average for a mono laser MFP, but only because graphics quality and photo quality are both at the lower end of a narrow range that the vast majority of mono laser MFPs fall into.

Text quality in my testing was good enough for all business needs, aside from serious desktop publishing applications. The graphics were also good enough for all internal business needs. Depending on how much of a perfectionist you are, you might think they’re good enough for PowerPoint handouts or other material going out to prospects or customers.

The photo quality was more than good enough to print recognizable photos from websites. Again, depending on your level of perfectionism, you may or may not consider the photos good enough for a customer newsletter or something similar.

Related Printer: Samsung SCX-6345

The best argument for this printer is that it performs quite well in all of the areas most important to mono laser MFPs, with a balanced mix of text quality, print speed, paper handling, and MFP features. There are even reasonable operating costs of 2.0 cents per page. The combination makes the Samsung SCX-5639FR a capable MFP and a more than sensible choice. If you can make good use of the duplex ADF, this can even be an attractive choice.