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The Samsung CLP-315 is a compact color laser printer designed for the home or small office user. At 9.6 by 15.3 by 12.3 inches (HWD) it is not much larger than a large inkjet printer, and given that color laser printers tend to be larger than monochrome laser printers, its compact size and relatively light weight of 24 pounds is an impressive design feat.

Setup is easy, simply removing packing materials, plugging in the power and USB cables, and installing the software from the disc. The printer supports Mac OS X and Linux as well as modern versions of Windows, so Mac and Linux users will not be left out in the cold.

Paper input capacity is somewhat small, with only a 150-sheet input tray, but for a personal or small office laser printer, this is not unexpected. Users wishing to share the CLP-315 across a network will need to analyze their printing needs to determine if they will be constantly replenishing paper. Personal users will likely find the paper capacity adequate.

Print speed is good for the price, at around 17 pages per minute black and 4 pages per minute color. Slower printing speeds are a cost-saving measure, as fast printing engines greatly increase the cost of production. Given the CLP-315’s very affordable price, this is probably a worthwhile tradeoff for most buyers. Speaking of price, it is worth noting that while the upfront cost of the printer is low, the cost of toner cartridges is somewhat higher than a typical laser printer, making the per-page costs higher as well. As a result, the total cost of ownership could conceivably be higher in the long run than more expensive printers. Buying toner cartridges from third-party resellers may offset this cost.

Overall, the Samsung CLP-315 is an extremely affordable color laser printer with a more compact design than would be expected. Small paper capacity and higher toner costs are downsides worth considering.