Samsung Printer Gripes

Installing the Printer Driver

January 11, 2005. I connected this printer to a computer running Windows XP. The printer driver installation instructions from Samsung were wrong.  

I connected the printer to the computer with both devices turned off. Then I started the computer with the printer remaining off. During startup, Windows XP installed its own printer driver, there was no need for the driver on the CD-ROM that came with the printer. I don't know if there is a difference between the two printer drivers. 

So far so good, the printer seems to work just fine with the Windows XP driver so I don't know if I'll bother with the Samsung driver. If you do want to use a Samsung provided driver, then perhaps install it before physically connecting the printer to the computer. 

One difference between the Samsung printer software and that from Windows XP is that Samsung includes a status monitor program in addition to the printer driver. I downloaded the status monitor from Samsung's web site. It seems to work only when the printer is connected via USB. In my case the printer is connected to the computer using a parallel port. 

FYI

FYI: The ML-1740 comes with a starter printer cartridge rated by Samsung for 1,000 pages. A full size printer cartridge is rated for 3,000 pages. The printer which is the next step up in the Samsung line, the ML-2250, comes with a full printer cartridge, not a starter model. Interestingly, the cartridge for the ML-2250 is rated for 5,000 pages. When comparing the printers, keep in mind the savings inherent in the fact that the ML-2250 can print an extra 4,000 pages out of the box. 

FYI: Like many (all?) low end printers, the ML-1740 does not include cables. In this case, it includes neither a USB cable nor a parallel port cable. 

FYI: If you are upgrading from an older, low end, Samsung laser printer (such as the ML-4500) then be aware that the ML-1740 is a bit wider.