Samsung ML-1630 Printer

At last ! A printer that doesn’t look like it belongs in the headmaster’s secretary’s office at your old high school (everyone knows schools get the tech stuff last.)

Samsung have actually tried to design a sleek-looking, stylish printer. They have, of course, failed dismally, and instead turned out something that will only really look at home in a New York bachelor pad. But, 9/10 for effort and I suspect this means we will soon be seeing attempts by all the other printer manufacturers to sell us a “hip” printer in the hope that printer styles will become unfashionable and get thrown away sooner.

It’s hard to think of a printer as anything other than a tool. They managed it with mobile phones; turning them into some sort of status symbol for people too shallow to realize they are being played like the fish they are, but I have a feeling it’s not going to fly with printers.

The printer itself is a basic, no-frills competent tool. Nothing special, either in quality, functionality or longevity. It’s not wireless and it doesn’t hold much paper. It’s a tool. C-net said:  “Fantastic looks and decent enough performance make this a winner for anyone who has the desk space to show it off.”

But if you are the kind of people who feels the need to show off your new printer because it’s made of shiny black plastic……..well I don’t think I need to finish that sentence.