I have always used Hewlett Packard equipment. I used to work for them, then left but kept the brand loyalty. It's easy to do seeing as their printers and office equipment is so good. I bought the HP LaserJet 3055 when it first came out in 2006 and have been using it ever since.
It's a black and white multifunction or AIO as they seem to call them nowadays, the All In One. It prints, copies, faxes and scans all in one little box. Handy for small businesses like mine who do a little bit of printing, a little bit of copying and scanning, but not enough to need to buy a separate machine for each.
The 3055 was very easy to set up. It only has a single cartridge to install, the once you've unwrapped all the tape, it's just a matter of installing the driver and letting it discover the device. It discovered it over my small network in seconds and installed everything in a couple of minutes. The tools it installs offer quite a few printing options, you can also lighten or darken the ink, just in case the prints or copies come out pale.
The print quality is very good for most business documents. Images and graphs are well drawn, with straight lines and good shading in the colored areas. Photographs were a little less detailed, but then you expect that with a laser printer. I don't print photos so it made no difference to me whatsoever.
Text was strong, dark and precise which works for me, even using headlines. They came out the strongest and work well for my documentation business. Copying is equally as good and can keep up with the 18 page per minute print time.
Scanning and faxing I don't really use much. The scanner is a bit slow, but works well and the fax transmits quickly. Other than that I haven't used them.
Overall, the LaserJet 3055 is a great little device for people like me who do a little but demand a lot. The print and copy quality is good, it's pretty quick and the end result looks good. It's easy to use, cheap to run and simple to maintain, I'm not sure what else you would want from an office machine.
9.30.2010
HP LaserJet 1020
I bought the HP LaserJet 1020 after reading reviews about it on a couple of websites. I always research my purchases, especially as cost doesn't always mean quality. I like to learn from others misfortunes before committing time and money to something.
I must admit I was glad I bought this, and not some of the others out there. It's small and quite easy to set up and the quality of the prints is excellent. It comes with a starter cartridge which lasts for around 1000 sheets of normal printing. A replacement only costs $30 and will last another 2000, or a high yield for $37 will last 3000 sheets.
I use this printer for personal stuff and have found it ideal. It is only black and white, but I don't need to print color. It connects to my computer by USB and is controlled completely from there. It has to be because there are no buttons or controls on the printer itself. It is pretty much a blank box, paper goes in one end and the print comes out the other. Any fiddling with settings or cancelling of print jobs has to come from the printer control panel on the pc, which isn't a problem for home users, but might be for an office.
The prints themselves are good. I mainly print code, or text and every single sheet I print looks clear and bright. I occasionally print an image or photograph and they come out okay too. The grays make the picture look old fashioned which adds extra appeal. It marks the color differences well, with a different shade of gray for each different color.
The LaserJet 1020 prints at something like 14 pages a minute, although I rarely print that many. The other good thing about it is that is warms up almost immediately, which is a nice bonus for us impatient users. It still takes a few seconds to warm once it has been powered down, but if you use standby it's ready almost instantly.
This is a great black and white printer, ideal for the home or home office user. It's easy to put together, to install and to run. The prints are as good as you're likely to need and it won't let you down.
I must admit I was glad I bought this, and not some of the others out there. It's small and quite easy to set up and the quality of the prints is excellent. It comes with a starter cartridge which lasts for around 1000 sheets of normal printing. A replacement only costs $30 and will last another 2000, or a high yield for $37 will last 3000 sheets.
I use this printer for personal stuff and have found it ideal. It is only black and white, but I don't need to print color. It connects to my computer by USB and is controlled completely from there. It has to be because there are no buttons or controls on the printer itself. It is pretty much a blank box, paper goes in one end and the print comes out the other. Any fiddling with settings or cancelling of print jobs has to come from the printer control panel on the pc, which isn't a problem for home users, but might be for an office.
The prints themselves are good. I mainly print code, or text and every single sheet I print looks clear and bright. I occasionally print an image or photograph and they come out okay too. The grays make the picture look old fashioned which adds extra appeal. It marks the color differences well, with a different shade of gray for each different color.
The LaserJet 1020 prints at something like 14 pages a minute, although I rarely print that many. The other good thing about it is that is warms up almost immediately, which is a nice bonus for us impatient users. It still takes a few seconds to warm once it has been powered down, but if you use standby it's ready almost instantly.
This is a great black and white printer, ideal for the home or home office user. It's easy to put together, to install and to run. The prints are as good as you're likely to need and it won't let you down.
HP Color LaserJet 2840
We tested the HP Color LaserJet 2840 when it first came out in 2005, since then we kept it on in the office as it seemed to work well. It's a monochrome multifunction with all the usual bells and whistles, but best of all, it just works.
As far as quality is concerned, the 2840 performed very well indeed. Black text was legible down to 2-point and appeared as sharp and bold as anything we've seen. Black and white graphics were impaired slightly by horizontal banding, but photo's looked remarkably smooth and captured fine details well. Color text was excellent and blending was smooth overall. Color graphics looked similarly well done, especially in large blocks, and were good overall despite some crosshatching.
The fax and scan functions were equally as good. The 2840 allows you to scan or fax to and from email, do just about anything over the network and allows you to transfer documents and files to and from either paper or digital formats. It does pretty much everything a small office multifunction should do.
Being an HP device, the 2840 is a well constructed machine, well built and looks like it could last years, in fact, ours has. The after-sales support is also legendary. While we haven't had cause to use it with this, we have with other machines, and not only are their technicians English speakers, they are trained and know their stuff too. While that shouldn't really be a high point of support, it unfortunately is in these times.
The software is fully featured and simple to use. There is a plethora of control functions included with them and you can pretty much control everything from the desktop if you'd like.
The quality of the grayscale scan in our tests at the default settings was clean and smooth. The only complaint with the output was that its color scans were somewhat pale and lacking in detail. That can be easily remedied within the control panel though.
The LaserJet 2840 has been with us a while, and has performed admirably in that time. We have no problems recommending it to others, or to continue using it into the future. It's a great multifunction, with just the right balance of features and price to make it affordable and sensible for the small office.
As far as quality is concerned, the 2840 performed very well indeed. Black text was legible down to 2-point and appeared as sharp and bold as anything we've seen. Black and white graphics were impaired slightly by horizontal banding, but photo's looked remarkably smooth and captured fine details well. Color text was excellent and blending was smooth overall. Color graphics looked similarly well done, especially in large blocks, and were good overall despite some crosshatching.
The fax and scan functions were equally as good. The 2840 allows you to scan or fax to and from email, do just about anything over the network and allows you to transfer documents and files to and from either paper or digital formats. It does pretty much everything a small office multifunction should do.
Being an HP device, the 2840 is a well constructed machine, well built and looks like it could last years, in fact, ours has. The after-sales support is also legendary. While we haven't had cause to use it with this, we have with other machines, and not only are their technicians English speakers, they are trained and know their stuff too. While that shouldn't really be a high point of support, it unfortunately is in these times.
The software is fully featured and simple to use. There is a plethora of control functions included with them and you can pretty much control everything from the desktop if you'd like.
The quality of the grayscale scan in our tests at the default settings was clean and smooth. The only complaint with the output was that its color scans were somewhat pale and lacking in detail. That can be easily remedied within the control panel though.
The LaserJet 2840 has been with us a while, and has performed admirably in that time. We have no problems recommending it to others, or to continue using it into the future. It's a great multifunction, with just the right balance of features and price to make it affordable and sensible for the small office.
Canon LaserClass 710
The Canon LaserClass 710 is a great fax for business. It has many features that are generally restricted to machines at a much higher price point to this one and performs just as well. It's economical enough to be worth a look when you next need to buy a multifunction.
The Canon LaserClass 710 is a monochrome laser fax with copying, printing and scanning built in. It's a variation of a theme in that this is predominantly a fax with other capabilities. The traditional multifunction has been primarily a printer, copier then fax and scanner.
Fax features like broadcasting, dual access, built-in memory, an automatic document feeder and auto dialing make this a versatile machine for a busy office. The 33.3k modem can send a standard sheet in a little under 3 seconds while the built in memory has enough capacity to remember 500 pages of received faxes, which is expandable to 40Mb, which is enough for around 1000 fax pages.
There is also a 20 page automatic document feeder that may appear flimsy, but is much better constructed than it appears.
Copy quality is good, text was a real standout, with clean crisp edges even when printing or faxing at the lowest points. Simple images or graphics are rendered pretty accurately with the grayscale making short work of color images as easily as monochrome ones.
Dual access is a nice feature to have. It lets you load and prepare faxes even when the machine is already printing, faxing or copying. This allows you to get on with other things while not having to wait for it to finish. The fax has all the other features you would hope to see. Plenty of auto dials, fax forwarding, broadcasting, speed dialing, data/voice switching, configurable cover sheets and document resizing and so forth.
Coupled with a decent array of printing and copying features, this makes the device quite a capable one in most scenarios. Cartridges for the Canon LaserClass 710 are quite reasonably priced. A starter comes with it when you get it, and replacements are around $30 for a toner that is good for 4000 pages.
To sum up, the LaserClass 710 is an decent purchase for the small office.
The Canon LaserClass 710 is a monochrome laser fax with copying, printing and scanning built in. It's a variation of a theme in that this is predominantly a fax with other capabilities. The traditional multifunction has been primarily a printer, copier then fax and scanner.
Fax features like broadcasting, dual access, built-in memory, an automatic document feeder and auto dialing make this a versatile machine for a busy office. The 33.3k modem can send a standard sheet in a little under 3 seconds while the built in memory has enough capacity to remember 500 pages of received faxes, which is expandable to 40Mb, which is enough for around 1000 fax pages.
There is also a 20 page automatic document feeder that may appear flimsy, but is much better constructed than it appears.
Copy quality is good, text was a real standout, with clean crisp edges even when printing or faxing at the lowest points. Simple images or graphics are rendered pretty accurately with the grayscale making short work of color images as easily as monochrome ones.
Dual access is a nice feature to have. It lets you load and prepare faxes even when the machine is already printing, faxing or copying. This allows you to get on with other things while not having to wait for it to finish. The fax has all the other features you would hope to see. Plenty of auto dials, fax forwarding, broadcasting, speed dialing, data/voice switching, configurable cover sheets and document resizing and so forth.
Coupled with a decent array of printing and copying features, this makes the device quite a capable one in most scenarios. Cartridges for the Canon LaserClass 710 are quite reasonably priced. A starter comes with it when you get it, and replacements are around $30 for a toner that is good for 4000 pages.
To sum up, the LaserClass 710 is an decent purchase for the small office.
9.29.2010
Canon ImageRunner 105
I bought the Canon ImageRunner 105 because it was a can-do machine. There wasn't anything it couldn't handle, at least according to the Canon Representative. I'm glad to say that even a couple of years later I was proved right. This is a great, high duty cycle workhorse machine that hasn't let us down once so far.
I run a busy office that specializes in documentation so the fact that the ImageRunner 105 was one of the most powerful office machines ever is one of the things in its favor. It is a high volume printer, scanning, copying machine that can output full sized sheets at a jaw dropping 105 sheets per minute. Hence the 105 in the name, according to the rep anyway.
Each copy or print it produces is almost flawless. The quality is excellent, even when printing images. We all know photography isn't a lasers forte but this machine deals with them like nothing else I have seen. Not only does it print them at the same rate a text sheet is printed, but it appears incredibly detailed. A laser critic might look for artifacts, banding, fading and any other laser maladies, but you won't find them with the ImageRunner 105.
To help the machine work at peak capacity it includes a hard drive and built in image server. This allows us to load up print and copy jobs, up to 5 at a time and either schedule them or let the machine do its thing. You can also print, copy and scan over a network, and scan to email too. My workgroup is like a production powerhouse since we bought this.
Toner cartridges are just as geared towards productivity. A single cartridge can last up to 33,000 pages, but that's nothing compared to the drum which is rated to last a whopping 5,000,000 pages. I have never seen a life that long, in any machine I have worked with.
There were plenty of finishing options too, from hole punches to stapling and stacking. I got the saddle finisher so we could produce good quality booklets which is our main product.
I run a busy office that specializes in documentation so the fact that the ImageRunner 105 was one of the most powerful office machines ever is one of the things in its favor. It is a high volume printer, scanning, copying machine that can output full sized sheets at a jaw dropping 105 sheets per minute. Hence the 105 in the name, according to the rep anyway.
Each copy or print it produces is almost flawless. The quality is excellent, even when printing images. We all know photography isn't a lasers forte but this machine deals with them like nothing else I have seen. Not only does it print them at the same rate a text sheet is printed, but it appears incredibly detailed. A laser critic might look for artifacts, banding, fading and any other laser maladies, but you won't find them with the ImageRunner 105.
To help the machine work at peak capacity it includes a hard drive and built in image server. This allows us to load up print and copy jobs, up to 5 at a time and either schedule them or let the machine do its thing. You can also print, copy and scan over a network, and scan to email too. My workgroup is like a production powerhouse since we bought this.
Toner cartridges are just as geared towards productivity. A single cartridge can last up to 33,000 pages, but that's nothing compared to the drum which is rated to last a whopping 5,000,000 pages. I have never seen a life that long, in any machine I have worked with.
There were plenty of finishing options too, from hole punches to stapling and stacking. I got the saddle finisher so we could produce good quality booklets which is our main product.
I am very pleased with my ImageRunner 105, and wouldn't hesitate recommending it to someone who needed a hard-core document center. It's printing on an industrial scale, which is perfect for people like me.
Canon ImageRunner 1023
When working from home or in a small office, space is often limited, or at least at a premium. That’s why multifunction devices sell so well. You get the features of four office devices and squeeze them into a compact chassis which saves space and money.
The Canon ImageRunner 1023 is one of Canon's entries into the multifunction market. It is a monochrome printer, copier, and scanner all in one and is ideal for the small office or workgroup. It is small enough to fit almost anywhere and robust enough to last the test of time.
The ImageRunner 1023 has a 500 sheet paper cassette, automatic duplexer (ImageRunner 1023N and iF), 100 sheet manual bypass and the option to add a further sheets with an extra paper drawer that will take another 500 sheets. Networking comes as standard as does USB 2 connections. There is also 128Mb memory built-in which can hold more faxes than most offices would receive in a day.
The printing function can produce prints up to a resolution of 1200 x 600 dpi at a rate of 23 pages per minute. The print is excellent too. Text appears sharp, with crisp, clean edges and good toner spread. Images are detailed and precise with good shading. Copying is as accurate as printing and works at the same rate.
Scanning can be done at a native 600 dpi, which produces credible results in full color. Depending on which version of the machine you get there is also the option to scan across networks, broadcast scan and scan and send to email addresses.
The base model ImageRunner 1023 comes with everything mentioned, the ImageRunner 1023N comes with networking built in and a document feeder as standard. The ImageRunner 1023iF comes with network scan, fax, document feeder, and 256Mb memory.
As a multifunction, the ImageRunner 1023 is a winner, whatever variant you buy. It doesn’t take up too much office space and is pretty much self sufficient. This is a machine that a home office worker should find easy to work with.
The Canon ImageRunner 1023 is one of Canon's entries into the multifunction market. It is a monochrome printer, copier, and scanner all in one and is ideal for the small office or workgroup. It is small enough to fit almost anywhere and robust enough to last the test of time.
The ImageRunner 1023 has a 500 sheet paper cassette, automatic duplexer (ImageRunner 1023N and iF), 100 sheet manual bypass and the option to add a further sheets with an extra paper drawer that will take another 500 sheets. Networking comes as standard as does USB 2 connections. There is also 128Mb memory built-in which can hold more faxes than most offices would receive in a day.
The printing function can produce prints up to a resolution of 1200 x 600 dpi at a rate of 23 pages per minute. The print is excellent too. Text appears sharp, with crisp, clean edges and good toner spread. Images are detailed and precise with good shading. Copying is as accurate as printing and works at the same rate.
Scanning can be done at a native 600 dpi, which produces credible results in full color. Depending on which version of the machine you get there is also the option to scan across networks, broadcast scan and scan and send to email addresses.
The base model ImageRunner 1023 comes with everything mentioned, the ImageRunner 1023N comes with networking built in and a document feeder as standard. The ImageRunner 1023iF comes with network scan, fax, document feeder, and 256Mb memory.
As a multifunction, the ImageRunner 1023 is a winner, whatever variant you buy. It doesn’t take up too much office space and is pretty much self sufficient. This is a machine that a home office worker should find easy to work with.
