Ricoh 2051 Printer Review
The Ricoh Aficio 2051 is an oversized office machine that is marketed as a copier but serves as a scanner and printer as well. This monochrome laser unit is designed for offices with ample space and heavy volumes. Many of its features are upgradeable and optional upgrades are available, such as an automatic stapler and stacker, allowing the 2051 to expand as the business grows.
Intended to increase daily productivity, this unit can print or copy up to 51 pages per minute and can scan as many as 75 pages in simplex mode. A built-in duplex unit allows users to print, scan, or copy dual-sided documents, but this will reduce the output rate. The 2051 has the capacity to generate up to 175,000 printed pages every month, and each Aficio 2051 toner cartridge can yield up to 43,000 pages.
Due to its monochromatic nature, only black Ricoh 2051 toner is required for operation. Buyers who need to print in color should look elsewhere. Whether printing text, graphics, or images, the black Aficio 2051 toner can render a maximum resolution of 1200x1200 dpi. When scanning, the highest resolution is 600x600 dpi, and scans can be saved to a networked computer, the 40 GB hard drive, or sent directly to email. When copying, image size can be adjusted from 25-400% of the original size, and the darkness settings can be manipulated to determine the amount of Ricoh 2051 printer toner that is used per page.
Users have the option of connecting via USB, parallel, wireless, or Bluetooth, and the major operating systems will be supported. The 800 MHz CPU contributes to the unit's fast output speeds, and the built-in memory of 128 MB can be increased to 384 MB if needed. Three standard paper trays can hold up to 4,300 sheets and two additional trays are available that will increase the paper capacity to 8,300 sheets.
With the ability to handle high volumes, the 2051 will be appealing to most busy offices. However, smaller workplaces should be conscious of its large size and heavy weight of nearly 450 pounds. This is not an inexpensive piece of office equipment, but it will serve as multiple devices and the high-yield of the Ricoh 2051 toner cartridges will minimize the cost per printed page.
