F:\TKO\Canon/Canon imageRUNNER C4580/iR C4580 vs Konica Minolta Bizhub C450
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Canon iRC4580i versus Konica Minolta bizhub C450
[INSERT PHOTOS OF UNITS]
Competitive Model: Konica Minolta bizhub C450
The Konica Minolta bizhub C450 has an advertised engine speed of 45 ppm in black and 35 ppm in
colour. It offers standard copy, network print and network scan functionality and optional fax (including
walk-up, Internet and PC). The bizhub C450 is available with either the embedded Konica Minolta
Emperon controller, or an optional print controller designed in conjunction with EFI. The device comes
with a 100-sheet reversing automatic document feeder (RADF), 512 MB of RAM that is not upgradeable,
and a 40-GB hard disk. Standard paper supply is 750 sheets via two paper drawers, plus a 100-sheet
bypass tray. Paper supplies can be upgraded to a maximum of 3,400 sheets from five paper sources.
Unenhanced print resolution is 600 x 600 dpi, enhanced up to 1,800 x 600 dpi.
Highlights of the Canon iRC4580i
The iRC4580i has an advertised engine speed of up to 45 ppm in black and up to 40 ppm in colour. The
device comes standard with 1 GB of RAM (upgradeable to 1.5 GB) and an 80-GB hard disk. A 100-sheet
RADF is optional. Network print capability via UFR II (Canon’s proprietary page description language) and
PCL 5c is standard, as is Colour Universal Send. Colour Universal Send PDF Advanced Feature Set and
Colour Universal Send PDF Security Feature Set are optional. Standard paper supply consists of two 550sheet paper drawers plus a 100-sheet bypass tray. Paper supplies can be upgraded to a maximum of
5,000 sheets from six paper sources. Internet fax capability is standard. PostScript 3 can be added as an
option. Unenhanced print resolution is 1,200 x 1,200 dpi, which can be enhanced up to 2,400 x 600 dpi.
Walk-up, network and PC fax are optional.
Sidebar:
Key Strengths of the iRC4580i
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Faster Print and Copy Times
Standard Network Print Capability
Standard Colour Universal Send
Optional Web Access Functionality
Higher RAM
Higher Paper Capacity
MEAP Enabled
Dual Processor Architecture
Scalable Print Capabilities
Robust Feature Set
The iRC4580i offers a robust feature set that makes it suitable for a wide range of environments. The
iRC4580i’s advantages over the bizhub C450 include:

Standard Colour Universal Send functionality: The iRC4580i comes standard with Colour
Universal Send, which according to BLI’s Lab Test Report, “offers very easy-to-use and
feature-rich scan functionality.” Colour Universal Send supports network authentication
(whereby users can be required to enter their network user name and password to access the
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device) as well as LDAP searches from its control panel. It also supports scan to e-mail, Internet
fax destinations, FTP sites, document management applications, desktops of users running eCopy
Desktop (optional software allowing users to work with and OCR scanned documents), PC fax
destinations (requires installation of optional fax board) and user mailboxes. BLI Lab Test Reports
have also noted that “unlike other scan solutions BLI has tested, Universal Send
displays a preview of the scanned image that users can check before sending the
file.” On the bizhub C450, there is no preview capability, nor is there the ability to scan to URL
(supported by the iRC4580i).

Award-winning Web Access feature: Canon’s optional Web Access capability, which earned a
Fall 2005 BLI Outstanding Achievement Award for innovation, is available for the
iRC4580i, and there is nothing comparable for the bizhub C450. With this feature, a Web browser
is embedded within the iRC4580i and allows users to access the Internet or a corporate intranet
directly from the control panel, without the need for a PC. This means it can be used to access
and print forms from a corporate intranet, for example, which can be very useful in environments
without PCs. (As a security measure, the Web Access capability can be restricted only to certain
users.)

Standard User Mail Box functionality: Users of the iRC4580i can scan or print documents
directly to a User Mail Box, located within a dedicated portion of the machine’s hard drive, for
storage. The stored documents can be manipulated right from the control panel, merged with
other files via the Merge and Save function, moved to other mail boxes and even sent to other
destinations using the Send function. Up to 100 User Mail Boxes can be set up, with the number
of documents that can be stored limited only by memory.
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Higher RAM: The iRC4580i offers more standard RAM than the bizhub C450 (1.5 GB, versus 1
GB), allowing users sufficient memory to process complex colour documents.
