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One area that is beyond question however, is the 3015’s user friendliness. Setup is a breeze with the walk through software driver and HTML based viewer from which you can monitor the printer’s status, set up device alerts, log events and edit the quality and destination of your scans. And like the SCX-4216F you can write and edit your own fax phonebook and set up quick dial numbers from your PC which are stored directly to the device’s onboard memory. Outside of this, the software bundle is limited to a copy of ReadIris Pro OCR which converts pages of scanned text into editable copy, but to be honest, you don’t really need a lot else.

The front display of the 3015 is also impressively straightforward. The LCD uses large bold text and each of the buttons is clearly labelled with self explanatory tags such as Phone Book, Menu, Start, Copy, Cancel, Send and Redial. If you are new to MFDs or a technophobe, then you couldn’t ask for anything more simple than this.

So, despite some obvious shortcomings, does the HP LaserJet 3015 pull it off? Well, yes and no. On the positive side, an asking price of just over £250 combined with its small form factor and easy operation certainly makes it an attractive proposition on the surface. But counting against it are the reduced output quality and specifications when compared against other larger, more heavy duty models. The SCX-4216F is also now available for under £285 and in terms of usefulness in a SOHO environment; the Samsung is definitely equipped for the SO (Small Office) while the 3015 is more suited to the HO (Home Office).

Whether the 3015 is ultimately right for you comes down to your individual needs. And in this way I can’t help but think of it as presenting an option similar to a slimline kitchen appliance. These narrow items cost almost as much as a full size unit and don’t do the job quite as well, but you may have a small kitchen. For the rest of us with space to spare, we’d go with the big one every time.

Verdict

Perhaps the first in what could be a fad of mini MFDs. Overall, it doesn’t quite live up to the standards of its older, fatter and more established forebears. That said, it does provide a space saving alternative for situations where desk space is more important than ultimate flexibility.

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