Canon FaxPhone L80
The Canon FaxPhone L80 is a high speed fax that can also print and copy. It looks like a fax machine and acts like a fax machine but has the added advantage of being able to print and copy at a rate of 6 pages per minute. It has enough features to keep everybody happy while performing all its functions well enough to make it more than worth the investment.
While not designed primarily as a copier or printer, the FaxPhone L80 has the facilities to produce decent prints at around 6 pages per minute. While not up to the speed dedicated printer/copier, they are quite fast enough for the home user.
The quality was clear, sharp and belied the scale of the machine that produced them. Text was strong and exact, straight edges, sharp corners and deep fill. Images were almost as good, surprising for such a small machine and it surprised us all.
Operation is straightforward, working pretty much like a standard fax machine, with extra features. There is the standard phone keypad with extra buttons for print and copy functions. The small LCD screen is clear and contains just enough information to keep you running.
Connection is easy, using an RJ11 phone plug and a USB to connect to a computer. It's quite compact, at 23" x 17.5" x 16" and weighing in at 28 pounds. This makes is ideal for SOHO applications where space can be a problem. The small or home office is where this product is going to be most at home. The convenience of the small package, with the ability to print and copy from the fax is a nice touch and will appeal to small businesses.
The single cartridge system is simple to use, easy to change, produces little waste and is very cost effective. The machine ships with a half toner which is good for around 1000 pages. A replacement will set you back around $25 from somewhere like Quikshiptoner.com and will last for a further 2700.
The FaxPhone L80 is a solid fax and copier.
While not designed primarily as a copier or printer, the FaxPhone L80 has the facilities to produce decent prints at around 6 pages per minute. While not up to the speed dedicated printer/copier, they are quite fast enough for the home user.
The quality was clear, sharp and belied the scale of the machine that produced them. Text was strong and exact, straight edges, sharp corners and deep fill. Images were almost as good, surprising for such a small machine and it surprised us all.
Operation is straightforward, working pretty much like a standard fax machine, with extra features. There is the standard phone keypad with extra buttons for print and copy functions. The small LCD screen is clear and contains just enough information to keep you running.
Connection is easy, using an RJ11 phone plug and a USB to connect to a computer. It's quite compact, at 23" x 17.5" x 16" and weighing in at 28 pounds. This makes is ideal for SOHO applications where space can be a problem. The small or home office is where this product is going to be most at home. The convenience of the small package, with the ability to print and copy from the fax is a nice touch and will appeal to small businesses.
The single cartridge system is simple to use, easy to change, produces little waste and is very cost effective. The machine ships with a half toner which is good for around 1000 pages. A replacement will set you back around $25 from somewhere like Quikshiptoner.com and will last for a further 2700.
The FaxPhone L80 is a solid fax and copier.
Canon PC-140
The Canon PC-140 is my bosses copier of choice. As his personal assistant that makes it mine to look after and manage for him. It sits on the end of my desk, not taking up too much room and is always ready when I need it.
It is quite a neat design, and being Canon means it works when you need it to. I have been here two years, and apart from changing the toner, it has always worked flawlessly. At 4 copies per minute, it doesn't have the speed and horsepower of a larger copier, but then it doesn't have the noise, expense and hassle of one either.
The single cartridge system that Canon has works well. I can keep spares in the drawer and apart from paper, that's all you need to keep it going. The PC-140 also has an instant boot function, so when it's on standby it will start up straight away rather than having to wait for 10 seconds or so to get a copy going. The only downside is that the platen moves when making copies. That can make copying from books or magazines a bit tricky. Normally the scanner itself moves back and forth underneath the glass. With the PC-140 the top moves, including whatever it is you're scanning.
Apart from that little niggle, the machine is great. Copy quality is good, with deep, rich copies in 256 grayscales. Text is the strength of this machine, although it can handle photographs quite well. The stated 4 pages per minute is true whether you're scanning a light text document or a full page photograph. We occasionally copy leaflets and publicity brochures, often with text and images and the reproductions are good whatever we do.
Another bonus of the PC-140 is that it's portable. Well sort of. It folds up into a neat little box with a handle at the top in case you need to take it with you on business trips or something. While I have never used that feature, it seems useful and is a nice addition, especially as it takes nothing away from how it all works.
The PC-140 is a great little copier. It's small, agile and can produce great copies with no waiting. It's ideal for those people who need to copy, but no enough to a full size machine.
It is quite a neat design, and being Canon means it works when you need it to. I have been here two years, and apart from changing the toner, it has always worked flawlessly. At 4 copies per minute, it doesn't have the speed and horsepower of a larger copier, but then it doesn't have the noise, expense and hassle of one either.
The single cartridge system that Canon has works well. I can keep spares in the drawer and apart from paper, that's all you need to keep it going. The PC-140 also has an instant boot function, so when it's on standby it will start up straight away rather than having to wait for 10 seconds or so to get a copy going. The only downside is that the platen moves when making copies. That can make copying from books or magazines a bit tricky. Normally the scanner itself moves back and forth underneath the glass. With the PC-140 the top moves, including whatever it is you're scanning.
Apart from that little niggle, the machine is great. Copy quality is good, with deep, rich copies in 256 grayscales. Text is the strength of this machine, although it can handle photographs quite well. The stated 4 pages per minute is true whether you're scanning a light text document or a full page photograph. We occasionally copy leaflets and publicity brochures, often with text and images and the reproductions are good whatever we do.
Another bonus of the PC-140 is that it's portable. Well sort of. It folds up into a neat little box with a handle at the top in case you need to take it with you on business trips or something. While I have never used that feature, it seems useful and is a nice addition, especially as it takes nothing away from how it all works.
The PC-140 is a great little copier. It's small, agile and can produce great copies with no waiting. It's ideal for those people who need to copy, but no enough to a full size machine.
9.28.2010
Canon PC-170
The Canon PC-170 was the first "personal copier" I ever bought. I needed something to duplicate invoices and receipts but didn't need the large scale copiers that seem to dominate the market.
The PC-170 seemed ideal. It's small and reasonably light at something like 19 pounds. It folds up to resemble a briefcase so it can be portable if you don't mind the weight. It means though I can store it away in my office at home and just get it out a couple of times a month when I do my accounting. Space is an issue for me so it's nice to have something small that I can put away when I don't need it.
I have a Canon printer too, which is why I went for another Canon product. They are completely reliable, easy to maintain and cheap to run. The Canon instant on function is a joy to work with. Even though 10 seconds isn't a long time, over a couple of years it can be, so saving at least that much time in a day means a lot.
Once it's working the PC-170 is very easy to use. To get it up and running you just need to unpack it and connect it up. Once plugged in, there is no warm up time, so it's ready a second or two later. Canon has a clever kind of ink that doesn't need to be heated up like others, which is why it's always ready.
The ink cartridges themselves are an all in one. That means I only have to change a single item to keep the copier going forever. The drum and fuser are in with the toner, which makes it very easy to maintain. At $40 each for 4000 pages, that lasts me a good few months.
You can't write about a copier without mentioning whether it's any good or not. The PC-170 is good. I only mainly copy receipts and invoices but occasionally I'll copy something useful in a newspaper or magazine, like a recipe or a how-to guide. The copier handles them well, even the photographs. Even though the copier is black and white, the photos still come out well. They are nicely detailed and don't really look like old fashioned black and white, they are more crisp and exact.
The PC-170 is a great little copier. Small enough to be convenient in confined spaces, but good enough to be able to produce what you need.
The PC-170 seemed ideal. It's small and reasonably light at something like 19 pounds. It folds up to resemble a briefcase so it can be portable if you don't mind the weight. It means though I can store it away in my office at home and just get it out a couple of times a month when I do my accounting. Space is an issue for me so it's nice to have something small that I can put away when I don't need it.
I have a Canon printer too, which is why I went for another Canon product. They are completely reliable, easy to maintain and cheap to run. The Canon instant on function is a joy to work with. Even though 10 seconds isn't a long time, over a couple of years it can be, so saving at least that much time in a day means a lot.
Once it's working the PC-170 is very easy to use. To get it up and running you just need to unpack it and connect it up. Once plugged in, there is no warm up time, so it's ready a second or two later. Canon has a clever kind of ink that doesn't need to be heated up like others, which is why it's always ready.
The ink cartridges themselves are an all in one. That means I only have to change a single item to keep the copier going forever. The drum and fuser are in with the toner, which makes it very easy to maintain. At $40 each for 4000 pages, that lasts me a good few months.
You can't write about a copier without mentioning whether it's any good or not. The PC-170 is good. I only mainly copy receipts and invoices but occasionally I'll copy something useful in a newspaper or magazine, like a recipe or a how-to guide. The copier handles them well, even the photographs. Even though the copier is black and white, the photos still come out well. They are nicely detailed and don't really look like old fashioned black and white, they are more crisp and exact.
The PC-170 is a great little copier. Small enough to be convenient in confined spaces, but good enough to be able to produce what you need.
Canon PC-160
Canon is one of the biggest names in the electronics industry. The company has built a decent following with its good quality devices and useful after-sales service.
The Canon PC-160 is a monochrome desktop laser copier aimed right at the home office market, which is designated by the PC in the name. It doesn't have the large duty cycles of many other devices, so the prospective owner should be aware of that. It will handle a SOHO quite easily however and is sold as such.
Once the PC-160 is unpacked and connected to something, that's about it as far as configuration goes. It has a very simple set of controls and can be up and running in moments. It is after all a personal copier so is designed to be up and running as quickly and as painlessly as possible.
Copy quality is pretty good, we certainly have no complaints about its capabilities. The 600 dpi print driver produces text that is crisp and black. Images and photographs were well rendered with minimal banding and even toner coverage. Overall, the reproduction is easily good enough for business use, and is better than some other devices much more expensive than this one.
Toner cartridges are well priced at around $40 for 4000 sheet coverage. The cartridges also come in pairs, and threes if you want to save even more money. The cartridges are Canons patented one piece system, where the drum, toner and fuser are all included in the one item. This lowers waste and makes it very easy to look after. Changing a laser drum can be a pain, and an expense. With the PC-160 there are no such hassles.
The PC-160 is a good quality home copier that does exactly what it says on the box. It's simple to set up, simple to use and produces prints good enough for most uses. Running costs will be minimal thanks to the Canon one cartridge system. There are many personal copiers on the market right now at varying prices. The Canon PC-160 is a great example of what you can buy for a decent price if you shop around.
The Canon PC-160 is a monochrome desktop laser copier aimed right at the home office market, which is designated by the PC in the name. It doesn't have the large duty cycles of many other devices, so the prospective owner should be aware of that. It will handle a SOHO quite easily however and is sold as such.
Once the PC-160 is unpacked and connected to something, that's about it as far as configuration goes. It has a very simple set of controls and can be up and running in moments. It is after all a personal copier so is designed to be up and running as quickly and as painlessly as possible.
Copy quality is pretty good, we certainly have no complaints about its capabilities. The 600 dpi print driver produces text that is crisp and black. Images and photographs were well rendered with minimal banding and even toner coverage. Overall, the reproduction is easily good enough for business use, and is better than some other devices much more expensive than this one.
Toner cartridges are well priced at around $40 for 4000 sheet coverage. The cartridges also come in pairs, and threes if you want to save even more money. The cartridges are Canons patented one piece system, where the drum, toner and fuser are all included in the one item. This lowers waste and makes it very easy to look after. Changing a laser drum can be a pain, and an expense. With the PC-160 there are no such hassles.
The PC-160 is a good quality home copier that does exactly what it says on the box. It's simple to set up, simple to use and produces prints good enough for most uses. Running costs will be minimal thanks to the Canon one cartridge system. There are many personal copiers on the market right now at varying prices. The Canon PC-160 is a great example of what you can buy for a decent price if you shop around.
Canon imageCLASS MF8180C
We have had the Canon imageCLASS MF8180C since it came out a while back. We have always had Canon products, they are easy to use and value for money.
The MF8180C was a cost-saving exercise that paid off quite well. It's a printer, copier, fax and scanner all in one and ideal for our little office. We don't use the scanner much, but the fax comes in handy once in a while. It's a Super G3 so whizzes through transmissions like a knife through butter. It send a whole sheet in a couple of seconds and will keep going as long as you want. It also has enough memory to hold 256 pages, but we never use that much. I think the most we have ever used is 47.
The printer is quick and can do color and black and white. The quality of the prints is really good, with the black bits being really black instead of dark gray like a lot of printers we have had. All the lines are straight, as are the corners of letters and text. Printing images and photos is something the MF8180C does well I think. They are really detailed, with good results every time. We used to have a separate Canon inkjet for printing photographs but now we just use this.
Copying is much the same as printing. Quick at 20 sheets per minute for black and white, the same as printing, and 4 pages a minute for color. The quality is the same as printing too, with clear text and photos and no ink elsewhere on the page. It makes the print stand out more, so it looks clear and crisp on the page.
It has a 250 page paper drawer, a 125 sheet multipurpose tray and a 50 page automatic document feeder. It has USB or network connections too, which makes connecting it to the network easy. There are only five of us but we all use the machine all the time. It's easier having it on the network rather than having to connect through someone else's machine.
The MF8180C is a good device that can do all the jobs of four separate ones. It is a little big, and heavy but works well and isn't too noisy. It doesn't need much looking after, it just works, and that's all we need really. The print quality is good enough for our needs and having a fax on board is really neat. For what we need it for, it's ideal.
The MF8180C was a cost-saving exercise that paid off quite well. It's a printer, copier, fax and scanner all in one and ideal for our little office. We don't use the scanner much, but the fax comes in handy once in a while. It's a Super G3 so whizzes through transmissions like a knife through butter. It send a whole sheet in a couple of seconds and will keep going as long as you want. It also has enough memory to hold 256 pages, but we never use that much. I think the most we have ever used is 47.
The printer is quick and can do color and black and white. The quality of the prints is really good, with the black bits being really black instead of dark gray like a lot of printers we have had. All the lines are straight, as are the corners of letters and text. Printing images and photos is something the MF8180C does well I think. They are really detailed, with good results every time. We used to have a separate Canon inkjet for printing photographs but now we just use this.
Copying is much the same as printing. Quick at 20 sheets per minute for black and white, the same as printing, and 4 pages a minute for color. The quality is the same as printing too, with clear text and photos and no ink elsewhere on the page. It makes the print stand out more, so it looks clear and crisp on the page.
It has a 250 page paper drawer, a 125 sheet multipurpose tray and a 50 page automatic document feeder. It has USB or network connections too, which makes connecting it to the network easy. There are only five of us but we all use the machine all the time. It's easier having it on the network rather than having to connect through someone else's machine.
The MF8180C is a good device that can do all the jobs of four separate ones. It is a little big, and heavy but works well and isn't too noisy. It doesn't need much looking after, it just works, and that's all we need really. The print quality is good enough for our needs and having a fax on board is really neat. For what we need it for, it's ideal.
Canon imageCLASS MF8170C
The Canon MF8170c is the very first multifunction printer, copier, scanner, fax to feature color laser printing for under $1000 when it was first released. While you can increase quality and speed with separate machines doing each task after buying my first Canon MFC some years ago I was hooked. I promised myself I would never to go back to the separate machine situation again.
The MF8170c is a heavy beast and large, at 25" x 20" x 20" and weighing in at nearly 80 pounds., It is also quite complicated to look at to begin with but is simple to get going by USB. Ethernet connections weren't as easy as I would have liked, but at least the network port was built in. The installation software will enable you solve any problems you might encounter thanks to the easy to follow troubleshooting instructions.
There are five toners to replace, one black and the four colors. It is mercifully easy to do and only takes moments. The black replacement will be good for 5000 sheets, the colors 4000 each. You can buy them individually or as a pack, which save time and shipping.
Monochrome print quality is in crisp, color print quality very good and both well above that of the printer I used before. This is not a photo printer, but a laser, so don’t expect miracles but as far as quality goes, the Canon was very good. Fax and copy functionality and quality were also good. Scan quality is actually pretty impressive, but you can't scan through the network and have to have a USB connection to scan to anything.
Users should be aware that this device is fully Energy Star compliant. As a result of this, there is no off switch, so even when on standby it’s still working and the fans are still running. This is only a problem if you’re a home worker like me and like the peace and quiet. Other than that I can’t think of anything negative to say about it.
For home office use the MF8170c is state of the art. I like its large bulk in the corner of my home office, it’s reassuring. You know that it isn’t going to let you down, and with the Canon name behind it, I’m confident it won’t. Even if it does, their technical support has been rated as very good by numerous consumer groups so I'm not worried.
The MF8170c is a heavy beast and large, at 25" x 20" x 20" and weighing in at nearly 80 pounds., It is also quite complicated to look at to begin with but is simple to get going by USB. Ethernet connections weren't as easy as I would have liked, but at least the network port was built in. The installation software will enable you solve any problems you might encounter thanks to the easy to follow troubleshooting instructions.
