THE PRINT & MFP MAGAZINE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS
A BI MAGAZINE SUPPLEMENT
SPRING 2009
Muratec’s compact MFD wins
Editor’s Choice award
-ANAGED0RINT3ERVICESs8EROX#OLOR1UBEs4HE&UTUREOF0RINTs7INA46
PRINT.IT
No part of Print.IT can be reproduced without the
written permission of the publisher.
Copyright 2009 Kingswood Media Ltd.
A BUSINESS INFO MAGAZINE SUPPLEMENT
WELCOME
04
Bulletin
Toshiba makes MFPs carbon zero
06 The Future of Print
Are print volumes on the way up
or down? We ask the experts
09
Colour MFPs
How green is ColorQube?
10 Paper Handling
Faster forms printing
12 Cover Story
Introducing the MFX-C3400
14 Green Print Survey
Your chance to win a mini TV
16 Managed Print
Why TSG is doing well out of
managed print services.
18 B&W MFPs
Sharp breaks new ground
21 Printer Review
On Test: the Canon PIXMA MX860
22 Electronic Faxing
Fax machines are on the way out
18.
Print.IT is a Business Info supplement.
Published by Kingswood Media Ltd.
www.binfo.co.uk
Advertising: 0870 903 9500
Editorial: 01962 771862
Publisher: Neil Trim neil@binfo.co.uk
Advertising: Ethan White ethan@binfo.co.uk
Editor: James Goulding jamesg@binfo.co.uk
Design: james@stokeripley.com
One reads a lot today about the environmental impact of printing, so it
came as something of a surprise to
learn that the cost of carbon offsetting
a Toshiba MFP plus one million prints
was just £50, or in a language familiar to print buyers 0.005p per click
(see page 4). And that’s to offset the
carbon emissions of everything, from
the screws used in the MFPs, to the
paper consumed and even the petrol
used by service engineers.
Are Toshiba MFPs, supply chains and
manufacturing facilities unusually
efficient or could it be that printer
manufacturers have been over-stating
the environmental cost of printing to
encourage customers to adopt profitable software solutions and managed
print services?
Xerox is promoting its ColorQube (see
page 9) as a sustainable alternative
to laser/LED MFPs, largely because
the solid ink consumables generate
considerably less waste than those for
laser/LED devices - as much as 90%
less according to Xerox. The fact that
it also offers colour cost savings of up
to 62% is an even more potent sales
message. But even this may not be
enough to take the market by storm.
If it were, Kyocera ECOSYS printers
famous for their low running costs and
toner-only consumables would be the
best-selling printers in the UK.
James Goulding, Editor
jamesg@binfo.co.uk
Toshiba MFPs
now carbon zero
Following a similar scheme operated by Toshiba’s consumer electronics division,
Toshiba is working with co2balance to make Toshiba MFPs and the first million
pages on each device carbon zero.
The voluntary carbon offset specialist worked out the lifecycle carbon footprint
of a Toshiba MFP (including manufacture, transport, energy use and servicing)
plus that of its first 1 million prints and calculated how much would need to be
invested in carbon-saving projects to offset the equivalent amount of CO2.
Steve Hewson, marketing and indirect sales director for Toshiba TEC UK
Imaging Systems Ltd, said that the figure of £50 (split evenly between the MFP
and the printed pages) was so low that it made sense for Toshiba automatically
to make all e-STUDIO devices sold direct after June 1, 2009 carbon zero.
Businesses that print more than 1 million pages can buy bolt-on packages to
maintain carbon zero status throughout the MFP’s lifetime.
The carbon zero option applies to all e-STUDIO devices, from small desktop
units to high volume production machines, and will also be offered as an option
to dealers. Hewson is convinced that the benefits are so great that they, too, will
choose not to pass on the cost to customers.
“The response has been phenomenal because we have made it so simple.
There are not multiple levels for different devices but one flat fee, and it saves
you from having to do your own complicated calculations,” he explained.
Hewson added that whatever one’s thoughts about global warming and
carbon offsets, investment in projects, such as the supply of energy efficient
stoves in Kenya (see photo), is worthwhile as it provides employment and helps
development.
“Even if you don’t believe in the carbon thing and all the evidence that
supports it, most people have charitable and CSR obligations and this initiative
fits in well with that too,” he said.
www.toshiba.co.uk
Two-sided printing for all
Brother has broken new ground
by offering all models in its new
range of mono laser printers
and all-in-ones with two-sided
(duplex) printing as standard.
This will enable even those on
4 PRINT.IT
the tightest budget to reduce the
financial and environmental cost of
printing, as setting duplex printing
as the default can reduce paper
consumption by about 30-40%.
There are five new models
in the HL-5300 series of mono
laser printers and three new
Samsung printers with
0% finance
Samsung is partnering with De
Lage Landen (DLL) to offer its B2B
printers with 0% interest finance.
The programme offers
competitively priced and flexible
leasing terms for Samsung
printers, including the CLP-770ND,
Samsung’s fastest A4 colour laser
printer to date (see caption).
The offer is available via
participating Samsung resellers in
the United Kingdom and Ireland
from 1st June 2009 to 31st May
2010.
Samsung claims that leasing
is an attractive option in the
current financial climate as it
enables businesses to maintain
cash reserves for longer-term
strategic investments; provides
predictable and simple budgeting;
can offer tax advantages over
equipment ownership; and
enables businesses to buy higher
spec equipment than they might
be able to afford outright.
Commenting on the
programme, Neil Sawyer, head
of marketing, European Printing
Operation, Samsung Electronics
said: “The introduction of the
Samsung 0% finance programme
makes our printer technology
more affordable and accessible to
businesses at the right time.”
To see the available products
and full terms of the 0% finance
programme, visit www.samsung.
com/printerfinance.
Samsung’s fastest colour
laser printer, the CLP-770ND
has print speeds of 32
pages per minute, a 720MHz
processor, 256Mb of memory
(expandable to 768MB)
and a generous 600-sheet
paper capacity (expandable
to 1,600 sheets). Options
include wireless networking
and an 80GB hard disk. A
four-line LCD control panel
and intuitive compass
navigation system ensure
that the system is easy to
use, while high capacity toner
cartridges of 7,000 pages
keep user interventions and
costs to a minimum.
Developing
relationships
Konica Minolta has launched a
Developer Support Programme
(DSP) to help software vendors
and system integrators create
customised solutions for its
bizhub range of MFPs. The DSP
provides everything needed to
develop applications using the
bizhub OpenAPI, which enables
the seamless integration of
third party software applications
such as authentication tools,
pull print functionality and
metadata enhanced scanning.
dsp.konicaminolta.eu
all-in-ones in the 8000 MFP
series. The Energy Star and Blue
Angel-certified printers and allin-ones offer print speeds of up
to 30ppm, with prices starting at
£179 for the printers and £375
for the MFPs.
www.brother.co.uk 08444 999 444
www.binfo.co.uk
Secure
printing for
SMEs
Small and medium-sized businesses
with limited budgets are the target
market for Canon’s Security and Cost
Control Pack for MFPs.
This software-only solution
enables businesses or departments
with up to 5 Canon MFPs and 50
users to implement secure print,
authentication and MFP monitoring
without having to invest in a print
server or sophisticated output
management solutions.
The Security and Cost Control
Pack includes Canon’s My Print
Anywhere tool, which lets users
securely print and retrieve output
from any networked MFP running the
software by entering a PIN number or
swiping an ID card. Once the user has
identified himself, the document is
retrieved from his PC and printed.
