Samsung Xpress SL-M2885FW Laser Multifunction Printer Driver and Software

Traditionally, laser printers like the Samsung Xpress SL-M2885FW mono laser printer have three key advantages over inkjet printers. First, they are cheaper to run and cost much less per page than their inkjet competitors. Secondly, they can output pages much faster, and thirdly, the print quality for text pages is higher than even the most powerful inkjet printer.

But they also have some weaknesses. Until recently, they cost significantly more, and for photo printing, self-oriented lasers are not comparable to inkjet printers. Lasers also often lack some of the features that home inkjet printers offer, such as: B. built-in scanning and photocopy functions, and connectivity options are less comprehensive.

The Samsung Multifunction Xpress M2875FW mono laser printer could be an exception. Although it’s unlikely to be attractive to photographers, its price, multi-function features and diverse connectivity options make it very attractive to those who need a straightforward black-and-white text printer, scanner and photocopier for home or office use. There are also fax facilities available for those who still use this aging and inconvenient technology.

The Samsung Xpress SL-M2885FW can connect to your network via Ethernet or Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), or directly to your computer via USB 2. It is compatible with Windows XP or later, Mac OS X 10.5 or later, Unix and various Linux distributions. It also offers Wi-Fi Direct, which allows you to print from your computer, tablet or smartphone without the printer being connected to your network.

You simply establish a wireless ad hoc connection. This is particularly useful for guests who want to print a document or two without joining your network, and for printing from mobile devices when the printer is connected to your Mac or PC via USB.

Paper handling is usually an area where the laser printer falls down compared to inkjet printers. Many lasers lack the versatility of their more common competitors. Not so with the Samsung Multifunction Xpress M2875FW, which can handle an impressive range of paper types and page sizes, including labels, light cards, envelopes and overhead projector transparencies. Paper with a size of up to 220 grams per square meter (gsm) can be used. It can handle sizes from 3 x 5 inches (index card) to 8.5 x 14 inches (legal, larger than A4).

The paper tray can hold a meaty 250 sheets, but there’s only one of those – don’t expect a second tray for letterhead. However, there is a small bypass inlet. So if you only want to print a few pages on non-standard paper (e.g. letterhead or irregular paper weight), you don’t need to empty the main tray beforehand. The output tray holds 120 sheets and the scanner’s automatic document feeder (ADF) holds up to 40 sheets. These numbers wouldn’t impress the IT manager of a busy office, but they’re more than good enough for a small or home office.

Scanning through the ADF is one-sided, but duplex printing is provided. For some reason we couldn’t get this to work on a Mac, which is a shame. In other respects, the Multifunction Xpress M2875FW is very suitable for Apple users. It’s even AirPrint compatible and Google Cloud Print ready.

Related Printer: Samsung Xpress SL-M2078W Driver

Verdict

The Samsung Multifunction Xpress M2875FW can do a lot to bridge the gap between the home printer and the small office printer. However, if you need to print good quality images, it cannot replace your similarly priced inkjet printer. However, if you primarily print text (especially in large quantities) and only need to output graphics occasionally, this may prove ideal.