There are five toners to replace, one black and the four colors. It is mercifully easy to do and only takes moments. The black replacement will be good for 5000 sheets, the colors 4000 each. You can buy them individually or as a pack, which save time and shipping.
Monochrome print quality is in crisp, color print quality very good and both well above that of the printer I used before. This is not a photo printer, but a laser, so don’t expect miracles but as far as quality goes, the Canon was very good. Fax and copy functionality and quality were also good. Scan quality is actually pretty impressive, but you can't scan through the network and have to have a USB connection to scan to anything.
Users should be aware that this device is fully Energy Star compliant. As a result of this, there is no off switch, so even when on standby it’s still working and the fans are still running. This is only a problem if you’re a home worker like me and like the peace and quiet. Other than that I can’t think of anything negative to say about it.
For home office use the MF8170c is state of the art. I like its large bulk in the corner of my home office, it’s reassuring. You know that it isn’t going to let you down, and with the Canon name behind it, I’m confident it won’t. Even if it does, their technical support has been rated as very good by numerous consumer groups so I'm not worried.
9.27.2010
Canon ImageCLASS D861
The Canon ImageCLASS D861 is a monochrome laser printer and copier first released in 2005 to increase the Canon presence in the multifunction market. There are many full multifunctions in the stable such as the MF3240, which prints, copies, scans and faxes, but only a few from any manufacturer are dedicated to just printing and copying.
The speed of copying is a respectable 18 pages per minute at a resolution of 1200 x 600 dpi. Printing is slightly slower at 16 pages per minute, but is still plenty quick enough for most office applications.
The quality of the print is precisely what you would expect from someone like Canon and worth the purchase price on its own. Text is printed precisely, with clean lines and clean, straight edges. The 256 grayscale tones are all reproduced evenly. Photographic reproduction weren’t the highlight of the test but they were easily good enough for company work.
Connection is by USB port, and the drivers are installed on each client machine. Once you have unpacked it, it’s quick to get everything up and running. There are enough buttons on the control panel to be able control everything and the little LCD screen is clear and easy to read. The paper drawer holds 250 sheets of paper and there is a 50 page multifunction feeder on the top. The D861 also uses the Canon instant-on technology. The toner is a special compound which needs no warming up. This means that it can be left on standby and be ready to print almost immediately.
Toner is readily available and easy to replace, with fresh ones lasting 2500 pages.. It uses the Canon single cartridge system which is where the drum, toner and developer are integrated into one cartridge. This lower costs and waste and is a successful implementation by Canon.
The D861 is a solid, if a little limited machine. It will print and copy to your heart’s content and will probably still be doing it long after others will have given up. The print and copy quality and speed is enough to keep most offices productive.
The speed of copying is a respectable 18 pages per minute at a resolution of 1200 x 600 dpi. Printing is slightly slower at 16 pages per minute, but is still plenty quick enough for most office applications.
The quality of the print is precisely what you would expect from someone like Canon and worth the purchase price on its own. Text is printed precisely, with clean lines and clean, straight edges. The 256 grayscale tones are all reproduced evenly. Photographic reproduction weren’t the highlight of the test but they were easily good enough for company work.
Connection is by USB port, and the drivers are installed on each client machine. Once you have unpacked it, it’s quick to get everything up and running. There are enough buttons on the control panel to be able control everything and the little LCD screen is clear and easy to read. The paper drawer holds 250 sheets of paper and there is a 50 page multifunction feeder on the top. The D861 also uses the Canon instant-on technology. The toner is a special compound which needs no warming up. This means that it can be left on standby and be ready to print almost immediately.
Toner is readily available and easy to replace, with fresh ones lasting 2500 pages.. It uses the Canon single cartridge system which is where the drum, toner and developer are integrated into one cartridge. This lower costs and waste and is a successful implementation by Canon.
The D861 is a solid, if a little limited machine. It will print and copy to your heart’s content and will probably still be doing it long after others will have given up. The print and copy quality and speed is enough to keep most offices productive.
Canon Copier ImageClass MF3240
The Canon Copier ImageClass MF3240 is a well priced, well positioned piece of office hardware, ideal for the SOHO who wants multifunction capabilities without compromising on quality.
The Canon name is a reassuring one. A name synonymous with quality, enough so you can be confident in the quality of anything you buy from them. The MF3240 is a monochrome printer, scanner, copier and fax all in one. It can be connected to a computer via USB or it can act as a standalone copier. It needs a computer to get the most out of it and indeed that will be the use the majority of owners will put it to.
The MF3240 is designed to be quick, and at 21 pages per minute print speed, it doesn’t disappoint. It devoured our test document and it demonstrated its mettle quite adequately. Text was the highlight, with clear, sharp lines and an almost black fill that would serve well in any business document. Images and graphics were surprisingly good too. Well defined, shaded and almost as precise as the text. The test document we use has a mixture of text at different points, graphs, images and photographs to simulate a difficult business document the device might be asked to cope with.
The scanning and faxing functions are equally good, offering all the usual options such as resizing, multiple scans and faxes, phone book options, various quality levels, and quick operation.
There is no automatic document feeder which is a minor issue, but nothing that would spoil the enjoyment of this product. As the MF3240 is directed towards SOHO or home users it won’t impact anybody significantly.
The graphics quality and sharp text reproduction coupled with more than reasonable purchase price more than makes up for any shortcomings it may have. Running costs are impressively low too with the Canon single cartridge system. This is a system where the toner, drum and developer are all included in the single cartridge and is changed when the toner expires. This lowers maintenance costs and means less waste. A toner will cost $35 for 2500 pages worth of color.
The MF3240 is a worthwhile contender in the home multifunction market. It’s cheap enough to appeal and good enough to appeal to any small or home business who need to count every penny.
The Canon name is a reassuring one. A name synonymous with quality, enough so you can be confident in the quality of anything you buy from them. The MF3240 is a monochrome printer, scanner, copier and fax all in one. It can be connected to a computer via USB or it can act as a standalone copier. It needs a computer to get the most out of it and indeed that will be the use the majority of owners will put it to.
The MF3240 is designed to be quick, and at 21 pages per minute print speed, it doesn’t disappoint. It devoured our test document and it demonstrated its mettle quite adequately. Text was the highlight, with clear, sharp lines and an almost black fill that would serve well in any business document. Images and graphics were surprisingly good too. Well defined, shaded and almost as precise as the text. The test document we use has a mixture of text at different points, graphs, images and photographs to simulate a difficult business document the device might be asked to cope with.
The scanning and faxing functions are equally good, offering all the usual options such as resizing, multiple scans and faxes, phone book options, various quality levels, and quick operation.
There is no automatic document feeder which is a minor issue, but nothing that would spoil the enjoyment of this product. As the MF3240 is directed towards SOHO or home users it won’t impact anybody significantly.
The graphics quality and sharp text reproduction coupled with more than reasonable purchase price more than makes up for any shortcomings it may have. Running costs are impressively low too with the Canon single cartridge system. This is a system where the toner, drum and developer are all included in the single cartridge and is changed when the toner expires. This lowers maintenance costs and means less waste. A toner will cost $35 for 2500 pages worth of color.
The MF3240 is a worthwhile contender in the home multifunction market. It’s cheap enough to appeal and good enough to appeal to any small or home business who need to count every penny.
Canon Copier ImageClass D320
The Canon Copier ImageClass D320 is a desktop laser printer copier aimed at the home market. Small businesses may also benefit from it as long as their duty cycle wasn’t too demanding.
Setup of the D320 is about as quick and easy as it gets. Simply unpack it, insert the toner, connect it and off you go. It has USB2 so attaching it to a computer is just a matter of plugging it in and loading the drivers. The chassis itself is a compact one. It leans to the right as the platen and paper tray both extend past the body to cope with legal sized media.
Copy and print quality is good enough for business use. The 1200 x 600 dpi resolution produces text that is clean, crisp and precise. Images and photographs are also well presented, with sharp edges, fine detail and even coverage. Text is well printed, finely edged and evenly toned. At 15 pages per minute there isn’t much waiting around for your copies either.
The paper tray can cope with 250 sheets of paper and the output tray around 15. The paper has a tendency to curl if left too long on the output so it’s best to remove it at it comes out. Especially if you’re planning on printing or copying double sided.
Replacement toner will set you back around $33 and will print around 3500 pages. It is a single cartridge system which needs no drum or developer unit for it to work. So not only is it good value for money, it’s easy to manage too. This setup is typical of Canon printers and copiers right now. It reduces running costs, manufacturing costs and waste. The added bonus is that you only need to change one consumable.
The D320 is a decent printer and copier that will serve you well if you’re a light user. It’s efficient, easy to set up, and use. The print quality is good, as is copy quality. Both functions are well featured and produce results that are more than fit for purpose.
Setup of the D320 is about as quick and easy as it gets. Simply unpack it, insert the toner, connect it and off you go. It has USB2 so attaching it to a computer is just a matter of plugging it in and loading the drivers. The chassis itself is a compact one. It leans to the right as the platen and paper tray both extend past the body to cope with legal sized media.
Copy and print quality is good enough for business use. The 1200 x 600 dpi resolution produces text that is clean, crisp and precise. Images and photographs are also well presented, with sharp edges, fine detail and even coverage. Text is well printed, finely edged and evenly toned. At 15 pages per minute there isn’t much waiting around for your copies either.
The paper tray can cope with 250 sheets of paper and the output tray around 15. The paper has a tendency to curl if left too long on the output so it’s best to remove it at it comes out. Especially if you’re planning on printing or copying double sided.
Replacement toner will set you back around $33 and will print around 3500 pages. It is a single cartridge system which needs no drum or developer unit for it to work. So not only is it good value for money, it’s easy to manage too. This setup is typical of Canon printers and copiers right now. It reduces running costs, manufacturing costs and waste. The added bonus is that you only need to change one consumable.
The D320 is a decent printer and copier that will serve you well if you’re a light user. It’s efficient, easy to set up, and use. The print quality is good, as is copy quality. Both functions are well featured and produce results that are more than fit for purpose.
Canon Copier ImageClass D340
The Canon Copier ImageClass D340 is a copier and printer combined into one chassis. It doesn’t have the scanner and fax features of a true multifunction but packs enough punch with those two functions that it doesn’t really matter.
The machine itself is a standard looking multifunction device. There is a paper feeder on top of the scanner flatbed, then a control panel near the top at the front, the some drawers below.
All versions of the D340 have built in duplexing, with the 50 sheet automatic document feeder also being auto reverse to effectively feed that duplexer. This is an often overlooked feature in multifunction devices, manufacturers preferring to spend money and effort on other functions.
Printing and copying is where the D340 strength lies. It produces good quality, competent prints that are of a good enough quality to be suitable for any office at a standard 600 dpi. Toner is deposited cleanly on the page, edges are smooth and sharp and text is accurate everywhere between 4pt and 48pt. At 16 pages per minute it isn’t the fastest printer in the world, but the quality is worth waiting for.
Scanning is perfectly adequate, with a mono scanner in the D340 and color in the MP161L and LN. The color scanner reproduction is good, with all colors being faithful to the original, if a little dark. The full size flatbed can accommodate books and magazines for non-standard scanning, and even though the lid couldn’t shut properly, it didn’t detract from the quality.
The fax is just that. A fax with standard features, memory, auto dial, auto answer and a full sized keypad on the control panel.
Physically, the D340 isn’t massive, isn’t too loud and can be expanded enough to grow as an office expands. The standard memory of 48Mb in the MP161 is enough for most needs but can be expanded. The D340 come with 80Mb which is also expandable. There is a 250 sheet paper drawer that can also be enlarged by a 500 page drawer. There is also a 100 page multifunction bypass tray and the automatic document feeder.
The toner is very reasonably priced at $19 for 7000 pages, which brings the cost per page right down. This just adds to the attractiveness of the D340 overall.
The machine itself is a standard looking multifunction device. There is a paper feeder on top of the scanner flatbed, then a control panel near the top at the front, the some drawers below.
All versions of the D340 have built in duplexing, with the 50 sheet automatic document feeder also being auto reverse to effectively feed that duplexer. This is an often overlooked feature in multifunction devices, manufacturers preferring to spend money and effort on other functions.
Printing and copying is where the D340 strength lies. It produces good quality, competent prints that are of a good enough quality to be suitable for any office at a standard 600 dpi. Toner is deposited cleanly on the page, edges are smooth and sharp and text is accurate everywhere between 4pt and 48pt. At 16 pages per minute it isn’t the fastest printer in the world, but the quality is worth waiting for.
Scanning is perfectly adequate, with a mono scanner in the D340 and color in the MP161L and LN. The color scanner reproduction is good, with all colors being faithful to the original, if a little dark. The full size flatbed can accommodate books and magazines for non-standard scanning, and even though the lid couldn’t shut properly, it didn’t detract from the quality.
The fax is just that. A fax with standard features, memory, auto dial, auto answer and a full sized keypad on the control panel.
Physically, the D340 isn’t massive, isn’t too loud and can be expanded enough to grow as an office expands. The standard memory of 48Mb in the MP161 is enough for most needs but can be expanded. The D340 come with 80Mb which is also expandable. There is a 250 sheet paper drawer that can also be enlarged by a 500 page drawer. There is also a 100 page multifunction bypass tray and the automatic document feeder.
The toner is very reasonably priced at $19 for 7000 pages, which brings the cost per page right down. This just adds to the attractiveness of the D340 overall.
9.26.2010
Canon Copier ImageClass MF6550
The Canon Copier ImageClass MF6550 is a monochrome laser multifunction that is greater than the sum of its parts. Another great device from Canon and a pleasure to use and to own.
I bought mine online and was relieved to see that it was well packaged. There was enough material in their to get it to me safely even when using the postal service. Setting it up was easy. Unpack it, insert the toner, add some paper to the tray and plug it in. You can use it as a standalone or connect it to a PC or network. I used the USB method and connected it to my PC. There are only two of us and the PCs are already networked so I didn’t want to mess with that.
The copying and printing is a real joy. Simple and effective to set up and a joy to behold once the finished article arrives. I use the MF6550 a lot for printing marketing manuals for staff, which include graphs or images and this printer will render perfectly accurate hard copies until it either runs out of paper or toner. It will happily do the same for copying too.
Talking of toners, it ships with the usual half toner which I stretched to around 1000 sheets. Replacements are available from Quickshiptoner.com for $49 and will cover 5000. It only takes a couple of minutes to change over. The Canon toners are all in one, meaning there is no separate drum or anything to change. Not only does this make maintenance easier, it also saves you having to buy a separate drum.
The copier does what most copiers do, resize, produce multiple copies and utilize the automatic document feeder. There are options on the MF6550 that I have only seen on more expensive machines, like automatic paper sizing, frame erasing, automatic duplex printing, scanning to pdf and other useful things.
The fax takes a little setting up, it doesn’t just work out of the box, but Canon kindly dedicated 39 pages of the user manual to it, which gets it running eventually.
The MF6550 is a good home office device. It does everything you would expect, and most things better. The software is good, the user manual understandable by a normal person and is hasn’t broken down yet.
I bought mine online and was relieved to see that it was well packaged. There was enough material in their to get it to me safely even when using the postal service. Setting it up was easy. Unpack it, insert the toner, add some paper to the tray and plug it in. You can use it as a standalone or connect it to a PC or network. I used the USB method and connected it to my PC. There are only two of us and the PCs are already networked so I didn’t want to mess with that.
The copying and printing is a real joy. Simple and effective to set up and a joy to behold once the finished article arrives. I use the MF6550 a lot for printing marketing manuals for staff, which include graphs or images and this printer will render perfectly accurate hard copies until it either runs out of paper or toner. It will happily do the same for copying too.
Talking of toners, it ships with the usual half toner which I stretched to around 1000 sheets. Replacements are available from Quickshiptoner.com for $49 and will cover 5000. It only takes a couple of minutes to change over. The Canon toners are all in one, meaning there is no separate drum or anything to change. Not only does this make maintenance easier, it also saves you having to buy a separate drum.
The copier does what most copiers do, resize, produce multiple copies and utilize the automatic document feeder. There are options on the MF6550 that I have only seen on more expensive machines, like automatic paper sizing, frame erasing, automatic duplex printing, scanning to pdf and other useful things.
The fax takes a little setting up, it doesn’t just work out of the box, but Canon kindly dedicated 39 pages of the user manual to it, which gets it running eventually.
The MF6550 is a good home office device. It does everything you would expect, and most things better. The software is good, the user manual understandable by a normal person and is hasn’t broken down yet.