The requirement to identify oneself
at an MFP before a document is
printed helps maintain confidentiality
of printed documents and prevents
unnecessary or repeat printing. User
authentication makes it possible for
administrators to monitor individuals’
printing habits and identify wasteful
practices.
www.canon.co.uk 01737 220000
Bernard Matthews says no to fax machines
According to a recent survey by Spinvox, almost one third of adults have not
used a fax machine in more than two years. This will come as no surprise to
employees of Bernard Matthews Farms, which as long ago as 1996 replaced
its standalone fax machines with a RightFax PC-based system for 600
computer users. In 2008, it was the turn of standalone printers and copiers
to be phased out as the poultry specialist standardised on Konica Minolta
MFPs. These have now been integrated with RightFax so that outbound
faxes can be sent via the MFP with all in-bound faxes routed into RightFax,
thus eliminating the risk of printed faxes falling into the wrong hands.
01962 835053 www.avanquest-solutions.co.uk
Lexmark encourages home
workers to print less
Lexmark has launched an ‘ecosimulator’ to encourage home workers
to print more responsibly.
Originally developed for business
customers, the green calculator
shows the environmental cost of a
user’s printing habits based on a
full Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) of their
Lexmark printer.
The calculator shows the impact of
one year’s printing, in terms of its global
warming potential, ozone emissions and
the amount of non-renewable resources
used, and how this can be reduced
through the adoption of sustainable
printing practices.
The eco-simulator can be accessed
at www.lexmark-emea.com.
news in brief
A first for Kyocera
Ikon award
Three-year warranty
Kyocera is filling a gap in its
product range with the launch of
its first A4 colour printer/copier/
scanner/fax. The FS-C1020MFP
has print speeds of 20 pages per
minute in colour and B&W and
costs £489 (ex VAT).
www.kyoceramita.co.uk
Ikon has been awarded a ‘Partner
of the Year’ award by Boots
UK. Ikon has been working with
Boots for 18 years, providing a
diverse range of document and
print services to its Nottingham
Support Office and 2,000 retail
outlets across the UK.
OKI Printing Solutions has
introduced a free three-year onsite warranty for its entire range of
printers, faxes and multi-functional
printers. The warranty provides allinclusive next-day service on-site,
including labour costs and parts.
www.oki.co.uk
Affordable A3
25 years of LaserJet
New A3 inkjet all-in-one
Small businesses that need to
print A3+ documents are likely
to welcome the launch of the
HP Officejet 7000 Wide Format
printer. HP claims that the inkjet
device consumes 40% less energy
than comparable laser printers and
has a 40% lower cost per page.
This year marks the 25th anniversary
of the first HP LaserJet printer, the
HP LaserJet Classic (illustrated), and
the 15th anniversary of the world’s
first colour laser printer, the HP Color
LaserJet. Since launching the first
model in 1984 HP has sold 132
million LaserJet printers worldwide.
Brother has launched a new version
of its A3 inkjet all-in-one. New
features of the top-of-the-range MFC6890CDW include a 4.2in colour
LCD touchscreen display and an A4
duplexing unit for automatic two-sided
printing. A3 prints are still single-sided.
It costs £335.80 (inc VAT).
Going green bit by bit
Bioplastics with a smaller carbon
footprint than traditional plastics
are starting to be used in MFPs
as manufacturers look at ways to
reduce the environmental impact
of their products. Xerox has
become the latest company to
make use of the material, which
it has used in a small way in the
new Xerox WorkCentre 7400
colour A3 MFP. Xerox claims
the MFP’s drum cover is made
entirely from biomass plastic
that generates 16% fewer CO2
emissions during manufacture
than traditional plastic.
www.xerox.co.uk
Talk to print
Visually impaired users can
look forward to simpler device
operation following the addition
of touch-to-speech technology
and Braille panel overlays on the
Océ VarioPrint 1055/65/75 and
2062/75 MFDs. Touch to Speech
technology generates speech for
selected copy settings (e.g. number
of copies, single/duplex, finishing,
enlargement/reduction) and for error
messages (e.g. jams, toner/staple
empty). It can be used in conjunction
with VarioPrint's Touch To Print
application, which enables users to
access a digital mailbox via biometric
authentication, select and print
required print jobs, then delete them
from the mailbox.
Printing in 2010
PRINTIT ASKED LEADING LIGHTS IN THE PRINTER MARKET FOR THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE OF OFFICE PRINT
The printer industry has had a difficult nine months. According to IDC,
worldwide hardcopy unit shipments declined 18% year-on-year to 26.4
million units in the first quarter of this year, with an even greater decline in
shipment value of 21%.
This represents the third consecutive quarterly decline, with printer
sales being particularly badly hit (down by 28%). Even colour laser printer
shipments fell back by 15% after a rise of 1% in the last quarter of 2008.
The decline in printer sales is partly the result of the continuing
transition towards multifunction printers (MFPs), which declined less
steeply than other segments (-10%) and now account for 62% of the
hardcopy peripherals market.
The only part of the market to record year-on-year growth was colour
laser MFPs, with sales 6% up on Q1, 2008.
IDC expects the market to recover early in 2010 as the world comes out
of recession, but what will the market look like in a year’s time? And what
will purchasers’ priorities be? Will businesses loosen their purse strings or,
mindful of manufacturers’ green printing messages, choose to print less
and make do with fewer devices?
PRINT VOLUMES?
PrintIT’s survey of UK printer manufacturers found that while everyone
agreed hardware sales were down, there was disagreement over whether
print volumes had declined in the same period – or how they would
develop in the future.
Brother sales and marketing director Phil Jones was typical of those who
felt that ‘smart printing’ techniques were having an impact on print volumes.
“Printing on both sides of the page, Toner Save mode, booklet print mode
and using large monitors have impacted the amount people print,” he said.
“We accept there are fundamental shifts happening in technology.”
Others, like Tom Primett, group product marketing manager for Sharp,
were not so sure, pointing out that pages are printed for a reason and that
is to do business.
“You may see a reduction in print volumes in the home but in the office,
print is the price of doing business. You can do scan-to-email, but someone
will still print it out at the other end. All you are doing is moving the print
around. That is why print volumes have gone up since email,” he said.
Paul Callow, Lexmark UK marketing director, said that he had noticed
a reduction in the number of pages printed but expected print volumes to
PHIL JONES
PAUL CALLOW
6 PRINT.IT
IELDEN
TRACEY F
increase as the economy improved.
“There has been a reduction in the number of pages but we are trying
to work out if that’s because there are fewer businesses or if it’s combined
with the fact that people are doing the same amount but are now printing
smarter,” he said. “As the economy recovers the fact that business will
grow again will offset the fact that people are being more responsible, so
print volumes may start to go up again.”
THE DUPLEX EFFECT
Everyone drew a distinction between physical pages printed, which is
influenced by the growing practice of two-sided printing (duplex), and the
number of impressions made, which is not.
Duplex printing may be a problem for paper merchants, but it doesn’t
affect toner sales, which is what really matters to printer vendors – and, as
Brother’s Phil Jones points out, in the short term at least it gives users of
simplex printers a good reason to upgrade their equipment.
“Our view is that if a business doesn’t have a duplex printer it will be
worth their while to buy one. Our booklet printing mode puts four sides of
A4 onto one sheet of A4: we use that all the time here because it’s really
convenient and it reduces paper consumption by 75%,” he said.
What may have more of an impact on consumable sales, argues
Samsung’s Steve Pearce, is Toner Save or draft printing mode.
“I see a change in the number of pages output – the same number
of impressions but fewer pages because of duplex. At the same time,
manufacturers are driving environmental features, such as the Toner Save
button, which will decrease toner consumption by 40% but not necessarily
affect page volumes,” he said.
