Xerox N4525 Reviews And Information

The N4525 is the larger of the two mono models on test from Xerox this month. It holds nearly twice as much paper as the N2125 and weighs an extra 20kg by default. It can only handle paper up to 165g/m2, however, while the N2125 handles up to 216g/m2. The N4525's standard 1,050-sheet capacity over three trays can be augmented to a maximum 3,550-sheet capacity.

Inside, the internal processor has been beefed up to 266MHz instead of the 135MHz chip used by the N2125, in order to keep pace with the 40ppm print engine. Unfortunately, while 84 seconds and 38 seconds for the text and mixed text and graphics tests are reasonable, this rates the N4525 at just 34ppm in each case. And 33ppm for the Excel test with a score of 20 seconds was even less impressive.

The rapid printing of the quality test, in just 11 seconds, preserves the greyscale fades, but inevitably the speed

leads to banding on the main picture that's retained on the smaller version of the same photo in the 24-page mixed text and graphics test. The silver lining is that the colour shading in the Excel spreadsheet was translated without a problem and that text at all font sizes was both clear and legible. Testing A3 performance, with the same text test printed in a 'two-up' configuration drew a speed of 18ppm.

Like the N2125, the N4525 gives you a choice of two toner cartridge sizes: one lasts 10,000, the other 15,000 pages, and as before prices per page are either one 1p or 0.83p respectively.

Like the N2125, true PostScript Level 3 is included as standard. In terms of connectivity, both USB and parallel are catered for, but you're more likely to be using the 10/100BaseTX Ethernet connection. The card supplied has support for printing over TCP/IP, NetWare and AppleTalk, while Xerox's network management software is supplied to help administrate the printer. As well as Mailinx for automated remote printer status announcements via email, and CentreWare for browser-based remote checking, PrinterMap is included, which allows non-Xerox lasers on the same network to be configured by acting as a launchpad for that printer's own setup software.

The N4525 is fast for the price, notwithstanding the fact that it doesn't meet its 40ppm claims. But for another £79 the Lexmark Optra W810n gives superior all-round output quality and faster output speeds.