Canon Copier ImageClass MF6530
I bought the Canon Copier ImageClass MF6530 to replace a Copystar that had unfortunately ended its useful life. The Copystar served me faithfully for many years until the engine died and it wouldn’t even wake up.
I chose the MF6530 because I trust the Canon name and it offered just about everything I needed from a device. The main reason was the almost instant response when I wanted to use it. It uses the same lower power technology that most electronics do now, with a low power ‘standby’ mode. Canon RAPID toner enables it to warm up almost instantly, certainly within a couple of seconds and is ready for use.
It processes my work at a rate of 23 pages per minute, whatever type of printing or copying I need doing. My stuff is mainly text but there are occasions when I print images or graphs, and the MF6530 doesn’t even blink. The built-in duplexer enables it to print double sided, which is handy for when I print leaflets or handouts. The automatic document feeder also means I can dump a load of copying into it and leave it to it. This simple, effective operation is what I paid for. I don’t want to have to stand over a machine and hand feed it paper, or make sure it’s working properly.
Apart from the quick response, the print quality is also something that made me choose this model over the competition. As I said, I often print leaflets and some of them can be quite image intensive. The MF6530 takes them all in its stride and produces a great quality print or copy. The grayscale makes them almost look colored, and are definitely accurate to the original when making copies. There is no visible banding or artifacts when I do mine at least. All prints look good enough to share with clients and staff alike.
The MF6530 comes with a scanner and fax too, but I don’t use them much. I tested them both when I first got the machine and they worked like a charm. The scanner copies in color and can do so across the USB to my computer. The fax is a G3, which is the fastest out there and sent a test sheet in a little under 3 seconds.
I like my MF6530, it does what I want it to do without any fuss or problems.
I chose the MF6530 because I trust the Canon name and it offered just about everything I needed from a device. The main reason was the almost instant response when I wanted to use it. It uses the same lower power technology that most electronics do now, with a low power ‘standby’ mode. Canon RAPID toner enables it to warm up almost instantly, certainly within a couple of seconds and is ready for use.
It processes my work at a rate of 23 pages per minute, whatever type of printing or copying I need doing. My stuff is mainly text but there are occasions when I print images or graphs, and the MF6530 doesn’t even blink. The built-in duplexer enables it to print double sided, which is handy for when I print leaflets or handouts. The automatic document feeder also means I can dump a load of copying into it and leave it to it. This simple, effective operation is what I paid for. I don’t want to have to stand over a machine and hand feed it paper, or make sure it’s working properly.
Apart from the quick response, the print quality is also something that made me choose this model over the competition. As I said, I often print leaflets and some of them can be quite image intensive. The MF6530 takes them all in its stride and produces a great quality print or copy. The grayscale makes them almost look colored, and are definitely accurate to the original when making copies. There is no visible banding or artifacts when I do mine at least. All prints look good enough to share with clients and staff alike.
The MF6530 comes with a scanner and fax too, but I don’t use them much. I tested them both when I first got the machine and they worked like a charm. The scanner copies in color and can do so across the USB to my computer. The fax is a G3, which is the fastest out there and sent a test sheet in a little under 3 seconds.
I like my MF6530, it does what I want it to do without any fuss or problems.
Canon Copier ImageClass MF4270
The Canon Copier ImageClass MF4270 is a decent multifunction device that offers everything a home office needs at a reasonable price.
Measuring only 18 inches by 15.5 by 17.5 inches and weighing 28 pounds, this won’t take up too much desk space. This puts it right into the sights of the home worker, or home office. Space is often precious when working at home, so the footprint of any device is of more importance than many manufacturers realize. Fortunately Canon isn’t one of those.
What is also refreshing is the black and dark gray styling. It makes a nice change from standard beige or gray and will look cool on a modern desk next to a black and silver monitor.
Despite the compact size the MF4270 can still find room for 250 page paper cassette and an automatic document feeder that can hold a further 35. Toner is good for 2000 pages, which means for a low use home office, this device doesn’t need much looking after.
The only chink in the armor of this machine is that it needs to be connected via USB to get the best out of it. Even though it comes with a built-in network port, some scanning functions won’t work over a network. To get the best out of the MF4270, it would have to be connected to a PC via USB, then networked. Not a show stopper, but an odd choice for Canon to have made.
It can print and fax over a network, can work as a standalone fax and copier and can work as a fully featured all in one. Print quality is good, as one would expect from Canon, with text being the highlight of the show. The quality is superb, as you would expect from a laser, but stands out even among other laser products. Edges are clean and sharp, fonts are well printed and any filling is smooth and even. Copying or printing image or photo heavy documents presented no problems either, with the MF4270 chewing them up and spitting them out at the same rate as text pages.
The Canon Copier ImageClass MF4270 is an odd beast, with the USB functionality being better than its network one. However as this is aimed at small or home offices it doesn’t prove much of a problem. The speed and quality of the prints is what makes this a winner.
Measuring only 18 inches by 15.5 by 17.5 inches and weighing 28 pounds, this won’t take up too much desk space. This puts it right into the sights of the home worker, or home office. Space is often precious when working at home, so the footprint of any device is of more importance than many manufacturers realize. Fortunately Canon isn’t one of those.
What is also refreshing is the black and dark gray styling. It makes a nice change from standard beige or gray and will look cool on a modern desk next to a black and silver monitor.
Despite the compact size the MF4270 can still find room for 250 page paper cassette and an automatic document feeder that can hold a further 35. Toner is good for 2000 pages, which means for a low use home office, this device doesn’t need much looking after.
The only chink in the armor of this machine is that it needs to be connected via USB to get the best out of it. Even though it comes with a built-in network port, some scanning functions won’t work over a network. To get the best out of the MF4270, it would have to be connected to a PC via USB, then networked. Not a show stopper, but an odd choice for Canon to have made.
It can print and fax over a network, can work as a standalone fax and copier and can work as a fully featured all in one. Print quality is good, as one would expect from Canon, with text being the highlight of the show. The quality is superb, as you would expect from a laser, but stands out even among other laser products. Edges are clean and sharp, fonts are well printed and any filling is smooth and even. Copying or printing image or photo heavy documents presented no problems either, with the MF4270 chewing them up and spitting them out at the same rate as text pages.
The Canon Copier ImageClass MF4270 is an odd beast, with the USB functionality being better than its network one. However as this is aimed at small or home offices it doesn’t prove much of a problem. The speed and quality of the prints is what makes this a winner.
Canon Copier ImageClass MF4690
The Canon Copier ImageClass MF4690 is another multifunction device from the office equipment giant. It is a full duplex monochrome printer, copier, scanner and fax all in one little package and offers great value for money. It’s perfect for a small or home office and performed well in every test we threw at it.
The MF4690 has every that make it suitable for a small office or workgroup including networking. It prints, copies, scans, and faxes, and you can even scan to e-mail or to a file server if you like. The automatic document feeder enables you to scan or copy documents with multiple pages. It also has a built-in duplexer for double-sided printing.
Printing is the MF4690s real strength. It can produce good quality prints up to 21 pages per minute. The print quality is sharp, with text showing as crisp, with clean edges and good fill. Images are clear, with the shading evenly spread without bleeding. The test document includes all the main fonts in different sizes, and all appeared well defined and clear, even down to 3 point.
The paper drawer holds up to 250 sheet of paper and feels solid. There is also a 35 sheet automatic document feeder. The overall build quality seems robust, which is a good sign.
The scanner and fax are both pretty standard. There are options to fax from the desktop, scan to PC over USB, but not over the network which is a little disappointing. You can also scan to a USB key, which is a nice touch but not wholly useful. It would have been nicer to be able to scan over the network.
Setting up is simple, with the basic configuration done through drivers. The MF4690 can work either standalone or as part of a network, through the built in network port. A quick driver install later and you’ll be up and running in no time at all. There is a built in web page based configuration tool where you can add and modify system settings which is simple and straightforward.
Overall the MF4690 is a good device, but not perfect. It has a mix of great attributes like good quality printing and copying, a fully featured fax and scanner but misses out on features like scan over network and other neat features that other devices offer.
The MF4690 has every that make it suitable for a small office or workgroup including networking. It prints, copies, scans, and faxes, and you can even scan to e-mail or to a file server if you like. The automatic document feeder enables you to scan or copy documents with multiple pages. It also has a built-in duplexer for double-sided printing.
Printing is the MF4690s real strength. It can produce good quality prints up to 21 pages per minute. The print quality is sharp, with text showing as crisp, with clean edges and good fill. Images are clear, with the shading evenly spread without bleeding. The test document includes all the main fonts in different sizes, and all appeared well defined and clear, even down to 3 point.
The paper drawer holds up to 250 sheet of paper and feels solid. There is also a 35 sheet automatic document feeder. The overall build quality seems robust, which is a good sign.
The scanner and fax are both pretty standard. There are options to fax from the desktop, scan to PC over USB, but not over the network which is a little disappointing. You can also scan to a USB key, which is a nice touch but not wholly useful. It would have been nicer to be able to scan over the network.
Setting up is simple, with the basic configuration done through drivers. The MF4690 can work either standalone or as part of a network, through the built in network port. A quick driver install later and you’ll be up and running in no time at all. There is a built in web page based configuration tool where you can add and modify system settings which is simple and straightforward.
Overall the MF4690 is a good device, but not perfect. It has a mix of great attributes like good quality printing and copying, a fully featured fax and scanner but misses out on features like scan over network and other neat features that other devices offer.
9.25.2010
Canon Copier ImageClass MF4150
Multifunction devices are ideal if space is limited or you work from home. You can have all the features of four devices in one compact chassis at less than the four devices would cost separately.
The Canon Copier ImageClass MF4150 is aimed at this home office market and should appeal with its wide range of features and the benefits of a multifunction from Canon. The actual size is small, even for a multifunction device, measuring 17.7 inches wide, 15.5 wide and 16.8 high and weighting in at 29 pounds.
Despite the size, the MF4150 has a 250 sheet paper tray, 35 sheet automatic document feeder, built in duplexer, scanner and a decent fax to boot. All you have to do is unpack it, plug in the cartridges, connect the phone cable plug it in and off you go. If you want a standalone copier, scanner and fax, this is all the machine you need. If you want to use it in conjunction with a computer, you just have to install the drivers, connect the MF4150 to the computer via USB, and it’s all done.
Print quality is exactly what you would expect from a Canon. Everything appears clear, crisp, with clean edges and good levels of detail. Image printing and copying pushes the grayscale engine a bit but not with anything that would spoil the end result. There was slight dithering on photo printing, but this is a laser device after all. At 21 pages per minute, it’s a speedy device too.
The control panel is easy to use, with different button sets for each function as with most other multifunctions. The small LCD screen is clear enough to read the small lines of text, and there is enough space between each button for larger fingers.
Scanning and faxing are pretty much standard, the 600 dpi color scanner is quick and efficient while the Super G3 fax can handle just about anything, transmitting a letter sized page in a little over 3 seconds.
Overall, the MF4150 is a pretty good multifunction device for the most smaller office environments. It’s a reliable performer as you would expect from Canon, that won’t let you down. Running costs are reasonable and the consumables won’t break the bank like with some other manufacturers.
The Canon Copier ImageClass MF4150 is aimed at this home office market and should appeal with its wide range of features and the benefits of a multifunction from Canon. The actual size is small, even for a multifunction device, measuring 17.7 inches wide, 15.5 wide and 16.8 high and weighting in at 29 pounds.
Despite the size, the MF4150 has a 250 sheet paper tray, 35 sheet automatic document feeder, built in duplexer, scanner and a decent fax to boot. All you have to do is unpack it, plug in the cartridges, connect the phone cable plug it in and off you go. If you want a standalone copier, scanner and fax, this is all the machine you need. If you want to use it in conjunction with a computer, you just have to install the drivers, connect the MF4150 to the computer via USB, and it’s all done.
Print quality is exactly what you would expect from a Canon. Everything appears clear, crisp, with clean edges and good levels of detail. Image printing and copying pushes the grayscale engine a bit but not with anything that would spoil the end result. There was slight dithering on photo printing, but this is a laser device after all. At 21 pages per minute, it’s a speedy device too.
The control panel is easy to use, with different button sets for each function as with most other multifunctions. The small LCD screen is clear enough to read the small lines of text, and there is enough space between each button for larger fingers.
Scanning and faxing are pretty much standard, the 600 dpi color scanner is quick and efficient while the Super G3 fax can handle just about anything, transmitting a letter sized page in a little over 3 seconds.
Overall, the MF4150 is a pretty good multifunction device for the most smaller office environments. It’s a reliable performer as you would expect from Canon, that won’t let you down. Running costs are reasonable and the consumables won’t break the bank like with some other manufacturers.
Canon PC981
I bought the Canon PC981 because I run my own business and like to keep a copy of absolutely everything, just in case. I have digital copies of everything, because most of my business is done online, but it’s also nice to have a hard copy of everything. Computers are great but they aren’t infallible and they do break, however much you spend on them.
I have always bought Canon equipment for as long as I can remember because it has always been good quality and easy to use. I have an inkjet printer and a camera of theirs so I didn’t really worry about the quality of the copier.
The other reason I bought it was because of the instant-on function. My previous copier used to need at least 30 seconds to warm up, then another 10 or 20 to produce the first copy. The PC981 needs no warming up and will have the first copy ready within 10 seconds of my asking for it.
The Canon representative said it was something to do with their new toner. It didn’t need warming up like many of the others which meant the machine could just power up and copy away. That appealed to me because I’m not the most patient man on earth at the best of times. The less time I’m hanging around for stuff, the more money I can be making.
The PC981 has enough space for 500 sheets of paper, and another 30 in the document feeder on the side. There is also another 50 that can fit into the bypass tray. That and the fact that the cartridges will last for 4000 sheets before they need replacing means that it doesn’t need much looking after either.
Despite being small, quick and nicely priced there is no compromise on print quality with this machine. Every copy I make comes out the same. Precise, clean, straight lines, sharp edges and more than presentable. Even though I only use mine for filing, I would have no hesitation in using it for marketing or something.
The PC981 is ideal if you only copy a bit and don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a machine you will hardly use. While not the cheapest on the market, it is certainly the most cost effective. Running costs are minimal, maintenance is minimal but the productivity is certainly not.
I have always bought Canon equipment for as long as I can remember because it has always been good quality and easy to use. I have an inkjet printer and a camera of theirs so I didn’t really worry about the quality of the copier.
The other reason I bought it was because of the instant-on function. My previous copier used to need at least 30 seconds to warm up, then another 10 or 20 to produce the first copy. The PC981 needs no warming up and will have the first copy ready within 10 seconds of my asking for it.
The Canon representative said it was something to do with their new toner. It didn’t need warming up like many of the others which meant the machine could just power up and copy away. That appealed to me because I’m not the most patient man on earth at the best of times. The less time I’m hanging around for stuff, the more money I can be making.
The PC981 has enough space for 500 sheets of paper, and another 30 in the document feeder on the side. There is also another 50 that can fit into the bypass tray. That and the fact that the cartridges will last for 4000 sheets before they need replacing means that it doesn’t need much looking after either.
Despite being small, quick and nicely priced there is no compromise on print quality with this machine. Every copy I make comes out the same. Precise, clean, straight lines, sharp edges and more than presentable. Even though I only use mine for filing, I would have no hesitation in using it for marketing or something.
The PC981 is ideal if you only copy a bit and don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a machine you will hardly use. While not the cheapest on the market, it is certainly the most cost effective. Running costs are minimal, maintenance is minimal but the productivity is certainly not.
Canon PC941
The Canon PC941 is a laser monochrome copier that aims for the lucrative home office market with a product that suits it perfectly. Canon have listened to what home workers want and have produced a device that meets all those needs.
The first thing you notice about it is the fact that it’s small. It only takes up 19.5 x 17.5 x 12 inches of desk space, which is perfect for a home office where space might be at a premium. There is a 250 paper cassette at the front and a single sheet bypass for everything else. The device has a solid feel to it. It’s compact, well built and looks like it could last quite a while in the right hands.
The quality of the copies is very good. It’s text is crisp and black, images and graphs are equally well rendered. The grayscale engine produces good even coverage, even on photographs and complex images. At 11 pages per minute it doesn’t sacrifice speed for quality, in fact the PC941 doesn’t seem to sacrifice anything. It is the ideal home office copier.
The cartridge is one unit comprising toner, drum and development unit which makes management easy. It also lowers the cost per page considerably. Replacements will last 4000 pages and cost less than $40. This offers one of the lowest cost per page rates in the range.