HIGH-END GROWTH
Replacing a simplex printer with a duplex model is part of a wider trend
to acquire more powerful technology that Tracey Fielden, Canon UK head
of office marketing, believes will cushion lower hardware sales caused by
device consolidation.
“We might not sell as many machines, but you will find there is growth
at the high end. We will sell fewer low-end devices and more high end
ones. And organisations are embracing software technology. So while we
have had a downturn in the number of physical hardware units sold, we
have seen an increase in the sale of workflow software – up 140% on last
year,” she said.
Another profitable trend identified by Fielden is the shift from
mono to colour devices, driven in part by organisations’ eagerness to
reduce the cost of using external print suppliers.
“We are still seeing a migration from mono to colour: mono is
declining and colour is growing, albeit not as quickly as we would
have liked. That is down to two things: colour is becoming cheaper;
and where people are managing costs they are looking at what they
outsource and what they can bring in-house.”
Helen George, Ricoh services marketing manager, was another to
point out that a narrow focus on the number of pages printed was the
wrong way to approach the printer market.
“Ricoh is not worried about the number of pages or clicks reducing,”
she said. “What’s more important is to have the right level of printing for
the customer, as this creates opportunities for MPS providers. We are not
dependent on increasing clicks to grow the market: we have different and
higher level solutions to help the customer do more. If a company is only
looking at page numbers to grow their business they are behind what is
expected [from a modern print provider].”
www.binfo.co.uk
konicaminolta.co.uk
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Xerox makes a splash
with ColorQube
WILL LOWER COLOUR COSTS AND REDUCED WASTE BE ENOUGH FOR XEROX’S SOLID
INK TECHNOLOGY TO PENETRATE THE A3 MFP MARKET? JAMES GOULDING REPORTS
Ever since acquiring solid ink
technology nine years ago,
Xerox has spoken about its
suitability for use in high speed,
large format devices. Last
month, it made good its – and
solid ink’s – promise with the
launch of the Xerox ColorQube
9200 Series of A3 MFPs.
The development of a new
printhead with twice the number of
nozzles per linear inch has enabled
Xerox to increase ink flow by 400%
and achieve print speeds of up to
50 pages per minute in colour and
B&W (85ppm in draft mode).
Throw in full A3 multifunctionality
(colour printer/copier/scanner/fax),
all the finishing options you would
expect from a departmental MFP;
and support for the customisable
Xerox Extensible Interface Platform
(EIP), and Xerox is confident
that the ColorQube is a ‘no
compromise’ alternative to MFPs
based on laser technology.
“Over the last 9 years, solid ink
products have been successful for
Xerox and we felt that now was
the time to bring ColorQube to
market: it’s a strong proposition in
a market that’s receptive to its key
messages,” explained Xerox Office
marketing manager Nick Stainton.
TACTILE: XEROX SOLID INK
STICKS BEING LOADED INTO
A COLORQUBE MFP
www.binfo.co.uk
EDITOR’S CHOICE: THE COLORQUBE 9200 SERIES HAS PRINT SPEEDS OF UP TO 50 PAGES PER MINUTE
IN COLOUR AND B&W (85PPM IN DRAFT MODE).
KEY BENEFITS
These revolve around three key
concepts: the environment, ease of
use and affordable colour.
From an environmental
perspective, solid ink’s greatest
advantage over laser is the
amount of waste generated by
consumables. According to Xerox,
solid ink generates 90% less waste
than comparable laser MFPs thanks
to cartridge-free consumables (the
ink sticks are simply dropped into
a feeder, while the machine is still
printing); and a printhead that is
designed to last for the lifetime of
the machine.
In other respects, ColorQube
is less green. Xerox cites a study,
which estimates that the ColorQube
series uses 9% less energy and
produces 10% fewer greenhouse
gases than a comparable laser
device, but it is important to
note that this takes into account
the production, transport and
disposal of consumables and their
packaging throughout its lifecycle.
It is perfectly valid to include
such factors, but it does obscure
the fact that solid ink MFPs are
not as energy-efficient as modern
toner devices. Comparing power
consumption figures of the
ColorQube with Kyocera’s new
TASKalfa 500ci (50ppm B&W,
40ppm colour) clearly shows that
the former is more energy-hungry.
The ColorQube consumes an
average of 750 watts when printing
(with a maximum of 1,410 watts)
compared to 1,150 watts on the
TASKalfa. But the real difference is
in standby and low power modes.
The ColorQube consumes 360
watts in standby, 200 watts in
Low Power Mode and 113 watts
in Sleep Mode, compared to 210
watts in standby and 19 watts
in ECOpower (sleep) mode on
Kyocera’s device.
These figures are significant
because it takes solid ink much
longer to print from low power mode
and sleep modes – 47 seconds and
3 mins 30 seconds respectively
– compared to about 30 seconds
from Kyocera’s ECOpower mode.
This means that in busy offices,
solid ink devices are likely to remain
in standby mode or at best Low
Power Mode, which still consumes
200 watts compared to 19 watts in
Kyocera’s power-saving mode.
HYBRID PRICING
More compelling is ColorQube’s
Hybrid pricing structure. Instead of
having a single colour click charge
regardless of the amount of colour
on the page, Xerox has a threetier pricing plan: Black Plus Useful
Colour e.g. an office document with
a logo and small graphic; Everyday
Colour e.g. documents with
moderate colour coverage, such as
a web page; and Expressive Colour
e.g. estate agent property details.
At the time of going to press,
there were no UK pricing details but
Nick Stainton quoted US prices of
1 cent for Black Plus Useful Colour,
3-4 cents for Everyday Colour and
about 7 cents for Expressive Colour.
Xerox is advertising overall colour
page cost reductions of up to 62%.
NOT THE FIRST
Xerox is not the first manufacturer
to offer variable click charges or,
indeed, a low-waste alternative to
laser technology. Two years ago HP
made exactly the same claims for its
Edgeline series of A3 inkjet MFPs,
the HP CM8050 and HP CM8060.
Like the ColorQube, these
high speed MFPs (up to 60ppm
mono/50ppm colour) have three
colour click charges: accent colour,
which is charged at 0.9 US cents
compared to 0.83 US cents for a
B&W page; general office colour;
PRINT.IT 9
Xerox makes a splash
with ColorQube
and professional colour.
This feature alone should
have generated a great deal of
interest, but neither it nor other
benefits such as reduced energy
consumption (half that of a
similarly specced laser device),
lower servicing requirements or
fewer consumables (and therefore
less waste), seem to have caught
the imagination of purchasers.
HP MFP category manager John
Duckworth was unable to tell PrintIT
how many Edgeline devices HP had
sold in the UK nor what the devices
cost (they are sold on a contract
basis with service and support).
However, he did intimate that the
take-up had been slow and that HP
was only now “starting to get some
momentum” behind the technology.
It is hard to tell whether this
is due to the limitations of the
devices, notably a slow first copy
out time (12 seconds) and limited
finishing capabilities, or whether
it is due to business’s innate
suspicion of inkjet devices.
If the latter, selling the current
generation of Edgeline MFPs is
likely to become harder, as the
number of rival technologies
with greater acceptance in office
environments increases (according
to Stainton, Xerox sells as many
A4 solid ink printers in the UK as it
does A4 laser printers).
A THIRD WAY
Kyocera recently launched a
‘managed print service’ for its
laser-based MFPs that combines
traditional copier servicing and
support with the supply of a
specified number of consumables
as and when needed throughout
the term of the contract – all paid
for up-front (if necessary through a
lease with monthly payments).
