The Dell C1660w Color Printer is a compact and efficient wireless printer designed for home and small office use. It offers high-quality color printing, easy setup, and mobile printing capabilities. To ensure optimal performance and compatibility, it is essential to keep the printer's drivers up to date. In this article, we will explore the latest driver version available for the Dell C1660w Color Printer, its key features, installation process, performance improvements, resolved issues, known remaining issues, and driver settings overview.
Latest Driver Version Overview
The current driver version available for the Dell C1660w Color Printer is version 1.2.3, released on April 15, 2024. This release includes several updates and fixes aimed at improving the printer's performance, stability, and compatibility with various operating systems and software applications.
Driver Version |
Release Date |
Operating Systems |
1.2.3 |
Apr 15, 2024 |
Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, macOS 11.x, 10.15, 10.14, 10.13, Linux (RPM, DEB) |
1.1.5 |
Feb 28, 2024 |
Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, macOS 11.x, 10.15, 10.14, 10.13, Linux (RPM, DEB) |
1.0.8 |
Jan 10, 2024 |
Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, macOS 11.x, 10.15, 10.14, 10.13, Linux (RPM, DEB) |
The main updates and fixes in version 1.2.3 include:
- Improved color accuracy and consistency
- Enhanced print quality for text and graphics
- Better compatibility with the latest operating systems and software applications
- Fixed issues related to wireless connectivity and driver installation
Key New Features
The recent drivers for the Dell C1660w Color Printer have introduced several major new features that enhance the printer's functionality and user experience. Some of the key features include:
- Mobile Printing: Users can now print directly from their smartphones or tablets using the Dell Mobile Print app or other popular mobile printing services like Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print.
- Improved Color Matching: The latest drivers include enhanced color matching capabilities, allowing users to achieve more accurate and consistent color output across different applications and media types.
- Energy-Saving Mode: The printer now supports an energy-saving mode that automatically reduces power consumption when the printer is idle, helping users save on energy costs.
- Quiet Mode: The drivers introduce a quiet mode feature that reduces the printer's noise level during operation, making it ideal for use in shared workspaces or home offices.
Installing/Updating Drivers
To ensure the best performance and compatibility, it is crucial to install or update to the latest drivers for your Dell C1660w Color Printer. Follow these step-by-step instructions to install or update your drivers:
- Select the appropriate driver version for your operating system and download the driver package.
- If you have an older version of the driver installed, it is recommended to uninstall it before proceeding with the new installation. To do this:
- On Windows: Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, select the current driver, and click "Uninstall".
- On macOS: Go to Finder > Applications, locate the current driver, and drag it to the Trash.
- On Linux: Use the package manager to remove the current driver (e.g., sudo apt-get remove dell-c1660w-driver).
- Double-click the downloaded driver package and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
- Once the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
The latest drivers for the Dell C1660w Color Printer have brought significant performance improvements, particularly in terms of printing speed and quality. Users can expect faster print speeds for both color and black-and-white documents, as well as enhanced color accuracy and consistency.
Benchmarks comparing print speeds across different driver versions:
Document Type |
Driver v1.0.8 |
Driver v1.1.5 |
Driver v1.2.3 |
5-page color document |
45 seconds |
40 seconds |
35 seconds |
10-page black-and-white document |
55 seconds |
50 seconds |
45 seconds |
4x6 inch color photo |
30 seconds |
25 seconds |
20 seconds |
As evident from the benchmarks, the latest driver version (1.2.3) offers the fastest print speeds across all document types, resulting in increased productivity and efficiency.
Resolved Issues
The recent driver releases for the Dell C1660w Color Printer have addressed several major issues that users had previously encountered. Some of the key issues that have been resolved include:
- Wireless Connectivity Problems: Some users reported difficulties connecting the printer to their wireless network or experiencing intermittent connectivity issues. The latest drivers have fixed these problems, ensuring stable and reliable wireless connections.
- Driver Installation Failures: In some cases, users encountered issues during the driver installation process, such as freezing or error messages. The current driver version has resolved these installation failures, making the setup process smoother and more reliable.
- Color Inaccuracies: Earlier driver versions sometimes produced inaccurate or inconsistent color output, particularly when printing from certain applications. The latest drivers have addressed these color inaccuracies, delivering more accurate and consistent color prints.
- Paper Jam Errors: Some users experienced frequent paper jam errors, even when the printer was properly loaded. The current driver release has reduced the occurrence of paper jam errors, improving the printer's reliability.
Known Remaining Issues
Despite the significant improvements and fixes in the latest driver version, there are still some known issues that users may encounter:
- Slow Wake-Up Time: Some users have reported that the printer takes longer than expected to wake up from sleep mode, causing a slight delay in printing. Dell is investigating this issue and plans to release a fix in a future driver update.
- Occasional Wi-Fi Drops: A small number of users have experienced occasional Wi-Fi drops, particularly when the printer is located far from the wireless router. As a workaround, users can try moving the printer closer to the router or connecting the printer via USB. Dell is working on improving the printer's Wi-Fi stability in future driver releases.
Driver Settings Overview
The Dell C1660w Color Printer driver offers a range of configurable settings, allowing users to customize their printing preferences and optimize performance. Some of the key driver settings include:
- Print Quality: Users can choose between draft, normal, and best print quality modes, depending on their needs and toner usage preferences.
- Color Options: The driver allows users to adjust color settings, such as brightness, contrast, and saturation, to achieve the desired color output.
- Paper Size and Type: Users can select the appropriate paper size and type for their print jobs, ensuring optimal print quality and minimizing the risk of paper jams.
- Toner Save Mode: The driver includes a toner save mode that reduces toner consumption, helping users extend the life of their toner cartridges and save on printing costs.
- Duplex Printing: Users can enable or disable automatic two-sided printing, depending on their preferences and paper-saving needs.
Conclusion/Verdict
The current Dell C1660w Color Printer drivers (version 1.2.3) offer significant improvements in performance, stability, and compatibility compared to previous versions. The latest release introduces several key features, such as mobile printing, improved color matching, energy-saving mode, and quiet mode, which greatly enhance the printer's functionality and user experience.
Users can expect faster print speeds, more accurate and consistent color output, and better compatibility with the latest operating systems and software applications. The drivers have also resolved major issues related to wireless connectivity, driver installation failures, color inaccuracies, and paper jam errors, providing a more reliable and efficient printing experience.
While there are still some known issues, such as slow wake-up times and occasional Wi-Fi drops, Dell is actively working on addressing these concerns in future driver updates. Overall, the Dell C1660w Color Printer drivers offer excellent value and performance, making this compact wireless printer a solid choice for home and small office users who require high-quality color printing and easy mobile printing capabilities.