As well as the single cartridge system, the PC941 uses Canons patented RAPID fusing system which means the device doesn’t have to warm up. Traditionally, toner has to be warmed through in order for it to spread properly. Canon have worked theirs so it doesn’t have to be as long as it’s stored at room temperature. That means no warm up times, and an instant response when you order a copy of something.
The main advantage of the PC941 is its relative low cost, but the instant response is also a major benefit to users. This copier is a well considered, well designed device that suits the needs of its target market perfectly. It would suit any home worker or small business owner who needs to copy perfectly. It doesn’t take up too much space, make too much noise or need much looking after.
The first thing you notice about it is the fact that it’s small. It only takes up 19.5 x 17.5 x 12 inches of desk space, which is perfect for a home office where space might be at a premium. There is a 250 paper cassette at the front and a single sheet bypass for everything else. The device has a solid feel to it. It’s compact, well built and looks like it could last quite a while in the right hands.
The quality of the copies is very good. It’s text is crisp and black, images and graphs are equally well rendered. The grayscale engine produces good even coverage, even on photographs and complex images. At 11 pages per minute it doesn’t sacrifice speed for quality, in fact the PC941 doesn’t seem to sacrifice anything. It is the ideal home office copier.
The cartridge is one unit comprising toner, drum and development unit which makes management easy. It also lowers the cost per page considerably. Replacements will last 4000 pages and cost less than $40. This offers one of the lowest cost per page rates in the range.
As well as the single cartridge system, the PC941 uses Canons patented RAPID fusing system which means the device doesn’t have to warm up. Traditionally, toner has to be warmed through in order for it to spread properly. Canon have worked theirs so it doesn’t have to be as long as it’s stored at room temperature. That means no warm up times, and an instant response when you order a copy of something.
The main advantage of the PC941 is its relative low cost, but the instant response is also a major benefit to users. This copier is a well considered, well designed device that suits the needs of its target market perfectly. It would suit any home worker or small business owner who needs to copy perfectly. It doesn’t take up too much space, make too much noise or need much looking after.
Canon PC921
The Canon PC921 is a personal desktop copier aimed squarely at home users or home based businesses. It is a quiet, unassuming device that doesn’t make much noise or fuss, but is always there, ready to work when you need it.
When it comes to using the device it’s pretty simple as you would expect from a Canon machine. The control panel is simple, the small LCD screen shows numbers of copies, sizing or other details depending on the selection, and the copier does its job. It doesn’t make a fuss, keep you waiting or asks you to do anything else. You tell it what to do and it gets on with the job.
Thos model in the PC series has the Canon RAPID fusing system, which instantly warms up the toner and it dries just as quick. That means there is no more warm up times for these copiers and the first copy is finished around 10 seconds after ordering it. At a rate of 10 pages per minute, it won’t win any speed records, but it sweeps the board for convenience. Warm up times are still a bone of contention with many office equipment manufacturers. Reducing that to almost zero is quite a coup for Canon.
Copy quality is crisp and clear with text being the obvious highlight. Every letter seemed precise, exact and well printed on the page, no matter what point they were. Images and photographs were almost as good as the text, offering good finishing, even toner spread and accurate reproduction of the images.
There are the standard multiple copies, resizing and different media functions. The PC921 can also copy larger solid objects like books. Producing good quality copies even with the lid slightly open. This can be the undoing of other copiers, but the Canon seems to cope well.
The PC921 is great value for money, having a reasonable purchase price and even more reasonable consumable price. A standard cartridge will cost around $40, which should last at least 4000 pages. They also come in pairs and packs of three for further savings. Anyone looking for a cost effective copier that doesn’t compromise on quality would be advised to look at the PC921.
When it comes to using the device it’s pretty simple as you would expect from a Canon machine. The control panel is simple, the small LCD screen shows numbers of copies, sizing or other details depending on the selection, and the copier does its job. It doesn’t make a fuss, keep you waiting or asks you to do anything else. You tell it what to do and it gets on with the job.
Thos model in the PC series has the Canon RAPID fusing system, which instantly warms up the toner and it dries just as quick. That means there is no more warm up times for these copiers and the first copy is finished around 10 seconds after ordering it. At a rate of 10 pages per minute, it won’t win any speed records, but it sweeps the board for convenience. Warm up times are still a bone of contention with many office equipment manufacturers. Reducing that to almost zero is quite a coup for Canon.
Copy quality is crisp and clear with text being the obvious highlight. Every letter seemed precise, exact and well printed on the page, no matter what point they were. Images and photographs were almost as good as the text, offering good finishing, even toner spread and accurate reproduction of the images.
There are the standard multiple copies, resizing and different media functions. The PC921 can also copy larger solid objects like books. Producing good quality copies even with the lid slightly open. This can be the undoing of other copiers, but the Canon seems to cope well.
The PC921 is great value for money, having a reasonable purchase price and even more reasonable consumable price. A standard cartridge will cost around $40, which should last at least 4000 pages. They also come in pairs and packs of three for further savings. Anyone looking for a cost effective copier that doesn’t compromise on quality would be advised to look at the PC921.
9.24.2010
Canon PC920
The Canon PC920 is the predecessor to the PC940. It is a personal desktop copier that measures 17.5 inches by 12 by 20 inches wide. At 42 pounds it is a hefty machine, which hopefully means the build quality reflects what we have come to expect from Canon over the past few years.
While not the most aesthetically pleasing device in the world, it’s difficult to fault the solid construction and no-nonsense design. It’s functional and intended to fit in with other office devices. The PC920 was released before Canon came up with their RAPID toner technology so it isn’t as quick to react as the PC940, but is still a competent performer nonetheless.
Even though the device is fairly small, it can cope with letter or legal sized paper with ease. There is a 250 sheet paper cassette that slots into the front and works effortlessly. Along with the single sheet use on the platen, brings the capacity up to 251 sheets. The glass and copier engine can also cope with books and other 3D objects, and will give a surprisingly good copy even though the lid might be open.
The PC940 had an instant warm-up facility, while the 920 doesn’t have that, warm up is only 10 seconds. A further 10 seconds will have the first completed copy ready for you. That’s pretty impressive for a copier, even a smaller desktop one.
Print quality is excellent. Every single copy came out perfectly when we tested. Our test document is 24 pages long and designed to put office equipment of all descriptions through its paces. The PC920 didn’t let us down. Each and every copy had the same contrast, brightness and toner density. Graphs, images and even photographs were rendered accurately and came out at a steady rate of 10 pages per minute.
For users who work from home, run a small business or simply do a bit of copying, the Canon PC920 is an excellent little machine. It’s low duty cycle, and small footprint means it’s ideal for its target market. With toner cartridges that last for 4000 sheets and cost less than $40, it doesn’t cost the earth to own. It performs well enough for most needs, even copying photos proficiently. The PC920 is a good little copier and well worth a look if you’re in the market for one.
While not the most aesthetically pleasing device in the world, it’s difficult to fault the solid construction and no-nonsense design. It’s functional and intended to fit in with other office devices. The PC920 was released before Canon came up with their RAPID toner technology so it isn’t as quick to react as the PC940, but is still a competent performer nonetheless.
Even though the device is fairly small, it can cope with letter or legal sized paper with ease. There is a 250 sheet paper cassette that slots into the front and works effortlessly. Along with the single sheet use on the platen, brings the capacity up to 251 sheets. The glass and copier engine can also cope with books and other 3D objects, and will give a surprisingly good copy even though the lid might be open.
The PC940 had an instant warm-up facility, while the 920 doesn’t have that, warm up is only 10 seconds. A further 10 seconds will have the first completed copy ready for you. That’s pretty impressive for a copier, even a smaller desktop one.
Print quality is excellent. Every single copy came out perfectly when we tested. Our test document is 24 pages long and designed to put office equipment of all descriptions through its paces. The PC920 didn’t let us down. Each and every copy had the same contrast, brightness and toner density. Graphs, images and even photographs were rendered accurately and came out at a steady rate of 10 pages per minute.
For users who work from home, run a small business or simply do a bit of copying, the Canon PC920 is an excellent little machine. It’s low duty cycle, and small footprint means it’s ideal for its target market. With toner cartridges that last for 4000 sheets and cost less than $40, it doesn’t cost the earth to own. It performs well enough for most needs, even copying photos proficiently. The PC920 is a good little copier and well worth a look if you’re in the market for one.
Canon PC940
The Canon PC940 is the ultimate in personal copying. Good print quality makes the PC940 a good option for those who work or copy at home and don’t need copy massive amounts. The ability to warm up instantly and to be almost silent makes this ideal for the home office.
It sits quietly on the desk, and we mean quietly, just waiting to be used. It has no warm up time so is ready to go when you are. This device is aimed at home or home office users and fits the bill nicely.
Out of the box, the device can be configured and functioning in literally minutes. It’s just a matter of unpacking the box, installing the all-in-one toner and fuser and off you go. That’s all there is to it. The Canon RAPID fuser system is a combination of the single cartridge system, which is toner, drum and development unit all in one, and a new type of toner that doesn’t need warming up like traditional ones do.
The build quality is decent with a solid chassis. Weighing in at 42 pounds, this is one solid machine. It feels strong and reassuring, and looks built to last. The small control panel is logically laid out with enough space between the small buttons.
The standard paper capacity is 251, with a tray that holds 250 and a single sheet bypass. Toner is managed pretty well, the Canon having a toner saving mode which purports to be much lighter on toner use than normal mode. A standard cartridge is good for 4000 sheets, and costing around $40, they also come in twin and triple packs for economies of scale. The single cartridge construction means that there is no drum or development unit to consider, which further reduces the cost of ownership.
Testing the copier proved worthwhile, it produced consistently good pages whatever we asked it to copy for us. Text was clear, crisp and to the point with pages containing images more than acceptable for a monochrome laser copier. The speed of operation is also acceptable with copies appearing up to 13 pages per minute.
It sits quietly on the desk, and we mean quietly, just waiting to be used. It has no warm up time so is ready to go when you are. This device is aimed at home or home office users and fits the bill nicely.
Out of the box, the device can be configured and functioning in literally minutes. It’s just a matter of unpacking the box, installing the all-in-one toner and fuser and off you go. That’s all there is to it. The Canon RAPID fuser system is a combination of the single cartridge system, which is toner, drum and development unit all in one, and a new type of toner that doesn’t need warming up like traditional ones do.
The build quality is decent with a solid chassis. Weighing in at 42 pounds, this is one solid machine. It feels strong and reassuring, and looks built to last. The small control panel is logically laid out with enough space between the small buttons.
The standard paper capacity is 251, with a tray that holds 250 and a single sheet bypass. Toner is managed pretty well, the Canon having a toner saving mode which purports to be much lighter on toner use than normal mode. A standard cartridge is good for 4000 sheets, and costing around $40, they also come in twin and triple packs for economies of scale. The single cartridge construction means that there is no drum or development unit to consider, which further reduces the cost of ownership.
Testing the copier proved worthwhile, it produced consistently good pages whatever we asked it to copy for us. Text was clear, crisp and to the point with pages containing images more than acceptable for a monochrome laser copier. The speed of operation is also acceptable with copies appearing up to 13 pages per minute.
Copystar CS-1820
The Copystar CS-1820 is a laser copier with a built in printer and scanner that puts Copystar in the field of the small or home office. This market is a competitive one, with big names like Xerox and Brother competing for customers. This is all good news for the consumer as the manufacturers are forced to offer more for less.
The CS-1820 is a monochrome laser copier, printer and scanner in that order. It is a copier first, much like others in the CS class, but has a built-in scanner and copier. It makes sense really as all three are co-dependent on each other to function. There is the option to add a fax, but this isn’t often required. Despite having these three features, the footprint is still relatively small. At 20 inches by 16.5 by 18 inches high it isn’t a huge machine, and at 32 pounds doesn’t weigh a great deal either.
The copy and print quality is first class. Both produce great text and grayscale reproductions and firmly places Copystar’s name to the list of great image producers. The text had clean lines, good fill and images were reproduced accurately, which is the mark of a good laser. Copies are output at a rate of 18 pages per minute so there isn’t much waiting around for these great quality prints either.
Scanning is also respectable, with decent, color image production in all our tests. It is only an added function not the primary, but it does offer excellent bang for your buck considering. The optional fax is a G3 and can send a sheet every 3 seconds. It has all the usual speed dials, phone books, and telephone keypad buttons and options.
The control panel is a simple affair, with each function having a definite set of buttons, preventing any mistakes or confusion. The panel is small, but well considered and won’t cause any problems to users. Toner management is also straightforward with replacements lasting 7200 pages.
The CS-1820 is a solid looking multifunction device. All rounded corners and solid lines. It’s design is there to inspire and should live up to the expectation it creates. Businesses in the market for a multifunction would do well to consider the CS-1820 as it offers both reliability and cost effectiveness which is the holy grail of office machinery.
The CS-1820 is a monochrome laser copier, printer and scanner in that order. It is a copier first, much like others in the CS class, but has a built-in scanner and copier. It makes sense really as all three are co-dependent on each other to function. There is the option to add a fax, but this isn’t often required. Despite having these three features, the footprint is still relatively small. At 20 inches by 16.5 by 18 inches high it isn’t a huge machine, and at 32 pounds doesn’t weigh a great deal either.
The copy and print quality is first class. Both produce great text and grayscale reproductions and firmly places Copystar’s name to the list of great image producers. The text had clean lines, good fill and images were reproduced accurately, which is the mark of a good laser. Copies are output at a rate of 18 pages per minute so there isn’t much waiting around for these great quality prints either.
Scanning is also respectable, with decent, color image production in all our tests. It is only an added function not the primary, but it does offer excellent bang for your buck considering. The optional fax is a G3 and can send a sheet every 3 seconds. It has all the usual speed dials, phone books, and telephone keypad buttons and options.
The control panel is a simple affair, with each function having a definite set of buttons, preventing any mistakes or confusion. The panel is small, but well considered and won’t cause any problems to users. Toner management is also straightforward with replacements lasting 7200 pages.
The CS-1820 is a solid looking multifunction device. All rounded corners and solid lines. It’s design is there to inspire and should live up to the expectation it creates. Businesses in the market for a multifunction would do well to consider the CS-1820 as it offers both reliability and cost effectiveness which is the holy grail of office machinery.
Copystar CS-5530
The Copystar CS-5530 is a heavyweight laser copier aimed at the business market. Marketed as a high volume copier that can handle up to 225,000 copies per month, which should be enough for almost any environment.
Setup of the CS-5530 is about as quick and easy as it gets as the vendor should install if for you. This is a complex, fully featured machine so won’t really be suitable for users to install. The standard paper supply is handled by a pair of 550 sheet drawers, a 2500 sheet paper deck and a 100 sheet multi-purpose tray.
Copy quality is very good, certainly good enough for commercial use. The 600 dpi print driver produces text that is crisp and black, and at 55 pages per minute is no slouch either. Images and graphics are just as well rendered, with nice details on photographs, good filling on graphs and accurate representations of photographs.
Present are all the standard features a copier should have, like resizing options, multiple copies as well as the functions to change the tone and brightness of the output. There is a simple control panel with buttons for each function and a large touch screen LCD which makes managing the machine as easy as can be. Copying single or multiple documents is simple with either the platen or automatic document feeder. We ran almost 3000 pages through the feeder and it didn’t jam once.
Replacement toner is will set you back around $50. Seeing as it will last a good 30,000 pages, that isn’t bad. So that kind of toner life, coupled with the large paper handling capacity means there isn’t much you need to do to keep the CS-5530 running.
The option to add networking, a variety of paper finishers, another multifunction tray, hard drive, barcode reader and scanner, network scanning and extra memory, this is truly an extensible device. With options like these, even if the business changes, the copier can change with you.
The CS-5530 is a solid copier that will serve you well, whatever you throw at it. Built to perform and built to last, this copier is a great investment for the busy office. Good quality, fast copying with intelligent design and longevity in mind.
Setup of the CS-5530 is about as quick and easy as it gets as the vendor should install if for you. This is a complex, fully featured machine so won’t really be suitable for users to install. The standard paper supply is handled by a pair of 550 sheet drawers, a 2500 sheet paper deck and a 100 sheet multi-purpose tray.
Copy quality is very good, certainly good enough for commercial use. The 600 dpi print driver produces text that is crisp and black, and at 55 pages per minute is no slouch either. Images and graphics are just as well rendered, with nice details on photographs, good filling on graphs and accurate representations of photographs.
Present are all the standard features a copier should have, like resizing options, multiple copies as well as the functions to change the tone and brightness of the output. There is a simple control panel with buttons for each function and a large touch screen LCD which makes managing the machine as easy as can be. Copying single or multiple documents is simple with either the platen or automatic document feeder. We ran almost 3000 pages through the feeder and it didn’t jam once.