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Hard drive has twice the capacity: The iRC4580i’s standard hard drive offers twice the
capacity of the bizhub C450’s hard drive (80 GB, versus 40 GB).

More available paper sources: When fully configured, the iRC4580i offers a total of six
different paper sources, versus a maximum of only five paper sources on the bizhub C450. This
gives users of the iRC4580i a wider selection of media choices than are available to users of the
bizhub C450.
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Embedded MEAP architecture: The iRC4580i incorporates Canon’s MEAP technology, which
enables it to run applications that add capabilities, as well as customise the control panel. Current
MEAP applications include the optional eCopy ShareScan OP, which won BLI’s Fall 2005 “Pick
of the Year” Award as “Outstanding Scan-Routing Solution.” According to the BLI Solutions Test
Report, eCopy ScanStation OP is “very easy to use and manage and provides seamless
integration that enables users to scan directly into a range of document management and other
enterprise applications.”

Optional eCopy ShareScan OP: Users of the iRC4580i can leverage their existing investment
in document management applications by adding optional eCopy ShareScan, the scan solution
that earned a Fall 2005 BLI “Pick” award for “Outstanding Scan Routing Solution.” The eCopy
solution is an external client/server that consists of a PC provided by eCopy, an ergonomically
designed integrated keyboard, and a simple-to-use touch screen user interface. It allows users to
customise their workflow by easily creating customised buttons that automatically route the
scanned document to the correct place. For example, a personnel department might have
buttons for “Regulatory compliance,” “Employee handbook” and “Personnel files” among others.
BLI rated the eCopy solution Five Stars (the highest possible rating) and wrote in its solutions
report that BLI was “extremely impressed with both its outstanding ease of use and functionality,
and its close integration with Microsoft Exchange.” There is currently no eCopy connectivity
available to users of the bizhub C450.
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Dual processors: Unlike the bizhub C450, the iRC4580i’s print controller incorporates dual
processors, giving it the ability to simultaneously RIP one job while another job is processing.
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Advanced copy features: A number of advanced copy features that are available on the
iRC4580i including editing, image overlay, and a timer, are not available on the bizhub C450.
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Standard Internet fax functionality: The iRC4580i offers standard Internet fax functionality,
which allows the device to send faxes directly to any Internet fax-enabled device over the
Internet without incurring phone charges. This capability is optional on the bizhub C450.
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Faster Print and Copy Times
When Buyers Laboratory conducted identical print productivity tests on both the bizhub C450 and the
iRC4580i, the iRC4580i emerged the winner in virtually every category. The iRC4580i’s advantages over
the bizhub C450 include:
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Faster black first-copy time: In BLI testing, the iRC4580i produced faster first copies than the
bizhub C450 from both the platen and from the automatic document feeder, when running in black
mode. For example, in black mode, the iRC4580i produced its first copy from the platen in 7.7
seconds, versus 9.1 seconds for the bizhub C450. From the RADF, the iRC4580i’s first-copy in black
mode was produced in only 9.7 seconds, while it took the bizhub C450 10.4 seconds to complete the
same task.
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Faster colour first-copy time: Similarly, the iRC4580i proved faster at providing first copies from
both the platen and the automatic document feeder when running in auto-colour mode in BLI testing.
From the platen, the iRC4580i’s first copy was delivered in 11.4 seconds, while it took the bizhub
C450 13.5 seconds to complete the identical task. From the automatic document feeder, the
iRC4580i’s first auto-colour copy was delivered in 13.3 seconds, versus 14.9 seconds on the bizhub
C450.
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Faster black copy speed: BLI testing also showed that the iRC4580i had a faster black copy speed
in simplex and 2:2 duplex modes. In simplex mode, the iRC4580i’s tested overall speed was 35.9
ppm, while the bizhub C450 ran at an overall simplex black copy speed of only 27.4 ppm; and in 2:2
duplex mode, the iRC4580i’s overall speed was 30.3 ppm, while the bizhub C450’s overall speed was
just 27.4 ppm. (See Chart 1.)
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Faster colour copy speed: The iRC4580i also ran faster when making colour copies than the
bizhub C450 in all three modes tested (simplex, 1:2 duplex and 2:2 duplex). In simplex, the
iRC4580i’s tested colour copy speed was 27.6 ppm, while the bizhub C450’s speed in the same test
was only 14.9 ppm. In 1:2 duplex mode, the iRC4580i’s tested speed was 22.9 ppm (versus 16.2
ppm on the bizhub C450) and in 2:2 duplex mode, the iRC4580i’s tested speed was 25.8 ppm (versus
17.8 ppm on the bizhub C450). (See Chart 2.)