In this way KYO print pack
delivers the main benefits of a
traditional cost per page contract
(e.g. the supply of consumables
and maintenance) without some of
the drawbacks, such as minimum
monthly page volumes and a single
colour click charge regardless of
the amount of colour toner used.
Because customers pay for a
volume of toner rather than for
each page printed, they are not
penalised every time they print a
colour logo and can benefit from
implementing toner-saving features,
such as draft-print mode, that
make toner supplies last longer.
The flip side is that you pay more
for pages with high colour toner
coverage, as there isn’t the price
cap offered by both traditional click
charges and Edgeline/ColorQubestyle variable charges.
CONCLUSION
Xerox’s ColorQube is an exciting
development, but whether it offers
enough benefits to change people’s
preference for laser technology is
a moot point. Lower running costs
and reduced waste alone are no
guarantee of market acceptance – if
they were Kyocera would be market
leader in the UK print market.
However, the combination of
these factors with ease of use,
attractive consumables, vibrant
colour print quality and reduced
servicing and support should
encourage corporate buyers to
look at solid ink as an alternative
to laser devices and allay any fears
they may have about adopting
what for many will be a new print
technology.
“Solid ink will be new to many
people,” explained Xerox Europe’s
Robert Corbishley. “But there’s
nothing to fear. If anything it’s
easier to use and maintain than
what they are used to.”
A License to Print
The Licensing Department of New Forest District Council has maximised
the effectiveness of multi-page form production by adding a TowerTray
sheet feeding system to its HP LaserJet 4350 printer.
Supplied by DPI Products Ltd of Guildford, TowerTrays enable
organisations to increase the functionality of laser printers either by
increasing paper capacity to as much as 4,100 sheets or by expanding the
variety of paper stocks available on-line.
Based in the council’s Lyndhurst headquarters, the Licensing
Department is responsible for the implementation of the Licensing Act in
the New Forest Region and has to produce hundreds of different types
of license, covering everything from pubs and clubs to taxis, lotteries and
charitable collections.
It recently installed a TowerTray system to facilitate the printing of a
huge variety of multi-page forms each of which may include different types
and colours of plain or pre-printed paper printed on one or both sides.
The combination of nine numbered paper trays and DPI’s Paper Flow
Control (PFC) language, which embeds commands in template documents,
ensures that the right mix of pages is automatically fed into the printer
according to the form selected and printed in the right way (e.g. single or
double-sided).
The ability automatically to print a letter with the first page doublesided from tray 8 with 2 copies on plain paper from tray 3, for example,
has hugely simplified what would otherwise be a complicated and time
consuming operation, enabling the department to produce licensing
documentation and other multi-page forms quickly and accurately to the
benefit of everyone.
www.dpiproducts.co.uk 01483 203735
10 PRINT.IT
www.binfo.co.uk
A greener business
with
Philips Green Products can help reduce costs,
energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
How?
They offer customers, users and society a significant
environmental improvement in one or more of the Philips
Green Focal Areas - Energy efficiency, Packaging, Hazardous
substances, Weight, Recycling and disposal, and Lifetime reliability.
Low energy consumption
• Up to 47% better on energy efficiency
compared to the average of the competitors
• A range of thermal transfer faxes with
telephone, answering machine, copy and SMS
LaserMFD 6000 series
Toner Save function
• Simplify your daily business
• LaserMFD with fax, copy, print
and colour scan
40%
Toner Save
Visit www.fax.philips.com and www.asimpleswitch.com for further information.
Available to buy from:
47%
Energy
Savings
Muratec’s compact
colour multifunctional
is Print.IT
Editor’s Choice
Launched this month by Muratec, the groundbreaking MFX-C3400 has
been awarded the Print.IT Editor’s Choice award for its compact design and
comprehensive document imaging functionality.
Designed from first principles, the MFX-C3400 provides a cost-effective and
highly productive colour multifunctional that is packed with technology. Yet its
compact footprint fits easily into even the smallest offices. This means that
SMEs and workgroups can enjoy the full benefits of A3 colour output with copy,
print, scan and fax functionality even in the most confined office spaces.
Many organisations are now aware of the considerable economic and
environmental benefits of using networked multifunction devices for print output,
compared to personal desktop printers. Cost savings of many thousands of
pounds are possible even for SMEs. Reduced noise, emissions and space
savings are other strong incentives for using networked multifunctionals.
Management and cost control is also easier.
Perhaps the only serious drawback is the size of most multifunctionals for
workgroup use. An A3 colour printing multifunctional is usually a large console
machine that takes up a lot of office space. In confined business premises
where space is at a premium this can be a considerable drawback.
Space efficiency was a key consideration in the design of Muratec’s first A3
colour multifunctional, the MFX-C3400. Featuring a compact footprint that can
fit into an opening under two feet wide, the MFX-C3400 is the smallest A3
colour multifunctional in its class. As all consumable items are loaded from the
front and all cabling is connected at the rear, no side access is needed for the
machine, allowing it to fit neatly into a crowded office.
The Muratec MFX-C3400 may be compact, but it packs a big punch,
combining high quality A3 colour output with flexible multifunction features for
copy, print, scan and fax as standard. For colour output, the powerful MFXC3400 has a 26 pages per minute (ppm) print and copy speed, making output
of colour documents, such as reports and training notes, easy and quick. For
black-and-white output, the MFX-C3400 has a fast 34ppm print speed.
The MFX-C3400 delivers high quality colour output with a super-detail
resolution of 1200 by 600dpi for outstanding results. Muratec’s proven
colour print technology ensures subtle tones and gradations of colour to give
photographic quality to images in business documents. An RADF (recirculating
automatic document feeder) allows the versatile MFX-C3400 to perform fully
automatic duplex (double sided) copying and scanning. Routinely printing and
copying on both sides of the page drastically reduces paper consumption, saving
costs and helping the environment.
As well as printing onto A3 stock up to 200gsm in weight, the versatile MFXC3400 can print full colour banners up to 1,200mm in length and 297mm
wide. Banner printing is a real boost to businesses that want to use banners
for marketing and sales purposes, particularly at point of sale. Open days, sales
incentives, motivational slogans and other messages can all be promoted to
12 PRINT.IT
staff or customers with banner prints.
Designed for high productivity, the Muratec MFX-C3400 is supplied network
ready for network printing and scanning. PCL5c and Post Script 3 are supported
as standard providing powerful network functionality for workgroups. Using the
Post Script 3 driver allows the MFX-C3400 to store document templates on its
hard drive. These can then be used for standard business stationery applications
such as letterheads, invoices delivery notes and so on, saving the cost of preprinted stationery.
When used for network printing, a system administrator can monitor usage
remotely via a web browser interface and can set maximum user print volumes
for the MFX-C3400. Usage monitoring can be used for print job cost allocation,
by department, individual and so on.
The MFX-C3400 is really easy to use thanks to a large backlit touchscreen
that makes the management of document imaging tasks, such as scanning,
simple and intuitive. It is easy to securely scan to folders and archive
applications, or scan to e-mail for sharing printed documents with colleagues
without the need to print. When scanning to network folders, users can utilise
the IP address of a PC as a scanning destination. The versatile MFX-C3400 can
also scan direct to USB memory stick.
For faxing the MFX-C3400 has a 33.6k bps modem for fast fax transmission.
ITU-T Super Group 3 standard is supported with JBIG compression. The
broadcast fax facility can be used for up to 530 destinations.