Replacement toner is will set you back around $50. Seeing as it will last a good 30,000 pages, that isn’t bad. So that kind of toner life, coupled with the large paper handling capacity means there isn’t much you need to do to keep the CS-5530 running.
The option to add networking, a variety of paper finishers, another multifunction tray, hard drive, barcode reader and scanner, network scanning and extra memory, this is truly an extensible device. With options like these, even if the business changes, the copier can change with you.
The CS-5530 is a solid copier that will serve you well, whatever you throw at it. Built to perform and built to last, this copier is a great investment for the busy office. Good quality, fast copying with intelligent design and longevity in mind.
9.23.2010
Royal Copystar RI-2530
The Royal Copystar RI-2530 is a monochrome copier that is designed to take whatever you can throw at it and still continue working. With heavyweights such as Brother and Xerox competing in the copier market, products have to be very good to survive. The RI-2530 is definitely worth a look if you’re a heavy copier user and need something reliable and dependable to take care of business. It’s a big machine that’s built to last and offers all the features you would expect from a market leading copier.
The print quality is excellent, which is no surprise. Text is printed clear and detailed with smooth, exact edges that appear precise. Graphics and images can be a bit hit and miss with many copiers, but not so with this. All prints came out well detailed, accurately portrayed, and the translation of a color image into monochrome is done very well.
The RI-2530 also includes an optional 3.2GB hard drive, which is a useful security option. It allows you to secure copy, or load up jobs to be run when you’re not there. This kind of flexibility is great for scheduling larger copy jobs when there is nobody around.
Paper handling is equally as impressive. A standard 500 sheet paper tray, 20 sheet multi-purpose tray and a 250 sheet optional bypass means you shouldn’t run out of paper in a hurry. Neither should you run out of toner, as that will last for 7000 pages. Being able to output pages at a rate of 35 pages per minute and the ability to pre-load jobs makes this a real office workhorse.
The optional paper finishers include stapling, hole punch, saddle stitching and every other option you can think of. There is also the option to add memory, a hard drive, fax, networking, barcode reader and extra paper drawers.
The RI-2530 does everything a copier should do and more. As Copystar are a part of Kyocera it isn’t unreasonable to think they have the same reliability and award winning features. This device certainly seems to have been designed and built with that philosophy in mind.
The RI-2530 is a worthy contender for offices or workgroups that copy as much as they print. With a heavy duty cycle, low cost consumables and the Kyocera reliability, this is an excellent choice for all your documentation needs.
The print quality is excellent, which is no surprise. Text is printed clear and detailed with smooth, exact edges that appear precise. Graphics and images can be a bit hit and miss with many copiers, but not so with this. All prints came out well detailed, accurately portrayed, and the translation of a color image into monochrome is done very well.
The RI-2530 also includes an optional 3.2GB hard drive, which is a useful security option. It allows you to secure copy, or load up jobs to be run when you’re not there. This kind of flexibility is great for scheduling larger copy jobs when there is nobody around.
Paper handling is equally as impressive. A standard 500 sheet paper tray, 20 sheet multi-purpose tray and a 250 sheet optional bypass means you shouldn’t run out of paper in a hurry. Neither should you run out of toner, as that will last for 7000 pages. Being able to output pages at a rate of 35 pages per minute and the ability to pre-load jobs makes this a real office workhorse.
The optional paper finishers include stapling, hole punch, saddle stitching and every other option you can think of. There is also the option to add memory, a hard drive, fax, networking, barcode reader and extra paper drawers.
The RI-2530 does everything a copier should do and more. As Copystar are a part of Kyocera it isn’t unreasonable to think they have the same reliability and award winning features. This device certainly seems to have been designed and built with that philosophy in mind.
The RI-2530 is a worthy contender for offices or workgroups that copy as much as they print. With a heavy duty cycle, low cost consumables and the Kyocera reliability, this is an excellent choice for all your documentation needs.
Copystar CS-1505
You wouldn’t expect a copier like this to be in a draughtsman’s office, but there was one in the office I work in. It sat in the corner, the Copystar CS-1505. It wasn’t used to reproduce the drafts, but it was used for everything else. My boss like it because it was cheap to buy, cheap to run and never broke down.
The design isn’t the most cutting edge you will ever see, but it is one of the most reliable and hassle free. The lid lifts up to reveal the platen. The lid can also work as a document feeder if you have the option, which is a nice relief when I have to copy multiple sheets. The manual duplexer also makes light work of anything I throw at it, and while it isn’t an automatic one like on some of the newer machines I have used, this is as solid and dependable as you can get.
Copy quality is very good. It is a mono copier, but we don’t really use color all that much. We use it to produce internal documentation as well as invoices, and general letters. The boss like to keep a copy of absolutely everything, so there is plenty of work for the CS-1505 to do. Text is very clear, there is no toner spill anywhere, the only ink on the page is where the letters are. The rest of the sheet always remains perfectly clear. Sometimes we have to copy oversized text, which can cause problems for some copiers. Not so with this one. The letters are all black, the edges all straight and good looking overall.
Copying photos or documents that contain photos has always been a bit hit and miss with laser copiers. This copier manages them okay. They can be a little low on detail sometimes, but there isn’t the bad shading or bands that appears on some. I think that copying any kind of document works well with this machine, and at 15 pages a minute copying speed doesn’t keep us hanging around too much either.
If you want something solid and dependable in your office the CS-1505 is a good place to start. It does everything a copier should, as well as a good copier should and have given us no problems in over a year. Toner is easy to acquire and replace and is enough to print up to 7000 pages. I like it because it’s simple and works well and the boss likes it because it’s cheap. A great combination.
The design isn’t the most cutting edge you will ever see, but it is one of the most reliable and hassle free. The lid lifts up to reveal the platen. The lid can also work as a document feeder if you have the option, which is a nice relief when I have to copy multiple sheets. The manual duplexer also makes light work of anything I throw at it, and while it isn’t an automatic one like on some of the newer machines I have used, this is as solid and dependable as you can get.
Copy quality is very good. It is a mono copier, but we don’t really use color all that much. We use it to produce internal documentation as well as invoices, and general letters. The boss like to keep a copy of absolutely everything, so there is plenty of work for the CS-1505 to do. Text is very clear, there is no toner spill anywhere, the only ink on the page is where the letters are. The rest of the sheet always remains perfectly clear. Sometimes we have to copy oversized text, which can cause problems for some copiers. Not so with this one. The letters are all black, the edges all straight and good looking overall.
Copying photos or documents that contain photos has always been a bit hit and miss with laser copiers. This copier manages them okay. They can be a little low on detail sometimes, but there isn’t the bad shading or bands that appears on some. I think that copying any kind of document works well with this machine, and at 15 pages a minute copying speed doesn’t keep us hanging around too much either.
If you want something solid and dependable in your office the CS-1505 is a good place to start. It does everything a copier should, as well as a good copier should and have given us no problems in over a year. Toner is easy to acquire and replace and is enough to print up to 7000 pages. I like it because it’s simple and works well and the boss likes it because it’s cheap. A great combination.
Copystar CS-1510
The Copystar CS-1510 is a quality copier from the Kyocera subsidiary, aimed squarely at small business users. Offering a respectable performance with an excellent cost per copy, the CS-1510 is a simple and cost effective document solution.
Out of the box, the CS-1510 is very easy to install. Connectivity is optional, the machine works as a stand-alone or as part of a workgroup. Standalone configuration takes moments, merely installing the toner cartridges and allowing it to warm up, which took around 30 seconds. Replacement toners will last at least 7000 pages and the 15000 page per month duty cycle means this is certainly aimed at the smaller office or workgroup.
The controls are simple but effective, containing all the copier functions you might need and a small number pad for typing in copies, resizing percentage and anything else you can think of. There is also a small LCD screen which displays error codes and other pertinent information.
Reproduction is accurate, with the monochrome copies appearing crisp and clear at a rate of 15 per minute. Images appeared a little dark, but once the contrast was adjusted they came out fine. Our test document was rendered well overall. It is 24 pages of text and images of differing size, weight, and complexity. Design to get the best out of any printer or copier.
The built-in automatic document feeder adds much needed flexibility to the CS-1510 and is a very welcome addition. It also includes an electric auto sorter, the option to upgrade to a duplexer and network connectivity. That coupled with a 250 sheet paper tray, and the document feeder takes much of the effort out of copying. This device is quick, good quality and easy to use, making it an ideal office device.
Overall, the CS-1510 is a good quality office device with a rich enough copying quality to satisfy most needs. Replacement consumables are readily available and good value, while robust enough to last the test of time. Anyone in the market for a low yield copier for the smaller workgroup or office would be advised to check out the CS-1510.
Out of the box, the CS-1510 is very easy to install. Connectivity is optional, the machine works as a stand-alone or as part of a workgroup. Standalone configuration takes moments, merely installing the toner cartridges and allowing it to warm up, which took around 30 seconds. Replacement toners will last at least 7000 pages and the 15000 page per month duty cycle means this is certainly aimed at the smaller office or workgroup.
The controls are simple but effective, containing all the copier functions you might need and a small number pad for typing in copies, resizing percentage and anything else you can think of. There is also a small LCD screen which displays error codes and other pertinent information.
Reproduction is accurate, with the monochrome copies appearing crisp and clear at a rate of 15 per minute. Images appeared a little dark, but once the contrast was adjusted they came out fine. Our test document was rendered well overall. It is 24 pages of text and images of differing size, weight, and complexity. Design to get the best out of any printer or copier.
The built-in automatic document feeder adds much needed flexibility to the CS-1510 and is a very welcome addition. It also includes an electric auto sorter, the option to upgrade to a duplexer and network connectivity. That coupled with a 250 sheet paper tray, and the document feeder takes much of the effort out of copying. This device is quick, good quality and easy to use, making it an ideal office device.
Overall, the CS-1510 is a good quality office device with a rich enough copying quality to satisfy most needs. Replacement consumables are readily available and good value, while robust enough to last the test of time. Anyone in the market for a low yield copier for the smaller workgroup or office would be advised to check out the CS-1510.
Copystar CS-1810
The Copystar CS-1810 is another quality copier that also prints from Copystar. It is a solid, no-nonsense workhorse machine that is designed to last a lifetime. With a solid design, thoughtful controls and decent paper handling, this device should be very popular.
With the CS-1810 copying and printing is of a very high quality, with accurate reproduction of all documents during our extensive testing. Text was especially strong, with clear defined edges and even toner spread on the larger points. The speed is also good with a rating of 18 pages per minute for monochrome text.
Images were true to the original and offered good grayscale interpretation of color images. The test document includes text, graphs, business images and photographs. It is designed to see precisely what a device is capable of.
On the top of the CS-1810 there is a 50 sheet multi-purpose tray and a 250 sheet paper tray. Connection is via parallel only, but there is an option to include a network port if you wish. We would suggest taking this option as it is much quicker and more flexible than parallel. Toners are simple to replace, and relatively inexpensive. Cartridges are good for 7000 sheets and cost around $25. They are accessed by a flap at the side and clip in to place.
Build quality seems solid, all drawers, flaps and the document feeder seem well built and shouldn’t fail any time soon. The footprint is modest at 20 inches wide, 20 inches deep and 18 inches high, weighing in at just under 60 pounds. It is classed as a desktop product, but only just.
The CS-1810 is a solid copier and printer designed for high demand environments. It is built to last, while producing professional looking business documents. Running costs should be modest with the well priced consumables, and the construction lends itself to a relatively low maintenance existence. Ideal suited to the new or small business user.
With the CS-1810 copying and printing is of a very high quality, with accurate reproduction of all documents during our extensive testing. Text was especially strong, with clear defined edges and even toner spread on the larger points. The speed is also good with a rating of 18 pages per minute for monochrome text.
Images were true to the original and offered good grayscale interpretation of color images. The test document includes text, graphs, business images and photographs. It is designed to see precisely what a device is capable of.
On the top of the CS-1810 there is a 50 sheet multi-purpose tray and a 250 sheet paper tray. Connection is via parallel only, but there is an option to include a network port if you wish. We would suggest taking this option as it is much quicker and more flexible than parallel. Toners are simple to replace, and relatively inexpensive. Cartridges are good for 7000 sheets and cost around $25. They are accessed by a flap at the side and clip in to place.
Build quality seems solid, all drawers, flaps and the document feeder seem well built and shouldn’t fail any time soon. The footprint is modest at 20 inches wide, 20 inches deep and 18 inches high, weighing in at just under 60 pounds. It is classed as a desktop product, but only just.
The CS-1810 is a solid copier and printer designed for high demand environments. It is built to last, while producing professional looking business documents. Running costs should be modest with the well priced consumables, and the construction lends itself to a relatively low maintenance existence. Ideal suited to the new or small business user.
9.22.2010
Lexmark E320
The Lexmark E320 is a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It looks, and is priced like a personal laser printer, but is built like a full-on workgroup machine. The speed, print quality and networking capabilities all hint at something more.
In its basic guide, the E320 is a small printer ideally suited to a SOHO or home worker. The upgrade options are what gives this printer its teeth. It can be upgraded to hold more paper, network, larger memory and add some finishing options. This gives the printer a modular appeal that offers a little more that the average machine. It means the E320 can’t be pigeonholed for one particular group.
Paper capacity can be expanded from 150 to 400 with an optional paper drawer, the memory can be increased from 4Mb to 68Mb. You can add an Ethernet port too, which expands the built-in USB and parallel to include the SOHO and small workgroup into the fold.
There is no control panel to speak of but the driver suite offers a whole range of ways to control the printer and the sheets it prints. You can set the darkness, resolution, toner coverage, and a whole raft of other custom options to get your prints just how you like them.
Setup is a breeze, taking less than 10 minutes from unpacking to running. The cartridges are already installed and ready to go, once the printer is unpacked, connected via USB the drivers only take moments to install and you’re ready to go. Paper is fed into the drawer at the bottom, up through the printer to pass the toners and is fed out to the 150 sheet tray at the top. 150 sheets is a little optimistic as ours began sliding off after 50 or so. Apart from that, operation is flawless.
Print quality is about what we have come to expect from Lexmark. Text is crisp and exact, even at small points. The lines are straight and edges stand out like they should. Images and photographs were equally as good. Grayscale interpretations of color photos were accurate and understandable, which is a nice bonus with a laser device.
It’s obvious that Lexmark have put a lot of effort into the quality and operation of the E320. It offers something for everyone and seems equally at home with a home user as it does with a workgroup.
In its basic guide, the E320 is a small printer ideally suited to a SOHO or home worker. The upgrade options are what gives this printer its teeth. It can be upgraded to hold more paper, network, larger memory and add some finishing options. This gives the printer a modular appeal that offers a little more that the average machine. It means the E320 can’t be pigeonholed for one particular group.
Paper capacity can be expanded from 150 to 400 with an optional paper drawer, the memory can be increased from 4Mb to 68Mb. You can add an Ethernet port too, which expands the built-in USB and parallel to include the SOHO and small workgroup into the fold.
There is no control panel to speak of but the driver suite offers a whole range of ways to control the printer and the sheets it prints. You can set the darkness, resolution, toner coverage, and a whole raft of other custom options to get your prints just how you like them.
Setup is a breeze, taking less than 10 minutes from unpacking to running. The cartridges are already installed and ready to go, once the printer is unpacked, connected via USB the drivers only take moments to install and you’re ready to go. Paper is fed into the drawer at the bottom, up through the printer to pass the toners and is fed out to the 150 sheet tray at the top. 150 sheets is a little optimistic as ours began sliding off after 50 or so. Apart from that, operation is flawless.
Print quality is about what we have come to expect from Lexmark. Text is crisp and exact, even at small points. The lines are straight and edges stand out like they should. Images and photographs were equally as good. Grayscale interpretations of color photos were accurate and understandable, which is a nice bonus with a laser device.
It’s obvious that Lexmark have put a lot of effort into the quality and operation of the E320. It offers something for everyone and seems equally at home with a home user as it does with a workgroup.
Canon Copier ImageClass MF5770
The Canon ImageClass MF5770 is a step up from the MF5750 in that it offers networking capability as well as monochrome laser multifunctionality. The MF5770 is also aimed firmly at business. This is certainly a business class workgroup machine, and would do well in a small to medium office that weren’t heavy users. It offers a lot and has enough features to keep the most demanding office satisfied.
Out of the box, the device can be configured and functioning in minutes. The configuration process is simple and straightforward, and went without a hitch in our tests. The MF5770 comes with USB, Ethernet and parallel connections built in. Ethernet and USB worked as soon as they were plugged in and the drivers installed on the client PCs. The user guide is clear and easy to follow, which would be suitable for users of all levels.
