The Samsung CLP-550N is a boxy looking printer, as are most colour laser printers given the number of toner cartridges they must contain. The design of the unit has been geared towards a dedicated print station, as the CLP-550N is realistically too large to keep on top of a desk, and too thermally active to be advisably kept under a desk. Additionally, access to the printer paper tray necessitates the CLP-550 be resting on a nice flat surface, as the tray is essentially flush with the base. Incidently, an optional 500-sheet tray can be added under the printer to expand its stock of just 250-sheets of 8.5/11" paper, though the CLP-550N is by no means suited for print-house high-volume output.

The front of the unit houses the 250-sheet paper tray (at bottom), and waste toner bay which is accessed by pushing in the side panel to release it. The control panel and menu buttons are located centrally, but the monochrome LED display is not back lit. In the above photo, the multi-purpose tray is open, further lengthening the foot print of the CLP-550N, and underscoring our point that is a machine which should have a table unto itself. The CLP-550N is primarily made of plastic, including its paper tray.

Rotating around 90 degrees to the right, is the Muti-purpose tray, which folds up into the body of the CLP-550N when not being used. It is constructed entirely of plastic, though pretty sold all things considered. Above the multi-purpose tray is a handle to release the side panel for clearing paper jams.

The top side (the light grey lump) just adjacent to the paper output gets fairly hot during operation, and it is not recommended that it be used for stacking paper, or anything else for that matter.

The rear of the Samsung CLP-550N is mostly just a large cooling vent, but that does not mean it is noisy. In operation, cooling fans are generally quiet, and just the low clunk and bump of the individual colour toner cartridges moving around can be heard.

The wireless network card, and upto two additional 100-pin printer memory DIMM's can be added by the user.

Behind the small hatch is the user-accessible area for upgrading printer memory, or adding the optional 802.11b wireless networking card and antenna.

On the opposite side of the CLP-550N is the panel which folds back to allow the user to install the black, magenta, cyan and yellow toner cartridges. Power data cables are also connected here. When the CLP-550N is not in use it will fall into a power saving sleep state, which draws less electricity naturally. Along with a 10/100 network port are the USB2.0 and parallel printer ports. The wireless networking antenna would also be visible here if that option was installed.

The top of the Samsung CLP-550N is where the prints come out, and held in the output tray until collected. The flat top section to the right gets quite hot in use, but this is normal, and should not be cause for alarm. The small top cover release button allows the entire top section of the CLP-550N to swing up for installation of the transfer belt cartridge and imaging unit. Also visible is the user control panel and LCD display screen.