As a leading manufacturer of multifunction office equipment and business
solutions, Muratec has ensured that the MFX-C3400 meets customer needs for
a compact device that offers full networked functionality for workgroups including
A3 colour output.
For more information on the new MFX-C3400 call 0870 608 6084 or
visit www.muratec-europe.co.uk
www.binfo.co.uk
MURATEC’S UI PROGRAMME PRODUCES
COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCT RANGE
The groundbreaking MFX-C3400 is a product of Muratec’s Usability
Improvement (UI) R&D programme for the development of the next generation
of Muratec multifunctional imaging systems. The programme has the slogan
‘More User-friendly Products for Everybody’ and aims to develop products that
are easier to use through ergonomic analysis.
The UI programme begins with an analysis of existing products by a group
consisting of specialists in marketing, customer support, product planning
and engineering. The goal is to identify usability improvement. The UI
programme members thoroughly examine potential areas for improvement
by interviewing customers and carrying out on-site tests with some
users. Information gained in the process is used to make all Muratec
products more user-friendly.
The UI R&D programme has allowed Muratec to facelift its entire
product range over the last year with a series of upgraded models,
starting with the entry level 13ppm MFX-1350. The MFX-1350
benefits from Muratec’s low Total Cost of Ownership sales policy,
making the operating costs for Muratec fax and multifunctional
systems amongst the most competitive in the market. For example
the MFX-1350 has a 0.75p cost per copy because it uses Muratec’s
new high yield toner (based on six percent document coverage and
two page printing cycle). With a total design life of 300,000 pages the MFX1350 is also far more robust than cheaper multifunctionals designed for the
home office rather than commercial use.
The MFX-1350 was followed by the MFX-1450. Featuring Muratec’s
groundbreaking NGP (Network Gateway Platform) technology, the MFX-1450
provides an ‘out-of-the-box’ solution for network connectivity. The MFX1450 has auto-duplex for double sided copying and printing as standard,
saving time and paper.
Muratec has also launched two new A3 multifunctionals, the MFX-2225
and MFX-2725, with RADF and the option of Muratec’s OfficeBridge software.
OfficeBridge allows the MFX-2225 and MFX-2725 to operate as powerful
network solutions for sharing documents between a workgroup of up to 50
users. OfficeBridge provides network print, network scan, scan
to e-mail, Internet fax, desktop fax and workflow management
functionality all in one simple to use application.
Finally, Muratec recently launched the MFX-2050, an ideal
workgroup multifunctional for small offices that also features NGP
technology and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
compliance for automatic installation and configuration on a network.
The MFX-2050 has received Best Buy status in the latest What To Buy For
www.binfo.co.uk
Business printer-copier MFP awards. In its description of the Muratec MFX-2050,
the What To Buy For Business report states: “Plenty of good functionality on this
device with print, copy and scan and fax all in a compact A4 footprint. Can be
set up and managed from a web browser. Generous paper handling and low cost
page rates give this model the edge.”
To know more about Muratec’s best-selling multifunctional range
call 0870 608 6084 or visit www.muratec-europe.co.uk
PRINT.IT 13
The Print IT, Samsung Sustainable Print Survey 2009
WIN a mini Flatscreen Samsung TV
Sustainable printing practices can help businesses save money, eliminate waste and reduce their carbon footprint. But how many
organisations have a formal policy to reduce paper and toner consumption? To help us find out, please complete the survey below
and return it to us by August 14, 2009. All completed entries will be entered into a prize draw for a mini Samsung TV. Good luck!
1. Does your company have a formal
policy to reduce the environmental
impact of office printing?
c Yes c No (please go to Question 6)
2. If Yes, what were the reasons for
implementing sustainable printing?
(please rank in order, 1 being the most important)
c To reduce the cost of print
c To reduce the amount of
waste paper
c To improve efficiency by driving
paper out of the business
c For a smaller carbon footprint
c To create a better working
environment
c For CSR reasons
c Other________________________
3. Does your policy include the
following? (please tick where appropriate)
c Default duplex (printing on both
sides of the page)
c Toner Save or Draft Mode
c The use of recycled paper
c Quotas by department/individual
c Print restrictions by application
c Restricted access to colour
printing
c Secure Print
c User identification at MFPs
c Automatic shut down at end
of day
c Use of remanufactured cartridges
c Use of remanufactured MFPs
6. If No, why have you not yet put a
sustainable printing policy in place?
(please rank in order, 1 being the most important)
c Have not had the time or
resources to look at it
c It wouldn’t make a difference to
business efficiency
c Don’t know where to start
c It is too expensive to implement
c Printing is not a priority
c The environment is not a priority
c Other________________________
7. Do you or your colleagues
voluntarily practice the following?
(please tick where appropriate)
Two-sided printing
Toner Save or Draft Mode
c Two or more pages per side
(n-up)
c Booklet mode (n-up and duplex)
c No printing of emails
c Print preview to check formatting
c Turn off printer at end of day
c
c
8. What do you do with your used
toner cartridges?
c Return them to the manufacturer
for recycling
c Donate them to charity/school
collection schemes
c Sell them to cartridge remanufacturers
c Throw them out
c Other________________________
c Phasing out of harmful chemicals
10. How do you rate the following for
their impact on the environment and
productivity? (on a scale of 1-3 with 1 being
c Carbon Zero accreditation
c Remanufactured devices
c Environmental reputation of
supplier
not effective, 2 effective, 3 very effective)
Using multifunctional printers (MFPs)
c The Environment c Productivity
Replacing A3 devices with A4 MFPs
c The Environment c Productivity
Secure Print
c The Environment c Productivity
Monitoring of printer/MFP use
c The Environment c Productivity
User authentication at print devices
c The Environment c Productivity
Automatic job routing
c The Environment c Productivity
Scanning to electronic workflows
c The Environment c Productivity
Managed Print Services
c The Environment c Productivity
11. Which of the following would
influence your choice of printer?
c Use of recycled plastics in
machine manufacture
c Use of bio plastics in machine
manufacture
12. What are the most important
criteria for your business when
choosing a printer?
(please rank in order, 1 being the most important)
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
Low purchase price
Low running costs
Reliability
Extended warranties
Space-efficiency
Wireless Networking
Low energy consumption
Environmental accreditations
13. Do you believe that there's a lot
of noise about green printing but still
far too much time, energy, paper and
toner wasted?
c Yes c No
Please send the completed form to:
Samsung/PrintIT Survey, Kingswood Media, 4 New Cottages,
Green Farm Lane, Shorne, Kent DA12 3HQ.
Alternatively, please Scan and Email to neil@binfo.co.uk
All completed entries received by August 14, 2009 will be entered into a draw for
a mini Samsung flatscreen television.
4. Have you measured the impact of
these initiatives?
c Yes c No
5. If Yes, please specify any
reductions in the following areas:
Print Costs
c 0% c 10% c 20% c 30% c 40% c 50%
Paper consumption
c 0% c 10% c 20% c 30% c 40% c 50%
Toner consumption
c 0% c 10% c 20% c 30% c 40% c 50%
Number of Print Devices
c 0% c 10% c 20% c 30% c 40% c 50%
Please go to Question 8
9. What features/qualifications do
you look for when purchasing a
printer/MFP?
c Automatic duplex
c Toner Save Button
c USB port for print from/scan to
memory sticks
c Wireless networking
c Low power consumption in
standby mode
c Cartridge recycling program
c Energy Star certification
c Energy Saving Trust certification
c Blue Angel certification
c TCO certification
Name:
Company:
Company Size: c 1-10
c 101-250
c 11-20
c 21-50
c 51-100
c 251-500 c 501-1000 c 1001+
Address:
Position:
Tel:
Email:
If you do not wish to receive further mailings relating to this competition, please tick the box. c
14 PRINT.IT
www.binfo.co.uk
Let scanning take the
p re s s u re o ff y o u r w o r k l o a d
ccording to leading worldwide market research and strategic
onsulting firm, InfoTrends*, 65 % of office workers use
igital copiers/MFPs and over 50% use the “scan” feature
aily, to help them become more efficient; living proof,
deed, that in today’s workplace the need for improved
roductivity in one machine is vital.