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Faster booklet copy speed: In BLI testing, the iRC4580i performed the fastest among tested units
in its class at copying booklets, in both black and auto-colour modes. In black mode, the iRC4580i’s
tested speed was 29.7 ppm, while the bizhub C450 completed the identical test at a speed of only
18.7 ppm; and in auto-colour mode, the iRC4580i tested at a speed of 25.6 ppm, while the bizhub
C450 ran at only 15.1 ppm. (See Chart 3.)
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Faster black print speed: The iRC4580i also outperformed the bizhub C450 when printing in both
black simplex and duplex modes. In simplex mode, the iRC4580i’s tested overall speed was 30.8
ppm, while the bizhub C450 ran at only 22.9 ppm. In duplex mode, the iRC4580i’s tested speed was
23.4 ppm, versus only 20.1 ppm on the bizhub C450. (See Chart 4.)
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Faster auto-colour print speed: When printing in auto-colour mode, the iRC4580i also proved
faster than the bizhub C450, displaying a tested print speed of 27.1 ppm in simplex mode (versus
15.5 ppm on the bizhub C450) and 21.2 ppm in duplex mode (versus 15.5 ppm on the bizhub C450).
(See Chart 5.)
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Faster booklet printing: The iRC4580i printed booklets faster than the bizhub C450 in both black
and colour modes. In black mode, the iRC4580i ran at an overall tested speed of 28.8 ppm, while the
bizhub C450’s tested speed was only 18.9 ppm. When printing booklets in auto-colour mode, the
iRC4580i ran at a tested speed of 26.5 ppm, while the bizhub C450 ran significantly slower, at only
14.5 ppm. (See Chart 6.)
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Faster job stream processing (black mode): The BLI Job Stream test is crucial in understanding
how a device will perform under real-world conditions. In this test, a series of different types of files
are sent to the device in rapid succession, simulating the kinds of demands that might be placed on it
in a busy office environment. When printing BLI’s job stream in black mode, the iRC4580i performed
at a tested print speed of 22.5 ppm, while the bizhub C450 ran at only 13.4 ppm when processing
the same job stream. (See Chart 7.)
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Faster job stream processing (auto-colour mode): The iRC4580i also performed significantly
better than the bizhub C450 when printing the BLI job stream test in auto-colour mode, with a tested
speed of 24.1 ppm versus a speed of only 12.7 ppm for the bizhub C450 in the same test. (See Chart
8.)
Data from BLI’s Lab and Field Test reports.
Productivity Advantages
The iRC4580i offers a number of critical advantages over the bizhub C450 that help businesses run better
and more productively, including:
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Faster scanning: The iRC4580i’s scanning unit has a rated speed of 70 originals per minute per
minute in both colour and black. In contrast, the scanner on the bizhub C450 is rated at a speed
of only 38 originals per minute in both colour and in black. (See Chart 9.)
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Faster document feeder: The iRC4580i’s available reversing automatic document feeder has a
rated speed of 50 originals per minute, versus a document feeder speed of only 38 opm on the
bizhub C450.
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Higher toner yields: The iRC4580i’s toner yields are higher than those of the bizhub C450 in
both black and colour. The iRC4580i has a black toner yield of 26,000 impressions, while the
bizhub C450’s black toner yield is less than half that, at only 11,500 impressions. Plus, the
iRC4580i’s colour toner yield is 30,000 impressions, versus only 11,500 impressions on the bizhub
C450. This means that users of the iRC4580i can run their machine longer in both colour and in
black before they have to replenish toner supplies. (See Chart 10.)
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Higher standard paper capacity: The iRC4580i’s generous 1,100-sheet standard paper
capacity is 46.6% higher than that of the bizhub C450 (750 sheets standard).
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Higher maximum paper capacity: Fully configured, the iRC4580i’s paper supply is 5,000
sheets – 47% higher than the 3,400-sheet maximum paper capacity of the bizhub C450. This
means users can print and copy longer without worrying about replenishing paper supplies.