The control panel is laid out well, with enough space between buttons for even the largest fingers. The layout is logical and easy to follow, each function having its own little are broken up by a little LCD screen.
The build quality is good, with a solid construction that should make owners feel more relaxed. None of the trays feel flimsy or weak, and it looks like it could last a long time.
The standard paper tray holds 250 and the multipurpose tray a further 50. Toner is managed well, and a standard cartridge is good for 2500 sheets. The single cartridge construction means that there is no drum to consider, which reduces maintenance time and cost.
Printing and Copying produced good quality pages. Text was clean and clear, pages containing images were acceptable for a laser multifunction. The speed of operation is also acceptable with a print or copy coming out at up to 20 pages per minute.
Scanning was okay. It can handle resolutions of up to 1200 x 2400 in 48 bit color and seems to produce good clear scans. The only thing you can’t do with it is scan over a network.
This is a versatile machine that has enough features to serve any office well. Good print quality makes this a contender for those who don’t need to print or copy in color. Reasonable toner costs, with no extra expense for drums makes good economical sense. The MF5770 is a good purchase for almost any small office.
Out of the box, the device can be configured and functioning in minutes. The configuration process is simple and straightforward, and went without a hitch in our tests. The MF5770 comes with USB, Ethernet and parallel connections built in. Ethernet and USB worked as soon as they were plugged in and the drivers installed on the client PCs. The user guide is clear and easy to follow, which would be suitable for users of all levels.
The control panel is laid out well, with enough space between buttons for even the largest fingers. The layout is logical and easy to follow, each function having its own little are broken up by a little LCD screen.
The build quality is good, with a solid construction that should make owners feel more relaxed. None of the trays feel flimsy or weak, and it looks like it could last a long time.
The standard paper tray holds 250 and the multipurpose tray a further 50. Toner is managed well, and a standard cartridge is good for 2500 sheets. The single cartridge construction means that there is no drum to consider, which reduces maintenance time and cost.
Printing and Copying produced good quality pages. Text was clean and clear, pages containing images were acceptable for a laser multifunction. The speed of operation is also acceptable with a print or copy coming out at up to 20 pages per minute.
Scanning was okay. It can handle resolutions of up to 1200 x 2400 in 48 bit color and seems to produce good clear scans. The only thing you can’t do with it is scan over a network.
This is a versatile machine that has enough features to serve any office well. Good print quality makes this a contender for those who don’t need to print or copy in color. Reasonable toner costs, with no extra expense for drums makes good economical sense. The MF5770 is a good purchase for almost any small office.
Canon Copier ImageClass MF5750
The Canon ImageClass MF5750 is a laser multifunction device that plants Canon firmly in the competitive field of the small or home office. This market is a competitive one, with big names like Dell, Xerox, Samsung and Brother all competing for sales. This means stiff competition for the manufacturers, but good news for the consumer. The more competitive a market is, the better quality, featured and valued equipment we get for our money.
The MF5750 is a monochrome laser printer, copier, scanner and fax in a reasonably sized chassis. It only measures 17x17x19 and weighs 30 pounds. This makes it ideal for a small office or somewhere where space is limited.
The build quality is what you would expect from Canon. Everything feels solid and functional. The paper trays are thick plastic, the hinges for the lid are strong and the toner clips firmly into place. It all give a sense of quality to the device, but is it any good?
The print quality is excellent. Producing good text and grayscale prints and copies. Clean lines, good fill and even images were reproduced faithfully, which is a bonus for a laser. Text is output at a rate of 14 pages per minute, grayscale images 16 pages per minute either printing or copying.
Scanning is also respectable, with faithful image reproduction in all tests. The scanner on the MF5750 isn’t the quickest at 4 pages per minute, but the results are worthwhile. Both color and grayscale scans were of a good quality and were produced at the same speed.
The fax is a standard G3 33.3 and will transmit a page every 3 seconds. It has the usual speed dials, phone books, storage, error check, full telephone keypad and integration with answering machines.
The control panel is simple, with each function having its own set of buttons. The simple LCD is bright enough and easy to read, if a little limited in the information it provides. Toner is a “Single cartridge system” which means there is no drum and the toners are simply replaced by sliding in and clipping into place. Standard toners will last 2500 pages and are competitively priced with their rivals.
The MF5750 is a solid looking, and feeling multifunction device. It has an air of reliability that inspires confidence, and it certainly feels strong enough to cope with anything. Those in the market for a multifunction in the near future would do well to consider the MF5750 as it offers great value for money.
The MF5750 is a monochrome laser printer, copier, scanner and fax in a reasonably sized chassis. It only measures 17x17x19 and weighs 30 pounds. This makes it ideal for a small office or somewhere where space is limited.
The build quality is what you would expect from Canon. Everything feels solid and functional. The paper trays are thick plastic, the hinges for the lid are strong and the toner clips firmly into place. It all give a sense of quality to the device, but is it any good?
The print quality is excellent. Producing good text and grayscale prints and copies. Clean lines, good fill and even images were reproduced faithfully, which is a bonus for a laser. Text is output at a rate of 14 pages per minute, grayscale images 16 pages per minute either printing or copying.
Scanning is also respectable, with faithful image reproduction in all tests. The scanner on the MF5750 isn’t the quickest at 4 pages per minute, but the results are worthwhile. Both color and grayscale scans were of a good quality and were produced at the same speed.
The fax is a standard G3 33.3 and will transmit a page every 3 seconds. It has the usual speed dials, phone books, storage, error check, full telephone keypad and integration with answering machines.
The control panel is simple, with each function having its own set of buttons. The simple LCD is bright enough and easy to read, if a little limited in the information it provides. Toner is a “Single cartridge system” which means there is no drum and the toners are simply replaced by sliding in and clipping into place. Standard toners will last 2500 pages and are competitively priced with their rivals.
The MF5750 is a solid looking, and feeling multifunction device. It has an air of reliability that inspires confidence, and it certainly feels strong enough to cope with anything. Those in the market for a multifunction in the near future would do well to consider the MF5750 as it offers great value for money.
Canon PC6RE
Canon is one of the biggest names in the imaging industry. Famous for its cameras and printers, the company has built a reputation on the quality and reliability of its products.
The Canon PC6RE is a desktop laser copier aimed at the home market, hence the PC in the name. Small businesses could also benefit from it, but it isn’t really aimed at heavy users. It has been marketed as a high volume personal copier that can handle up to 99 copies per run, which seems standard really. The high yield, as mentioned is for a person, not a business so don’t go buying one of these thinking for it to serve a workgroup or busy office.
Setup of the PC6RE is about as quick and easy as it gets. Simply unpack, clip on the output tray, insert the toner and off you go.
Copy quality is good, certainly good enough for home use. The 600 dpi print driver produces text that is crisp and black. Images and diagrams are equally well copied, with grayscale showing minimal interference and good toner coverage. Copies are true to the originals and would be perfectly acceptable in a business environment.
There are the standard features a copier should have, like an output tray, multiple copies of up to 99 per run, resizing options as well as the functions to change the tone and brightness of the output. There is a simple control panel with buttons for each function and a simple LCD screen to tell you what you have ordered.
Consumables are reasonably priced considering this is a laser copier. The toner is will set you back around $60. That’s pretty good for laser toner, seeing as it will last a good 3000 pages. A simple clip allows users to quickly change out toner, keeping downtime to a minimum. In fact, toner replacement was the cornerstone of the advertising campaign run by Canon at the time.
The PC6RE is a solid home copier that will serve you well for normal use. With the Canon name on the box, you can be reasonably sure of the quality of the product, as well as the after-sales support and longevity. All-in-all this is a great purchase for the home user.
The Canon PC6RE is a desktop laser copier aimed at the home market, hence the PC in the name. Small businesses could also benefit from it, but it isn’t really aimed at heavy users. It has been marketed as a high volume personal copier that can handle up to 99 copies per run, which seems standard really. The high yield, as mentioned is for a person, not a business so don’t go buying one of these thinking for it to serve a workgroup or busy office.
Setup of the PC6RE is about as quick and easy as it gets. Simply unpack, clip on the output tray, insert the toner and off you go.
Copy quality is good, certainly good enough for home use. The 600 dpi print driver produces text that is crisp and black. Images and diagrams are equally well copied, with grayscale showing minimal interference and good toner coverage. Copies are true to the originals and would be perfectly acceptable in a business environment.
There are the standard features a copier should have, like an output tray, multiple copies of up to 99 per run, resizing options as well as the functions to change the tone and brightness of the output. There is a simple control panel with buttons for each function and a simple LCD screen to tell you what you have ordered.
Consumables are reasonably priced considering this is a laser copier. The toner is will set you back around $60. That’s pretty good for laser toner, seeing as it will last a good 3000 pages. A simple clip allows users to quickly change out toner, keeping downtime to a minimum. In fact, toner replacement was the cornerstone of the advertising campaign run by Canon at the time.
The PC6RE is a solid home copier that will serve you well for normal use. With the Canon name on the box, you can be reasonably sure of the quality of the product, as well as the after-sales support and longevity. All-in-all this is a great purchase for the home user.
9.21.2010
Ricoh Aficio 1060
The Ricoh Aficio 1060 is an excellent machine for the medium to large office, with a good set of features. Priced to compete in that market it does perform very well, as you would expect from Ricoh. The name is now synonymous with quality and reliability for a decent price.
While there are many copiers on the market, they don’t come as well-built as this monochrome Aficio 1060. It is capable of printing and copying, and does them all with almost languid ease.
There are three ways of connecting the device, USB, Ethernet and parallel. The USB option is the easiest to set up, but offers slower transfer speeds than Ethernet. Adding the Aficio 1060 to a network was easy, with it appearing in our workgroup as soon as we had connected it. That is no small thing.
The control panel is well designed and simple to use. There are large buttons that allows you to choose between features and commands, while the LCD screen clearly shows you what’s going on. The controls can be controlled via icons on the screen giving a graphical representation of the commands. This significantly speeds up menu navigation and makes the device a pleasure to work with.
Output is good, with prints coming out at 60 pages per minute for at up to 1200 dpi. Text is clear with clean edges and no bleeding. Grayscale was even and well distributed and reproduction was extremely good overall. The automatic duplexer and the ability to print both sides of a sheet at once, is one of the reasons the Aficio 1060 is such a good copier.
Paper is held in a pair of 500 sheet capacity drawers at the front. Toner can be removed and replaced quickly and efficiently. Replacement cartridges can produce 43000 pages,. Retailers like quikshiptoner.com sells cartridges for $35 which is excellent value.
The paper drawers can be expanded, as can the memory. There is also the option to add a scanner, wireless networking, and document storage.
For businesses or workgroups who need a long lasting, reliable machine will do well to consider the Aficio 1060. It has enough features, and produces documents of a quality suitable for almost any use. The consumables are available and affordable enough to make the cost of ownership low enough to be attractive to many companies.
While there are many copiers on the market, they don’t come as well-built as this monochrome Aficio 1060. It is capable of printing and copying, and does them all with almost languid ease.
There are three ways of connecting the device, USB, Ethernet and parallel. The USB option is the easiest to set up, but offers slower transfer speeds than Ethernet. Adding the Aficio 1060 to a network was easy, with it appearing in our workgroup as soon as we had connected it. That is no small thing.
The control panel is well designed and simple to use. There are large buttons that allows you to choose between features and commands, while the LCD screen clearly shows you what’s going on. The controls can be controlled via icons on the screen giving a graphical representation of the commands. This significantly speeds up menu navigation and makes the device a pleasure to work with.
Output is good, with prints coming out at 60 pages per minute for at up to 1200 dpi. Text is clear with clean edges and no bleeding. Grayscale was even and well distributed and reproduction was extremely good overall. The automatic duplexer and the ability to print both sides of a sheet at once, is one of the reasons the Aficio 1060 is such a good copier.
Paper is held in a pair of 500 sheet capacity drawers at the front. Toner can be removed and replaced quickly and efficiently. Replacement cartridges can produce 43000 pages,. Retailers like quikshiptoner.com sells cartridges for $35 which is excellent value.
The paper drawers can be expanded, as can the memory. There is also the option to add a scanner, wireless networking, and document storage.
For businesses or workgroups who need a long lasting, reliable machine will do well to consider the Aficio 1060. It has enough features, and produces documents of a quality suitable for almost any use. The consumables are available and affordable enough to make the cost of ownership low enough to be attractive to many companies.
Ricoh Aficio 2238c
The Aficio 2238c is another good quality copier from Ricoh, aimed squarely at the larger business or workgroup. It offers affordability and features of much larger and more expensive machines and is robust enough to be able to service most needs.
The controls are simple but effective. They are simple enough to be able to service most needs and the helpful LCD screen is easy to read. The screen is colored a friendly blue and is bright enough to be seen clearly.
The paper drawers are a large pair at 500 sheets, which is upgradeable to 1050 if needed. There is a multi-purpose feeder at the top too which is fully duplexed adding further functionality.
Out of the box, the Aficio 2238c is quick and easy to install and configure. The toners are long lasting and the memory is large enough at 768Mb for even the most demanding of offices. The printer can be connected via USB, parallel or Ethernet. The drivers are comprehensive and include PCL and PostScript drivers for all operating systems. The bundled software contains most features an office would need to print a whole host of documents and images.
There are hardware upgrades that can be made such as a fax kit, stapler and sorter and more paper trays. The machine itself feels solid and dependable. The trays are made of stiff plastic, not the flimsy stuff that many other manufacturers favor. This should enhance the life of the device no end.
Reproduction is very good, with text appearing clean and fresh. Images looked a little on the dark side, which is actually good for presentations. Color is rendered accurately and graphs and photos appeared vivid and sharp. The Aficio 2238c also offers different finishing options in order to allow you to produce leaflets, booklets and other higher quality documents.
With a print speed of 35 pages per minute for monochrome and 28 pages for color, it is a quick mover for such an affordable machine.
Overall, the Aficio 2238c is a good, value for money office device with a rich enough repertoire to satisfy most busy office needs. It’s strength is its versatility and cost effectiveness. Replacement consumables are readily available and good value, while robust enough to last the test of time.
Those in the market for a good, solid color copier that can do other things too would be advised to check out the Aficio 2238c.
The controls are simple but effective. They are simple enough to be able to service most needs and the helpful LCD screen is easy to read. The screen is colored a friendly blue and is bright enough to be seen clearly.
The paper drawers are a large pair at 500 sheets, which is upgradeable to 1050 if needed. There is a multi-purpose feeder at the top too which is fully duplexed adding further functionality.
Out of the box, the Aficio 2238c is quick and easy to install and configure. The toners are long lasting and the memory is large enough at 768Mb for even the most demanding of offices. The printer can be connected via USB, parallel or Ethernet. The drivers are comprehensive and include PCL and PostScript drivers for all operating systems. The bundled software contains most features an office would need to print a whole host of documents and images.
There are hardware upgrades that can be made such as a fax kit, stapler and sorter and more paper trays. The machine itself feels solid and dependable. The trays are made of stiff plastic, not the flimsy stuff that many other manufacturers favor. This should enhance the life of the device no end.
Reproduction is very good, with text appearing clean and fresh. Images looked a little on the dark side, which is actually good for presentations. Color is rendered accurately and graphs and photos appeared vivid and sharp. The Aficio 2238c also offers different finishing options in order to allow you to produce leaflets, booklets and other higher quality documents.
With a print speed of 35 pages per minute for monochrome and 28 pages for color, it is a quick mover for such an affordable machine.
Overall, the Aficio 2238c is a good, value for money office device with a rich enough repertoire to satisfy most busy office needs. It’s strength is its versatility and cost effectiveness. Replacement consumables are readily available and good value, while robust enough to last the test of time.
Those in the market for a good, solid color copier that can do other things too would be advised to check out the Aficio 2238c.
Ricoh Aficio MP-C4500a
The Ricoh Aficio MP-C4500a is another device is a series of releases from the manufacturing giant of over the past few years. This is a relatively inexpensive monochrome multifunction that performs well in all tests, and is well worth considering when looking for a workhorse device. It can duplex print, scan, and copy all from one chassis and does them all well.
The printer would suit a small to medium business with a medium-duty workgroup. It isn’t built to serve larger organizations, but excels in its own area. Functionality is the mainstay of this machine, and where its true strength lies. It can print good quality mono pages at a decent rate at 600dpi, scan from USB stick, it supports Windows and Mac and the copying isn’t bad either. Text and image printing are both good, with text being detailed and clear all the way down to 4pt. Charts were also well reproduced, grayscale was even and accurate, which is ideal for office use.