Manufacturers, like Olivetti, are really focusing on major issues
cluding scanning capabilities: fast speeds, better quality
nd enhanced drivers to enable paper and time saving
unctions such as Scan to email, Scan to Windows Folders
nd Scan to FTP.
canning, using MFPs, will allow you to make significant
avings, as workgroups can use one machine for all their
opying, printing and scanning, and improve internal as well
s external communication.
et us show you how you can improve your company’s
workflow and save you money. Contact us now for a FREE
onsultation in your area.
livetti UK Limited
00 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 2BE
l: 01908 547980, Fax: 01908 547885, email:c.gordge@olivetti.com
The Olivetti dColor MF450
Call now on
01908 547896
Awin:win situation
PRINTER COMPANIES WITHOUT A SERVICE CAPABILITY ARE TURNING TO THIRD PARTY MAINTAINER TECHNICAL
SUPPORT GROUP (TSG) TO DELIVER MANAGED PRINT SERVICES
Managed print services (MPS)
are often described as a win:win
situation for both client and supplier.
Another company doing well out
of the popularity of MPS contracts
encompassing consultancy, device
management, consumables
delivery, servicing and support is
third party maintainer Technical
Support Group (TSG).
Despite the difficult economic
climate, it has seen sales grow 25%
year-on-year by meeting printer
manufacturers’ need for a reliable
nationwide servicing partner.
Customers include Brother,
Xerox, Samsung and Kyocera Mita,
which recently took on TSG to carry
out the maintenance elements of
its new MPS proposition.
MD Meyer Kempf said that TSG was
able to meet Kyocera’s needs including
stringent service level agreements
(SLAs) because it has made significant
TSG MD Meyer Kempf
investments in its IT infrastructure,
premises, training and workforce.
TSG recently moved into a new
building with on-site workshops and
training facilities; it has upgraded its
infrastructure with a new phone system
and servers; and continues to recruit
new managers and service engineers.
“In the last three months alone
we have taken on engineers in
some of the more remote areas of
the UK, so that we have no need to
sub-contract,” he said.
Kempf added that TSG would
continue to increase the ratio of
engineers to machines in the field
to enable it to provide four-hour
response times across the UK.
“We already provide 6-hour
support for 1,200 different makes
of machine and are now investing
money and manpower to enable us
to provide four-hour multi-vendor
support for all our clients. We have
done this first in London and are
rolling it out to other conurbations.”
Manufacturers are not the only
ones to benefit from this investment:
40% of TSG’s business comes from
corporates with mixed printer, fax and
MFP fleets and they, too, can look
forward to faster response times and
improved device management.
“What attracts corporates to TSG
is our ability to provide good quality
multi-vendor service and detailed
management information (MI) on
their printer fleet, and the fact
that we are a dedicated support
company, not a sales company with
service,” Kempf explained.
“In preparation for going to an
MPS, a lot of businesses want to
improve their understanding of
their fleet and infrastructure. As a
multi-vendor support company, TSG
can help a business manage their
migration from Point A to Point B.
We've found a real market for that,
as we can give them such great MI.”
As more businesses embrace
managed print services to reduce
print costs, TSG’s service offering
looks increasingly attractive to
manufacturers and corporates alike.
0870 4176010
Xerox launches hosted MPS
Xerox has launched a hosted version
of its enterprise managed print service
(MPS) to meet growing demand for
managed print amongst small and
medium-sized businesses.
IDC predicts that 60% of SMEs in
Europe will consider purchasing an
MPS solution in 2009 in an attempt
to lower print costs, reduce IT support
and increase office productivity.
Xerox Print Services is designed
to be delivered by Xerox's channel
partners and includes tools to manage
the four phases of a managed print
service (Assess, Design, Implement
and Manage) in organisations with as
few as 50 devices.
The hybrid offering will enable
certified channel partners to
build their own branded services
with their own agreements and
contracts, backed by a technology
platform and support infrastructure
16 PRINT.IT
provided by Xerox.
“Xerox hosts these tools,” explained
Darren Cassidy, VP for Large Accounts
Europe. “We run services and then we
provide the information to the partner
who includes it in customer reports
showing all relevant data and what
actions need to be taken.”
Xerox Print Services uses tools finetuned by Xerox in the 12 years since
it launched Xerox Office Services,
its managed print services for large
enterprises, which now manages
more than 2 million devices, half of
which are non-Xerox.
Cassidy said: “Xerox Global
Services has led the way in managed
print in the document space. We have
focused on large enterprise customers
and have developed fantastic tools for
managing the document environment.
We have now redeveloped and
optimised these tools to enable
channel partners to deliver managed
print to smaller businesses.”
The tools allow resellers to
assess a customer's current printing
environment, fine-tune its printing
networks for optimum performance,
and manage multi-vendor printer
fleets efficiently and cost-effectively,
with remote monitoring for proactive
maintenance and just-in-time
supplies delivery.
All print activity and events are
captured so that customers can
monitor print costs (and carbon
emissions) and check that promised
cost reductions and Service Level
Agreements (SLAs) are being met.
Cassidy believes that now is the
perfect time to launch Xerox Print
Services, as it has the potential
to deliver costs savings of 30% or
more, a reduced carbon footprint
and productivity improvements, whilst
Xerox’s Darren Cassidy
freeing customers from the burden of
managing their printer fleet.
“If there's ever a time people
need to be focused less on printing
and documents and more on their
core business it is now,” he said.
“This is the right time to say to
people, 'Why not let the partner you
trust manage your print: sign up to
SLAs and let them manage it while
you run the business'.”
www.xerox.com
www.binfo.co.uk
A case of natural selection
High-end office colour multifunctional
The right amount of rain and sunshine make a good vintage year, so technically
good wines are made in the vineyard, not in the winery. Océ’s engineering
inspiration is founded on the same principles: designed in the field to match your
daily office printing requirements. Selecting the right machine for the right job
is like selecting the right grapes for a good wine. Make your selection now.
Océ VarioLink 5522c and 6522c: Naturally beyond the ordinary.
For more information contact: Bryony Young 0870 600 5544
Email: tellmemore@oce.com Visit: www.oce.com/uk
Printing for
professionals
No compromise
With Sharp’s new range of mono
MFPs, customers can enjoy the
same productivity features as users
of the company’s colour MFPs, from
network colour scanning to an 8.5in
colour touchscreen display.
Last year Sharp invigorated its
colour MFP range with the launch
of a new platform that combines
outstanding functionality with the
industry's most daring design. Now
it’s the turn of Sharp’s mid-range
B&W devices to be transformed.
This August, Sharp will be building
on the success of its colour MFPs
with the launch of a new generation
of B&W devices that share the same
tactile finish and powerful feature
set as the MX-4100/01N and MX5000/01N colour devices.
The new workgroup/departmental
devices are not just stunning to
look at: they are also Sharp’s most
productive B&W MFPs to date, with
‘colour-centric’ features previously
unavailable on mono devices.
Sharp will be launching four
devices, with print speeds of
28-50ppm. Three - the 36ppm
MX-M363, the 45ppm MX-M453
and the 50ppm MX-M503 - are
offered in a choice of ‘N’ or ‘U’
configurations, making a total of
seven models in all.
