Everything your small office needs in a mono laser AIO
The Canon imageClass MF462dw ($369.99) all-in-one printer has so much in common with the Canon imageClass MF455dw that if you tape over the model numbers on the front panels, and compare features and performance, you’ll have trouble finding any differences. They even have almost the same list price. But although virtually identical features and similar MSRPs make them nearly interchangeable, the MF462dw delivers a smidge better output quality, a touch slower speed, and a minimally higher running cost. That leaves the MF455dw in place as our Editors‘ Choice pick for a mono laser AIO printer for a small or midsize office or workgroup. But if you need the better output quality, you probably want the MF462dw.Easy Setup for Both Hardware and Software
The MF462dw is a touch smaller than its close cousin, at 14.8 by 16.6 by 18.1 inches, and a little more than a pound lighter, at 34.4 pounds, but it’s still big and heavy enough that you might want some help taking it out of its box and moving it into place. It’s also bigger than you would want to share a desk with, but small enough that finding room for it shouldn’t be a problem. Physical setup is easy. Simply load paper and connect a cable, or skip the cable if you want to connect by Wi-Fi. The toner cartridge ships already loaded in the printer and ready to work.
Software setup is also easy, with a choice of using the supplied driver and software disc, or downloading the installation program from Canon’s website, which I used to ensure I had the latest driver version. The setup program steps you through choosing which connection to use and which drivers to install, then finds the printer on the network and handles the rest automatically. I tested using an Ethernet connection and Canon’s proprietary driver, which is the default. You can also choose Wi-Fi or USB for the connection, and PCL6 or PostScript 3 for the driver.
The printer also works with Canon’s scanning and printing app for mobile devices. And as with other Canon printers we’ve tested, it includes the option on its 5-inch color touch-screen control panel to show a QR code for easy Wi-Fi Direct connection. Other touch-screen commands let you print from or scan to a USB key as well.
Paper handling is typical for the price class, making it appropriate for heavy-duty use by small-to-midsize-office standards. The base unit offers a 250-sheet drawer, a 100-sheet multi-purpose tray, and automatic duplexing. That’s easily enough for more than a week between paper refills at the low end of Canon’s recommended duty cycle range of 750 to 4,000 pages per month. A $199 optional 550-sheet drawer boosts the total to 900 sheets, or enough capacity for the high end of the range.
Paper handling for scanning is better than some direct competition offers. In addition to a letter-size flatbed for scanning, copying, and faxing, the MF462dw offers a 50-sheet, duplexing automatic document feeder (DADF) for up to legal-size paper, which means it can scan both sides of each page at once, as opposed to a reversing ADF (RADF) that scans one side, then turns the page over to scan the other.