The MP-C4500a comes with a pair of 500 sheet paper trays, with the option of increasing that to much more with an extra tray or two. Toner cartridges are easily replaceable after they have served their 23000 page life. They are reasonably priced too at an around $59 each. This brings the cost per page down much lower than many of the other leading manufacturers. The large paper capacity and high toner yield is what makes the MP-C4500a such a good prospect. It can pretty much left to its own devices and be left to churn out document after document without having to worry about it. This is worth its weight in gold in the modern, busy office.
The control panel is straightforward with well-sized buttons and a clear blue LCD screen. The menu system is intuitive with commands easy to find.
The print, copy and scan qualities are excellent. Prints and scans are around 25 pages per minute according to Ricoh. Scans are an impressive 4 sheets a minute. Copy speed is one of the most impressive in its class, with monochrome copies coming out at 35 pages per minute.
The MP-C4500a is a solid performer. Ideal for the small to medium business who wants a good quality, high yield multifunction printer at a decent price. Consumables are reasonable and the printer won’t cost a fortune to run. Overall, this is a solid performer and well worth considering for the busy office.
The printer would suit a small to medium business with a medium-duty workgroup. It isn’t built to serve larger organizations, but excels in its own area. Functionality is the mainstay of this machine, and where its true strength lies. It can print good quality mono pages at a decent rate at 600dpi, scan from USB stick, it supports Windows and Mac and the copying isn’t bad either. Text and image printing are both good, with text being detailed and clear all the way down to 4pt. Charts were also well reproduced, grayscale was even and accurate, which is ideal for office use.
The MP-C4500a comes with a pair of 500 sheet paper trays, with the option of increasing that to much more with an extra tray or two. Toner cartridges are easily replaceable after they have served their 23000 page life. They are reasonably priced too at an around $59 each. This brings the cost per page down much lower than many of the other leading manufacturers. The large paper capacity and high toner yield is what makes the MP-C4500a such a good prospect. It can pretty much left to its own devices and be left to churn out document after document without having to worry about it. This is worth its weight in gold in the modern, busy office.
The control panel is straightforward with well-sized buttons and a clear blue LCD screen. The menu system is intuitive with commands easy to find.
The print, copy and scan qualities are excellent. Prints and scans are around 25 pages per minute according to Ricoh. Scans are an impressive 4 sheets a minute. Copy speed is one of the most impressive in its class, with monochrome copies coming out at 35 pages per minute.
The MP-C4500a is a solid performer. Ideal for the small to medium business who wants a good quality, high yield multifunction printer at a decent price. Consumables are reasonable and the printer won’t cost a fortune to run. Overall, this is a solid performer and well worth considering for the busy office.
Ricoh Aficio 2045
The Ricoh Aficio 2045 is a heavy duty office printer, scanner and copier, for heavy duty use in busy offices. It is a machine that can produce good reproduction at 45 pages per minute. There is also the option to add faxing capabilities to it, if you so desire.
The built-in 64Mb of memory and built-in 20Gb hard drive ensures that the Aficio 2045 can cope with the largest print jobs. The toners standard 30000 page life also lends itself well to a heavy use machine.
This printer and copier is quality. It can produce prints up to a resolution of 600 dpi at a rate of 45 pages per minute. The first page is delivered within 10 seconds of pressing print too, which is good for such a large device. The reproduction is excellent, with text showing as sharp, with clear, clean edges and good spread. Images are accurate and clear, with the shading even and without any obvious bleeding or jagging on the edges.
The control panel is well thought out and simple to use. There are large buttons that allows you to choose between copy and scan and the bright LCD clearly shows you what you’re doing. It is one of the largest LCD screens we have seen on a copier, and it very easy to read. It’s also a touch screen, which adds much flexibility to the control system, merely by having the ability to press the appropriate command on the screen rather than hunting for the button.
There are two 500 sheet paper trays, which can be expanded to a maximum 3500 sheets with the purchase of optional paper drawers. There is also a bypass tray that can hold 50 sheets, while the output can handle 250. Everything feels reassuringly solid, which is a good thing with a machine this big.
The Aficio 2045 also has a full duplexer for double-sided printing and copying, full network capabilities and supports PCL and PostScript, so can be used with any operating system. The scanner has scan to mail, and the ability to scan over a network too.
Being able to buy toner at $20 for 30000 pages is a bargain. That is an ideal economy for an office busy enough to warrant buying a Aficio 2045. With a solid built, and heavy duty cycle, this machine is built to work all day every day.
The built-in 64Mb of memory and built-in 20Gb hard drive ensures that the Aficio 2045 can cope with the largest print jobs. The toners standard 30000 page life also lends itself well to a heavy use machine.
This printer and copier is quality. It can produce prints up to a resolution of 600 dpi at a rate of 45 pages per minute. The first page is delivered within 10 seconds of pressing print too, which is good for such a large device. The reproduction is excellent, with text showing as sharp, with clear, clean edges and good spread. Images are accurate and clear, with the shading even and without any obvious bleeding or jagging on the edges.
The control panel is well thought out and simple to use. There are large buttons that allows you to choose between copy and scan and the bright LCD clearly shows you what you’re doing. It is one of the largest LCD screens we have seen on a copier, and it very easy to read. It’s also a touch screen, which adds much flexibility to the control system, merely by having the ability to press the appropriate command on the screen rather than hunting for the button.
There are two 500 sheet paper trays, which can be expanded to a maximum 3500 sheets with the purchase of optional paper drawers. There is also a bypass tray that can hold 50 sheets, while the output can handle 250. Everything feels reassuringly solid, which is a good thing with a machine this big.
The Aficio 2045 also has a full duplexer for double-sided printing and copying, full network capabilities and supports PCL and PostScript, so can be used with any operating system. The scanner has scan to mail, and the ability to scan over a network too.
Being able to buy toner at $20 for 30000 pages is a bargain. That is an ideal economy for an office busy enough to warrant buying a Aficio 2045. With a solid built, and heavy duty cycle, this machine is built to work all day every day.
9.20.2010
Ricoh Aficio 2018
As technology improves all the time, so does the product lines of manufacturers. Ricoh always seems to be right there, at the front, offering its customers all the new features as soon as they become available.
While not the most handsome device, the Ricoh Aficio 2018 is all about functionality. The printer, copier scanner and fax are all fully featured. The 250 sheet capacity paper drawer is solid and moves freely. There is also a 100 sheet multi-purpose tray on top and the option to add a second 250 page paper tray in the body. If you need more, there is also an optional cabinet which can take the full paper capacity to 1600 sheets of legal-sized paper.
The control panel is clear and easy to follow. Each function has its own set of buttons to keep things simple. There is also a clear blue LCD screen which displays messages, errors and menu choices. This is one of the brightest screens we have seen so far.
Printing and copying is simple and straightforward. The print quality is as clear and text precise. The blacks are actually black and grayscale is a good, even duplication of the original image. For printing a standard business document the Aficio 2018 is excellent. It produces good quality prints at a rate of 18 pages per minute at a resolution of 600 dpi.
Faxing is simple with the easy to use interface, clear keys and bright LCD display. There are speed dials, phone memories, enough built in memory to record up to 500 pages of fax, and a multi-function feature which allows faxes to be loaded while the fax is transmitting or receiving, or the printer or copier is being used.
Consumables consist of just toner, which is readily available at online retailers. A single high yield cartridge will produce up to 9000 prints at an average of 5% coverage. That is more than many of its competitors. This brings the running costs down considerably. Add that to the power saving sleep mode, which the Aficio 2018 can wake up from in 7 seconds, this device could be quite economical to run.
The Aficio 2018 is a high duty cycle device with a long life and inexpensive running costs. Its functionality is its strength along with the ability to multi-task. A worthwhile investment for a small to medium business who need a multifunction device that can do everything well.
While not the most handsome device, the Ricoh Aficio 2018 is all about functionality. The printer, copier scanner and fax are all fully featured. The 250 sheet capacity paper drawer is solid and moves freely. There is also a 100 sheet multi-purpose tray on top and the option to add a second 250 page paper tray in the body. If you need more, there is also an optional cabinet which can take the full paper capacity to 1600 sheets of legal-sized paper.
The control panel is clear and easy to follow. Each function has its own set of buttons to keep things simple. There is also a clear blue LCD screen which displays messages, errors and menu choices. This is one of the brightest screens we have seen so far.
Printing and copying is simple and straightforward. The print quality is as clear and text precise. The blacks are actually black and grayscale is a good, even duplication of the original image. For printing a standard business document the Aficio 2018 is excellent. It produces good quality prints at a rate of 18 pages per minute at a resolution of 600 dpi.
Faxing is simple with the easy to use interface, clear keys and bright LCD display. There are speed dials, phone memories, enough built in memory to record up to 500 pages of fax, and a multi-function feature which allows faxes to be loaded while the fax is transmitting or receiving, or the printer or copier is being used.
Consumables consist of just toner, which is readily available at online retailers. A single high yield cartridge will produce up to 9000 prints at an average of 5% coverage. That is more than many of its competitors. This brings the running costs down considerably. Add that to the power saving sleep mode, which the Aficio 2018 can wake up from in 7 seconds, this device could be quite economical to run.
The Aficio 2018 is a high duty cycle device with a long life and inexpensive running costs. Its functionality is its strength along with the ability to multi-task. A worthwhile investment for a small to medium business who need a multifunction device that can do everything well.
Ricoh Aficio 1515
The Ricoh Aficio 1515 continues the company’s habit of making a single model of a device but giving three different configuration options with it. The Aficio 1515 is a standard office copier, while the Aficio 1515F adds a fax, and the Aficio 1515MF adds the rest of the multiple functions and is a printer, copier, scanner and fax.
The Aficio 1515 series is built around flexibility. Multi-tasking is the name of the game here, with almost any task being able to be run while doing something else. Extensive use of scheduling, multi-threading and process flows allow faxes to be used while copying, faxes to be stored while faxing, scanning to be done while faxing and so on. This is all aimed at wasting as little time as possible on administration, improving productivity of the office.
Printing and copying are good, solid functions with the Aficio 1515. It carries on the Ricoh reputation for quality by producing good quality, reproductions every time. Toner spread is even across large images or text, there is no bleeding, jagging or any other unpleasantness when copying. At 15 copies or prints per minute across the board, the Aficio 1515 isn’t going to break speed records, but the ability to combine the operation with so many others makes it a viable product for a busy environment.
The standard paper tray can hold 250 sheets of legal sized paper. This can be expanded with another drawer. Combined with the multi-purpose tray and automatic document feeder, the paper capacity can be maximized to 850 sheets.
The standard Aficio 1515 can be connected via USB or parallel, but the Aficio 1515MF has full networking capabilities. It also adds fax from desktop and broadcast fax capabilities as well as easy access to workgroup or network printing. There are optional upgrades to wireless or even Bluetooth printing if additional network cards are purchased.
The toners are a bargain at $19 each for 7000 sheets worth of copying, which makes the Aficio 1515 even more attractive.
The real strength of this machine is the solid copying capability, quietness of operation and flexibility on the higher models. The basic Aficio 1515 is still a solid performer, but the Aficio 1515MF is the jewel in the crown. A truly multi-tasking office device that will have users speeding through administrative tasks in no time at all.
The Aficio 1515 series is built around flexibility. Multi-tasking is the name of the game here, with almost any task being able to be run while doing something else. Extensive use of scheduling, multi-threading and process flows allow faxes to be used while copying, faxes to be stored while faxing, scanning to be done while faxing and so on. This is all aimed at wasting as little time as possible on administration, improving productivity of the office.
Printing and copying are good, solid functions with the Aficio 1515. It carries on the Ricoh reputation for quality by producing good quality, reproductions every time. Toner spread is even across large images or text, there is no bleeding, jagging or any other unpleasantness when copying. At 15 copies or prints per minute across the board, the Aficio 1515 isn’t going to break speed records, but the ability to combine the operation with so many others makes it a viable product for a busy environment.
The standard paper tray can hold 250 sheets of legal sized paper. This can be expanded with another drawer. Combined with the multi-purpose tray and automatic document feeder, the paper capacity can be maximized to 850 sheets.
The standard Aficio 1515 can be connected via USB or parallel, but the Aficio 1515MF has full networking capabilities. It also adds fax from desktop and broadcast fax capabilities as well as easy access to workgroup or network printing. There are optional upgrades to wireless or even Bluetooth printing if additional network cards are purchased.
The toners are a bargain at $19 each for 7000 sheets worth of copying, which makes the Aficio 1515 even more attractive.
The real strength of this machine is the solid copying capability, quietness of operation and flexibility on the higher models. The basic Aficio 1515 is still a solid performer, but the Aficio 1515MF is the jewel in the crown. A truly multi-tasking office device that will have users speeding through administrative tasks in no time at all.
Ricoh Aficio MP161
Ricoh probably isn’t the first name you think of when it comes to office equipment, but they have been in the industry for years. They are expert at producing reliable equipment that does exactly what it says on the tin.
The Aficio MP161 comes in three variations. The straight MP161, which is a basic monochrome printer, copier, scanner and fax. The MP161L which adds a color scanner and the MP161LN which adds networking.
The machine itself is a standard looking multifunction device. There is a paper feeder on top of the scanner flatbed, then a control panel near the top at the front, the some drawers below.
All versions of the MP161 have built in duplexing, with the 50 sheet automatic document feeder also being auto reverse to effectively feed that duplexer. This is an often overlooked feature in multifunction devices, manufacturers preferring to spend money and effort on other functions.
Printing and copying is where the MP161’s strength lies. It produces good quality, competent prints that are of a good enough quality to be suitable for any office at a standard 600 dpi. Toner is deposited cleanly on the page, edges are smooth and sharp and text is accurate everywhere between 4pt and 48pt. At 16 pages per minute it isn’t the fastest printer in the world, but the quality is worth waiting for.
Scanning is perfectly adequate, with a mono scanner in the MP161 and color in the MP161L and LN. The color scanner reproduction is good, with all colors being faithful to the original, if a little dark. The full size flatbed can accommodate books and magazines for non-standard scanning, and even though the lid couldn’t shut properly, it didn’t detract from the quality.
The fax is just that. A fax with standard features, memory, auto dial, auto answer and a full sized keypad on the control panel.
Physically, the MP161 isn’t massive, isn’t too loud and can be expanded enough to grow as an office expands. The standard memory of 48Mb in the MP161 is enough for most needs but can be expanded. The MP161L/LN come with 80Mb which is also expandable. There is a 250 sheet paper drawer that can also be enlarged by a 500 page drawer. There is also a 100 page multifunction bypass tray and the automatic document feeder.
The toner is very reasonably priced at $19 for 7000 pages, which brings the cost per page right down. This just adds to the attractiveness of the MP161 overall.
The Aficio MP161 comes in three variations. The straight MP161, which is a basic monochrome printer, copier, scanner and fax. The MP161L which adds a color scanner and the MP161LN which adds networking.
The machine itself is a standard looking multifunction device. There is a paper feeder on top of the scanner flatbed, then a control panel near the top at the front, the some drawers below.
All versions of the MP161 have built in duplexing, with the 50 sheet automatic document feeder also being auto reverse to effectively feed that duplexer. This is an often overlooked feature in multifunction devices, manufacturers preferring to spend money and effort on other functions.
Printing and copying is where the MP161’s strength lies. It produces good quality, competent prints that are of a good enough quality to be suitable for any office at a standard 600 dpi. Toner is deposited cleanly on the page, edges are smooth and sharp and text is accurate everywhere between 4pt and 48pt. At 16 pages per minute it isn’t the fastest printer in the world, but the quality is worth waiting for.
Scanning is perfectly adequate, with a mono scanner in the MP161 and color in the MP161L and LN. The color scanner reproduction is good, with all colors being faithful to the original, if a little dark. The full size flatbed can accommodate books and magazines for non-standard scanning, and even though the lid couldn’t shut properly, it didn’t detract from the quality.
The fax is just that. A fax with standard features, memory, auto dial, auto answer and a full sized keypad on the control panel.
Physically, the MP161 isn’t massive, isn’t too loud and can be expanded enough to grow as an office expands. The standard memory of 48Mb in the MP161 is enough for most needs but can be expanded. The MP161L/LN come with 80Mb which is also expandable. There is a 250 sheet paper drawer that can also be enlarged by a 500 page drawer. There is also a 100 page multifunction bypass tray and the automatic document feeder.
The toner is very reasonably priced at $19 for 7000 pages, which brings the cost per page right down. This just adds to the attractiveness of the MP161 overall.
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