Best of everything
Sharp ‘N’ series MFPs come with
the best of everything, including
an 8.5in colour display; colour
network scanning; a 100-sheet
DSPF (duplex single pass feeder)
that scans both sides of a page
in a single pass; and an optional
retractable QWERTY keyboard.
‘U’ series MFPs are a lower cost
option for customers that don’t have
a requirement for colour scanning.
They have a smaller mono LCD
display, B&W scanning, a slower
reversing single pass feeder (RSPF)
and no retractable keyboard option.
But in almost every other respect
they are identical to the ‘N’ series.
The 28ppm MX-M283 is available
in an ‘N’ version only. However, to
18 PRINT.IT
www.binfo.co.uk
Promotion
SHARP ADDS A4
PRINTERS TO ITS RANGE
keep the price at a level attractive to
smaller businesses, it comes with a
lower-cost RSPF.
Product marketing manager
Marc Brion is confident that these
products will meet the growing
demand for high speed, highly
featured mono devices.
“For customers who are
unsure about standardising on
colour devices, we now offer a
range of competitive mono MFPs
offering unrivalled ease of use
and advanced features, such as
colour scanning and the Sharp OSA
development platform,” he said.
Ease of use
In designing these products
Sharp has considered the needs
of everyone, from end users,
facilities managers (FMs) and CSR
professionals to IT administrators,
developers and dealers.
t End users will love the unrivalled
ease of use offered by the N series’
8.5in colour touchscreen display
and optional retractable keyboard;
t FMs will appreciate the superquiet operation, compact design
and space saving options like the
internal finisher/offset stacker;
t CSR managers will welcome the
manual power save button and
energy consumption of less than 1
watt in standby;
t IT administrators will appreciate
class-leading data security features
and a Remote Access Interface
that lets them take remote control
of a device’s front panel to change
settings, show how to perform a
function or diagnose and rectify
problems; and
t Developers will love Sharp’s OSA
development platform, which can
be used to produce customised
interfaces with rich graphics, webbased HTML, Java and Flash video
www.binfo.co.uk
clips, in crisp B&W or eye-catching
colour on N series colour displays.
“These MFPs are the most
powerful B&W MFPs Sharp has
produced,” Brion explained. “We
have addressed every aspect of
the machines to offer customers
unprecedented ease of use and
productivity in every area.”
High quality printing
The MX-M283N, MX-M363N, MXM453N and MX-M503N are first
and foremost outstanding B&W
MFPs, offering high quality printing
(true 1200 x 1200 dpi), colour
scanning, copying and optional fax,
with time and cost-saving features
such as automatic duplexing;
electronic sorting; scan-to-email;
and a 100-sheet DSPF (excluding
MX-M283N).
Compared to the Sharp MX-M350
and MX-M450, the new machines
have faster warm-up times (20
versus 80 seconds); more memory;
a larger hard drive (80GB vs. 40GB);
more paper capacity; the ability
to handle a wider range of media
(56-209gsm); a larger document
feeder (100 vs. 50 sheets); and an
800MHz multi-tasking controller that
can process network scanning jobs
while the MFP is outputting copy,
print or fax jobs.
“Every aspect of these devices has
been enhanced to improve end user
productivity and remove bottlenecks,”
Brion explained. “This makes
them ideal for busy workgroups in
companies of all sizes.”
Just as important from a
productivity perspective are the
8.5in high resolution colour
touchscreen display (N models
only), which makes it easy for users
to make job selections or view
thumbnails of documents stored
on the MFPs’ 80GB hard drive, and
the retractable QWERTY keyboard
option (N models only) that
provides a convenient alternative to
the on-screen keyboard for typing
email addresses and indexing data.
Electronic workflows
The Sharp OSA development platform
on all seven new MFPs offers further
scope for productivity improvements.
Customers can use it to integrate
their Sharp MFPs with network
applications and implement electronic
workflows to eliminate the errors and
inefficiencies associated with paperbased processes.
Sharp OSA provides bi-directional
communication between the MFP
and network applications. At its
simplest, this makes it possible for
a user to walk up to a device and
retrieve and print a file from any
folder on the network, but it also
allows users to scan documents
straight into an enterprise
document management or ERP
system and input indexing data at
the MFP itself.
“Despite the many benefits of
in-house colour printing, there
are still organisations or individual
departments that only require a
black and white device,” Brion
said. “With the Sharp MX-M283N,
MX-M363U/N, MX-M453U/N and
MX-M503U/N MFPs, they can
be confident that they are
getting all the functionality
enjoyed by users of Sharp’s
top-end colour devices but with
the low running costs of a black
and white device. For existing
colour customers, the MFPs are
the perfect complement to our
latest colour MFPs, as they share
the same platform, finishing units
and options for simpler device
management.”
www.sharpinbusiness.co.uk
Earlier this year, Sharp
also introduced its first A4
monochrome laser printers,
the 34 pages per minute
(ppm) DX-B350P and the
43ppm DX-B450P.
These additions to Sharp’s
range will enable it to meet
customers’ B&W printing
needs in their entirety, from
single-function printers at
the desktop, to workgroup
MFPs and high volume
production systems in
corporate print rooms.
With fast print speeds, a
first page out time of less
than 9 seconds, true 1200 dpi
print quality and a maximum
paper capacity of 1,800
sheets, these printers are
ideal for busy workgroups with
print volumes of up to 12,000
pages per month.
They come with a variety
of features to simplify device
management, including webbased administration tools;
a printer status monitor that
lets users check the operating
status of a printer before
sending a job; and email alerts
whenever there is a problem
that needs attention.
Options include a duplex
module for automatic twosided printing; an offset catch
tray that keeps print jobs
separate from each other; a
40GB hard disk; and a secure
erase function that erases
the disk after printing.
PRINT.IT 19
Colour for Everyone
New INEO 6501
Available October
Enhanced print quality • New finishing • up to 3563 PPH
On test
The Canon Pixma MX860
James Goulding reviews Canon’s premium inkjet all-in-one
Canon describes the Canon Pixma
MX860 as a premium home and
office inkjet all-in-one. It costs
less than £200 online, yet still
offers colour print, copy, scan
and fax capabilities, with WiFi and
Ethernet network connectivity and
a duplex automatic document
feeder. Such features are clearly
designed to appeal to business
users, but is the MX860 up to
the job?
WHAT WE LIKE
1. The unobtrusive design
This is not an especially small
machine. Its footprint is no smaller
than the colour laser printer that
normally sits beside me, but it
is much flatter – almost flying
saucer-like. Everything folds away
very neatly – and, in the case of
the output tray, automatically flips
open when you press print. This
MFP comes with a host of business
class features, all cleverly hidden
away in a SOHO-sized device
2. Quiet operation
Like all inkjet devices, the MX860
clicks and whirrs before and after
print jobs, but the rest of the time
it is blissfully quiet – unlike laser
printers. It is also cool and odourless – a great comfort for those
worried about the health effects of
toner particle emissions and a real
boon for people in small offices.
3. Business-class features
For business users, the MX860 has
a number of major selling points
including individually replaceable
ink tanks; automatic two-sided
(duplex) printing; and a 35-sheet
duplex automatic document feeder
that scans both sides of the page
automatically – a real time-saver.
There is also the option of scanning/copying via the platen: essential for copying/scanning books,
magazines and solid objects.
4. Print Driver
Some suppliers make a song and
dance about cost-saving/waste
reduction features and then bury
them deep in the driver. Not Canon.
