| OVERVIEW: Now days, most of the “all-in-one” | | | | connected to a secretary’s computer. The built-in |
| printers in stores today don’t have “all” the | | | | 32MB of printer memory enables the SCX-4725FN to |
| features of the older generation ones. As printers | | | | handle printing workloads from multiple computers. |
| have gotten smaller and sending scanned documents | | | | Understanding the printing needs of today’s |
| via e-mail has become acceptable for many | | | | businesses in providing support for the major software |
| businesses, the fax feature has been eliminated. | | | | applications, Samsung has installed print emulators that |
| However, there are still times when you run across a | | | | should satisfy the most diverse office. Emulators |
| client or a business that will only accept faxed | | | | include PostScript3, HP PCL6 and Samsungs own |
| documents. The Samsung SCX-4725FNis a 4-in-1 | | | | proprietary print language, SPL. |
| printer that offers network printing, scanning, copying, | | | | CONS: |
| and faxing. | | | | The only downside is the software package seems to |
| PROS: | | | | skimp on features, especially for Mac OS users. It |
| After a 30 second warm-up, the SCX-4725FN prints | | | | would be nice if Samsung’s SmartThru4 software |
| and copies at 24 pages per minute, with 10-second | | | | expanded its Windows features to Linux and Mac OS |
| delays between print jobs. In operation, the 4-in-1 | | | | systems. |
| produces 53dB of sound and 35dB when idle. Think of | | | | INK / TONER NEEDS: |
| 53dB as the sound of low conversations and 30 | | | | The monochrome toner that is included is only 50% full, |
| decibels as a quiet office. | | | | which is something to remember before you decide on |
| The control panel on the SCX-4725FN provides | | | | copying several hundred pages a shot. Samsung’s |
| functions for the copier and fax including a | | | | so-called “high yield” cartridge has an average |
| programmable phone book list. A pass-through | | | | yield of 3,000 pages. (No standard-yield cartridge is |
| external phone jack on the back of the printer allows | | | | offered.) |
| for plugging a telephone or an answering machine. If a | | | | SOFTWARE: |
| fax comes in while the copier or printer is in use, 4MB | | | | Being a multi-purpose printer, one would expect the |
| of memory is reserved to store incoming faxes until | | | | software to provide full functions for all the computer |
| the copying or printing is complete. For security, | | | | platforms Samsung claims it supports. The software |
| incoming faxes can be stored in memory, requiring a | | | | in the CD-ROM is primarily for Windows compatible |
| 4-digit PIN to print out. | | | | machines. For Windows users, the SmartThru4 |
| The SCX-4725FN comes standard with a 250-sheet | | | | software provides the most features, supporting not |
| tray, capable of handling up to legal-size paper. The | | | | only scanning and printing, but offering an advanced |
| single-sheet multi-purpose tray can handle | | | | printing section that allows for booklet printing, creating |
| transparencies, labels, post cards, envelopes, 3” x | | | | a large poster mosaics, and watermarks. |
| 5” postcards up to 8½” x 14” legal paper | | | | The Linux software package is not included with the |
| of various bond weights. | | | | CD and has to be downloaded from Samsung’s |
| At 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution in print mode, the | | | | website to support printer and scanning functions. The |
| SCX-4725FN keeps text sharp–even at 6-point | | | | Linux Unified Driver Configurator software allows for |
| font sizes–and does a decent job with graphics. To | | | | scanned images to manipulated and edited. For |
| keep from consuming too much toner, the printer has | | | | Macintosh users, the CD-ROM has a couple of basic |
| a 600 dpi resolution with a text-enhance or | | | | drivers for printing and a TWAIN driver for scanning. |
| image-enhance switch. The Toner Save feature | | | | There is no additional software support: you either |
| allows for a 40% toner life increase while keeping | | | | must have a 3rd party application that manages |
| images clear and readable. | | | | scanners or use the Mac’s own Image Capture |
| The “N” in SCX-4725FN is for | | | | (only available on Mac OS 10.4.7 and higher). |
| “networking”. Having built-in Ethernet network | | | | For an office or small business, the Samsung |
| support and a hi-speed USB, this multifunction is right at | | | | SCX-4725FN provides economy by combining four |
| home either in the middle of an office floor or | | | | key pieced of office equipment into a single footprint. |