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Better Interrupt functionality: When users press the Interrupt key on the iRC4580i’s control
panel, the job does not automatically stop. According to the BLI Lab Test Report on the iRC4580i,
“BLI technicians find this to be more efficient, as it allows users to program the next job while
the current job is completed.” In contrast, according to the BLI Lab Test Report on the bizhub
C450, “an interrupt job cannot be programmed until the machine stops running the current job.”
And, while both the iRC4580i and the bizhub C450 resume interrupted copy and print jobs when
the interrupting job is complete, on the iRC4580i, the unit automatically and immediately returns
to non-interrupted copy or print mode and restarts the job that was interrupted without user
intervention. In contrast, the BLI Lab Test Report on the bizhub C450 noted, “During testing, the
device automatically returned to non-interrupted copy mode after approximately one minute.” In
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other words, if a bizhub C450 user interrupts a copy job and forgets to restart it, the machine sits
idle for a full minute, while the iRC4580i immediately returns to the interrupted job.
Better Image Quality
Canon’s well-earned reputation for delivering outstanding image quality is reflected in the output of the
iRC4580i, which creates sharp, crisp, eye-catching images in both colour and black and white.
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Higher unenhanced print resolution: The iRC4580i delivers superior print resolution, with
true (unenhanced) resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 dpi, versus true resolution of only 600 x 600 dpi
on the bizhub C450.
Superior Ease of Use
No matter how many useful features an MFP offers, if it isn’t easy to use, many workers will simply avoid
using it. The iRC4580i was designed with ease of use in mind, offering user-friendly features including:
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Award-winning control panel: BLI awarded Canon a Spring 2005 “Pick” for Outstanding
Achievement in Control Panel Design, citing the fact that it “offers users a choice of two
outstanding control panel designs.” BLI’s Lab Test Report on the iRC4580i noted that its intuitive
control panel is “a favourite of BLI test technicians.”
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Easy-to-use print drivers: The iRC4580i comes standard with network printing via UFR II
(Ultra Fast Rendering II), which is Canon’s proprietary print language and is not available for the
bizhub C450. According to the BLI Lab Test Report on the iRC4580i, “The PCL and UFR II drivers
share a similar layout and appearance, making use easier when switching between the drivers.”
In contrast, the BLI Lab Test Report on the bizhub C450 said, “The PCL and PostScript drivers do
not have the same layout and appearance, which makes it more difficult for those who switch
between the two.”
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Easy misfeed clearing: Removing misfeeds from the iRC4580i is simple. The iRC4580i has no
misfeed locations in the main body of the unit. Rather than users opening the front cover and
having to turn various knobs and navigate through the interior of the copier to access misfed
paper, they access misfeeds on the right side of the unit and from the finisher. In contrast, the
BLI Field Test Report notes, “Clearing misfeeds on the bizhub C450 is not as simple as on some
competitive models tested. When a misfeed occurs, a text message indicates that a misfeed has
occurred and a diagram of the unit displays the misfeed’s location. However, the graphical and
text-based information does not show the user how to clear the misfeed. In addition, the process
for clearing misfeeds varies depending on where the misfeed is located, so users may have to
refer to the manual. BLI technicians also noted that they had to open the side panel areas where
no misfeeds were located in order for the device to reset.”
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Choice of control panel displays: BLI’s Lab Test Report on the iRC4580i praised its choice of
control panel displays, saying, “users can choose between its highly intuitive main copy screen
and a second, alternative copy screen, called Express Copy. The Express Copy screen enables
users to program most of the features required for typical and even more advanced copy jobs,
without having to access additional menus. BLI believes that because it eliminates the extra
keystrokes involved in accessing submenus, this method of programming is superior and enables
the best of both worlds by offering both.”
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Consistency with other Canon iRC products: The iRC4580i’s control panel looks and
behaves like other Canon MFP control panels, reducing the learning curve for users who switch
from one Canon iRC device to another.
Summing Up
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Offering standard network print and Colour Universal Send network scan functionality,
higher standard and maximum paper capacity, higher RAM, a hard drive with double the
storage capacity, and optional Web Access capability, the iRC4580i is an excellent fit in a
wide range of office environments that need occasional colour output. With powerful scan
capabilities and embedded MEAP customisation capabilities, the iRC4580i offers an excellent
feature set that cannot be matched by the bizhub C450.
[SIDE BAR]
Shortcomings of the Konica Minolta bizhub C450
BLI’s Lab and Field Test Reports on the Konica Minolta bizhub C450 cited the following
shortcomings of the product:
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Below-average overall colour print productivity.
