The Ativa DX120P (Smaller Version of Ativa X1800) Confetti-Cut Shredder
Written: May 27 '06
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Pros: works great, shreds more than paper, nice warranty, confetti cuts
Cons: a little loud
The Bottom Line: This is a great shredder that shreds many items, does so easily, does not jam, is not too expensive, and fits under the desk: recommended.
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| three_ster's Full Review: Office Depot ATIVA DX120P Shredder |
Security has become a big issue in the world today, and assisting office workers everywhere are shredders that are intended to do the job well. One of those that does a great job at meeting all possible needs is the Ativa DX120P. It is one of those empowering technologies that Ativa wants to make sure it can put in the hands of consumers, and this particular consumer took the chance on purchasing one. On sale for $99.99 at the Office Depot Online store, I read through the product specifications and I knew right away that this was the type of shredder that we needed. It was quite a find, and the special was only lasting for a short time, so even though it seemed expensive, it was worth the risk for a shredder that normally sells for much more.
Now the Ativa DX120P is designed as a Cross-cut shredder, but is also called a confetti shredder by some. The reason for this, is that the paper is cut twice when it is inserted, once across, and once down. This creates even smaller pieces of paper that make the level of security that it provides even better. If you need specifics, the shredder cuts down to 5/32 of an inch by 1 9/16 inches. This is pretty small if you ask me, and just about as small as you can get from a shredder that you aren't paying a fortune for. Shredding is really the most important aspect of any shredder purchase, and this is a great tool for just that. The entry width extends 8 7/8 inches, and provides plenty of space to insert your paper. The shredder will work on up to 12 sheets at the same time without compromising the speed, and it cuts through them as if they were made of butter.
That isn't where this shredder decides to stop though, because the Ativa DX120P is intended for heavy duty shredding. It will work well (and shred) on paper clips, staples, and credit cards. This means that when you are tossing papers that need to be shredded into a box for shredding later, or if you have stuff that can be put straight into the shredder, that you don't have to stop to pick out the staples. I am one who will save all my paper-clips to reuse, so that isn't something I would frequently put through this shredder, but the staples are another thing altogether. It is so annoying to me to have to pick out the staples from 10-sheets of paper, and to just be able to toss it into the shredder as-is, saves time and grief. I guess tossing it is a little of an overstatement though, because you do have to take the time to feed it into the shredder during use. This isn't that big of a deal to people who have used shredders a lot, so it isn't even an issue that I think twice about.
If you end up putting too much into the shredder, or if it has a rare moment where it doesn't accept a thick stack, the shredder has an automatic reverse function that kicks in. It is there so that if it isn't shredding at its best speed, it will throw into reverse to slow down the process and allow enough time to do it right. This is a nice thing to have, because it insures that you are getting a clean cut each time you put something into the shredder. The cutters are durable in that fashion, and it gives you the state of mind that you won't have to check through your waste basket at the end to make sure that everything shredded correctly. The bin that it cuts into is a 4.8 gallon bin that slides into the frame of the shredder. Unlike a shredder that sits on top of a trashcan, this is a shredder with a solid base around 3 sides, and a nice bin that slides out from the front of the device. This added base helps to keep the shredder very stable when it is being put to use. You won't be worried about it ever falling over, and you are going to more easily avoid creating a huge mess with the bin. The bin also allows you to put a trash bag over it, if you want to make clean-up even easier at the end of your shredding time.
The shredder is 19 1/4 inches tall, 14 3/16 inches wide, and has a depth of 10 7/16 inches. In other words, this is the perfect height to slide it right under your desk. This had been a concern with the purchase, because I needed to buy a shredder under 22 inches, and this one turned out perfect for the job. An added bonus, is that the Ativa DX120P comes with wheels, which allow it to roll to different parts of your home or office. This makes it easier to move, and you don't have to worry about lifting it and causing any kind of mess in that fashion. The castor wheels can also be locked into place, so that you don’t risk having it move while you are feeding the shredder. After using this one, I can see why having wheels on a shredder is such a huge benefit. If you don’t like them, they can be popped off quite easily (or not installed in the first place) and stored in a desk drawer until the day you might want to use them.
When you have everything plugged in, the shredder is easy to start up, with an auto/on, off, and reverse switch on the top right of the shredder. The auto/on may catch you by surprise when you plug it in for the first time, because that is how it is set, and it will start up at that moment. So, you have to make sure you turn it off before you plug it in manually. Then when you are using it, you can choose to just leave it on until you use it, or turn it off until you are ready to start it up. The start up point is where I come to one of the minor flaws (in my opinion) that the Ativa DX120P has during use. When you first turn it on, it sounds like a jet engine starting up. O.K., so maybe it is closer to the start up of a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner, but it was a little louder than I had expected. The quick self-test that it does with the teeth is actually louder than when you use the shredder, so it isn’t a problem at all after you have started using it. I guess the thing to focus on is that it really gets the job done well, and that being a little loud on start-up really isn’t that much of a detractor to this shredder.
The Ativa DX120P is a really great shredder in my opinion, and can be used in either a busy office or a home where you want to protect your privacy. The shredder works great on normal paper, thick paper, staples, paper clips, and credit cards, so you have a bevy of choices for this shredder. It does not work on CD's, so that isn't something you want to pop in there. The shredder does great on the cross-cutting, works on up to 12-sheets at once without slowing down, is great for having under your desk, and is easy on clean-up. With this large list of positives, I highly recommend this particular Ativa shredder. It has yet to have a single problem, and it comes with a 5 year limited warranty (2 year-full) that makes it well worth the purchase price risk. I wouldn't even call it a risk, because if you put it to extensive use you are well covered by the company's warranty. If you can find a deal on this shredder take full advantage of it, because though it was great at less than $100.00 I would be willing to pay even more for the Ativa DX120P.
The Quick Facts on the Ativa DX120P:
*Shreds up to 12 sheets at once
*Shreds Paper, Staples, Paper Clips, and Credit Cards
*Locking Castor Wheels
*Cross-Cut Shredding
*4.9 Gallon Pull-Out Bin
*5 Year Limited Warranty
*Safe for use because of Covering
*19.25 inches tall, 14.25 inches wide, 10.5 inches deep
Recommended:
Yes
Purchase Price (if leased, monthly payment): 99.99
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