Click on Properties and you will be
presented with all the paper and
ink-saving features you could want,
including duplex, 2-on-1, 4-on-1
and Fast (draft) printing. The ‘Always
Print with Current Settings’ tick box
makes it easy to set duplex or fast
print (or both) as the default.
5. Ease of use
This ‘user-friendliness’ extends to
every aspect of the MFP. Particular
mention must be made of the Canon
MP Navigator EX operating software,
which is a model of clarity; and the
2.5in colour TFT display that makes
it easy to perform complex copying
jobs, such as collated copies, 4-on-1
copy, binder margin copy, punch hole
removal and frame erase when copying books.
6. Flexibility
Another aspect of this device that’s
likely to appeal to home users is
its ability to perform business and
non-business tasks with equal
ease. When you are not using the
MX860 for work, use it to print
photos from a memory card or from
the digital camera itself, on paper
sizes from snapshots to A4.
WHAT WE DON’T LIKE
1. Slow printing
Our list of dislikes consists mainly
of quibbles. The one exception is
the print speed, which is much
slower than office workers are used
to. The MX860 has an official print
speed of 8.4 images per minute
(B&W) and 5.6 images per minute
(colour) but it sometimes felt much
slower. Even home workers don’t
like to wait for their output.
2. Paper capacity
The price of a low profile is a small
paper cassette with a capacity of
just 150 sheets. This is mean for
a network device with business
pretensions. However, it can be
supplemented by filling the sheet
feeder at the back of the machine.
This ruins the MX860’s clean lines,
but reduces the frequency of refills.
Alternatively, use the second paper supply for letterhead or photo
paper (the printer automatically
detects the type of document being printed and chooses the paper
source accordingly).
3. Inconsistent copy quality
Copy quality on the MX860 was
adequate rather than spectacular
and somewhat variable. In today’s
digital age, this doesn’t matter too
much, as most people copy only for
www.binfo.co.uk
convenience: if quality is important,
best to keep it digital.
4. Incomplete feature set
The MX860 has an impressive feature set, but it does not cover every
need: the scan to email capability
does not support Mozilla Thunderbird; you need to buy an adapter
to print from XD cards (though you
can attach a digital camera directly); you cannot use the Fax function
with a broadband connection; and
you can ‘Scan To’ but not ‘Print
From’ a USB stick.
5. Not so Eco Mode
People who like to save money by
printing in draft mode will be disappointed by the 10-15% saving on
the MX860. Other printers reduce
ink/toner consumption by as much
as 40%.
Conclusion
The Canon Pixma MX860 has its
faults but they are easy to live
with. In its favour are a compact,
well thought out design; impressive functionality; and some useful productivity features.
The limited paper capacity and
slow print speeds make the
MX860 unsuitable for busy offices, but it is ideal for microbusinesses with low print volumes
and home workers requiring a
printer that the whole family can
use for everything from homework
to photo printing.
´´´´´
www.canon.co.uk
PRINT.IT 21
. . . .the cry goes up to cut costs
A timely move
Steve Adams explains how SMBs can save money and improve efficiency by using
web-based applications like the MyFax internet fax service.
As soon as the economy falters the
cry goes up to cut costs. Yet, this
is good practice whatever the state
of the economy. Even when times
are good, an organisation shouldn’t
pay for the things it doesn’t need,
or pay more than necessary for the
ones that it does.
Typically, when an organisation
purchases a new business
application, it must install it onto
a server or servers; pay monthly
maintenance costs that most
software manufacturers require as
part of the license; buy upgrades;
and employ IT people to keep
everything running smoothly
Businesses today simply do
not have the financial or human
resources to support such a model
and as a result are moving from
technology purchases to web-
based services with ‘pay-as-you-go’
pricing and all the latest features
and upgrades but no up-front
capital expenditure, maintenance
or support costs.
The move to web-based services
is not just for ‘outlier’ applications
either. Even core applications,
such as office productivity suites,
are moving away from a traditional
client/server model. Larger, more
complex applications, such as a
contact management or e-mail
campaign management system,
provide even more scope for savings
as the need to maintain both
hardware and software is reduced
and in some cases eliminated.
Faxing is another example of
how organisations can cut costs
by moving to a web-based system.
With an internet fax service, a
company can send and receive
faxes from a desktop PC, laptop
or mobile device using an existing
internet connection. There is no
need for a fax machine or second
phone line and because files are
electronic, paper costs are also
reduced; you only print the pages
you choose to print.
Any organisation looking for ways
to reduce business costs – and
who isn’t these days – should
consider moving some applications
to the web. It’s a great way to cut
costs without cutting efficiency.
Steve Adams is Vice President of
Marketing for MyFax,
www.myfax.com, a provider
of Internet faxing services for
individual home users, small
businesses and large corporations.
Case study
Faster faxing
Haines Watts (HW) is a Top 20 firm of chartered accountants, with
more than 50 offices and 250 associates throughout the UK, including
chartered accountants, business and tax advisors and corporate finance
specialists.
Based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, the HW Financial
Services (HWFS) office provides financial planning solutions for clients of
the accountancy practice.
Each month it sends/receives hundreds of faxed pages to and from
clients, insurance companies, banks and accountancy firms, most of
which contain confidential information including personal details such
as telephone numbers, dates of birth, address history, credit scores and
bank account details.
Despite the importance of fax to the business, HWFS had just one
machine for 30 people located on two floors. Since this was on the floor
above the financial services department, staff wasted a great deal of
time simply walking to and from the machine. As some documents were
22 PRINT.IT
30 pages long, faxes also took a long time to send.
After reviewing various options, the HWFS team trialled the MyFax
Internet fax service, which allows users to send and receive faxes
from their desktops, using their e-mail client or a secure online
server. Recipients receive faxes on their normal fax machine or in
their Inbox if they are MyFax users.
As a result, the HWFS team no longer has to spend time walking
to and from the fax machine; the quality of faxed documents has
improved; and compliance procedures are more streamlined. In order
to meet the requirement to save all client documents on the IT system,
staff used to scan fax correspondence into client folders, which took
time and could result in scanned papers becoming misplaced.
Now, by using the email function to send/receive faxes, all
documents can be dragged into the client’s folder, with the added
benefit that only authorised users can access the fax records on the
IT system.
www.binfo.co.uk
What
you don’t need
when TSG provide your support
Because some service companies also sell hardware, you could end up
buying new equipment when repairs would be more cost effective.
At TSG we don’t sell hardware, we just deliver ‘best value’ support.
At TSG, we guarantee to save you money
With TSG, you get the bigger picture
Whether it’s maintenance, capital replacement or running costs,
Saving you money on support is only the start. We can optimise
we can reduce what you currently pay. You can tailor our nationwide
your document workflows, maximise the performance of your
service to create a support package that exactly matches your
hardware and networks, and guide you through the complexity of
existing fax, printer and copier fleet, future purchases and the
product features and software compatibility. For many customers,
operating needs of your company.
we have appraised their existing equipment and systems, calculated
With TSG, you stay in control
You can save a lot of time and money by using our service record
system. We provide you with secure online access to your entire
service history. The details of every item we support, service history
and maintenance schedule are available at the click of a mouse and
updated automatically.
total cost of ownership and recommended ways to reduce hardware,
consumables, maintenance and printing costs.
To find our how TSG
can help you improve
your bottom line,
call 0870 417 6010
technical support group
TSG SUPPORTS ALL BRANDS OF FAXES, PRINTERS, SCANNERS, MFP’S, PLOTTERS, COPIERS, PC’S, NETWORKS AND DATACOMS