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More cumbersome procedures for programming booklets in copy mode than some
competitive models tested.
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Procedures for removing misfeeds are not as simple as some competitive models tested.
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Requires more user intervention because of its below-average standard paper capacity
and black toner yield.
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The PCL and PostScript drivers do not have the same layout and appearance, which
makes it more difficult for those who switch between the two.
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The unit’s tested black toner yields are lower than average for competitive units.
Note: Data taken from BLI’s Lab and Field Test Reports.
Specifications at a Glance
Canon iRC4580i
Konica Minolta bizhub C450
Domestic Intro Date
Oct-06
Apr-05
Rated Engine Speed (Black)
45 ppm
45 ppm
Rated Engine Speed (Colour)
40 ppm
35 ppm
Web Access Functionality
Optional
No
Standard Paper Capacity
1,100 sheets
750 sheets
Max. Paper Capacity
5,000 sheets
3,400 sheets
Max. Paper Sources
6
5
70 ipm
38 ipm
1 GB
512 MB
Scanning Speed
Standard RAM
Max. RAM
1.5 GB
512 MB
Copier Hard Drive
Standard 80 GB
Standard 40 GB
Document Feeder
Optional RADF
Standard RADF
Document Feeder Speed
50 opm
38 opm
Unenhanced Print Resolution
1,200 x 1,200 dpi
600 x 600 dpi
26,000 impressions
11,500 impressions
Black Toner Yield
F:\TKO\Canon/Canon imageRUNNER C4580/iR C4580 vs Konica Minolta Bizhub C450
Colour Toner Yield
Controller
PDL/PCL Supported
30,000 impressions
11,500 impressions
UFR II, PCL 5c, opt. PostScript
3, opt. Adobe PostScript 3
(depends on controller)
PCL 5e/6, optional PostScript 3
(depends on controller)
Chart 1: Black Copy Speed (in ppm)
Simplex Mode:
iRC4580i
35.9 ppm
bizhub C450
27.4 ppm
2:2 Duplex Mode:
iRC4580i
30.3 ppm
bizhub C450
27.4 ppm
Chart 2: Colour Copy Speed (in ppm)
Simplex Mode:
iRC4580i
27.6 ppm
bizhub C450
14.9 ppm
1:2 Duplex Mode:
iRC4580i
22.9 ppm
bizhub C450
16.2 ppm
2:2 Duplex Mode:
iRC4580i
25.8 ppm
bizhub C450
17.8 ppm
Chart 3: Booklet Copy Speed (in ppm)
Black Mode:
iRC4580i
29.7 ppm
bizhub C450
18.7 ppm
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F:\TKO\Canon/Canon imageRUNNER C4580/iR C4580 vs Konica Minolta Bizhub C450
Colour Mode:
iRC4580i
25.6 ppm
bizhub C450
15.1 ppm
Chart 4: Black Print Speed (in ppm)
Simplex Mode:
iRC4580i
30.8 ppm
bizhub C450
22.9 ppm
Duplex Mode:
iRC4580i
23.4 ppm
bizhub C450
20.1 ppm
Chart 5: Auto-Colour Print Speed (in ppm)
Simplex Mode:
iRC4580i
27.1 ppm
bizhub C450
15.5 ppm
Duplex Mode:
iRC4580i
21.2 ppm
bizhub C450
15.5 ppm
Chart 6: Booklet Print Speed (in ppm)
Black Mode:
iRC4580i
28.8 ppm
bizhub C450
18.9 ppm
Auto-Colour Mode:
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F:\TKO\Canon/Canon imageRUNNER C4580/iR C4580 vs Konica Minolta Bizhub C450
iRC4580i
26.5 ppm
bizhub C450
14.5 ppm
Chart 7: Black Job Stream Processing Speed (in ppm)
iRC4580i
22.5 ppm
bizhub C450
13.4 ppm
Chart 8: Auto-Colour Job Stream Processing Speed (in ppm)
iRC4580i
24.1 ppm
bizhub C450
12.7 ppm
Chart 9: Rated Scanner Speed (in originals per minute)
iRC4580i
70 opm
bizhub C450
38 opm
Chart 10: Rated Toner Yield (in impressions)
Black
iRC4580i
26,000
bizhub C450
11,500
Colour
iRC4580i
30,000
bizhub C450
11,500
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