Product focus: desktop MFPs
Scott Cullen
Desktop MFPs represent the low-end of the MFP universe, used primarily by small businesses and workgroups. These are the devices, which in an earlier era might have functioned primarily as fax machines or standalone printers. Not anymore. Today’s desktop MFPs offer a combination of any or all of the following functions: faxing, copying, printing, and scanning. Some of the newer desktop MFPs offer those capabilities, but with a bonus-color.
As copier and printer technology has evolved, speeds have increased, as has the functionality of these devices. Some models are bundled with additional software for document management, scan-to-e-mail, or other capabilities. Speeds at the desktop level range from about 16 ppm to approximately 30 ppm. What follows is a representative sampling of 16 desktop MFPs from 16 different MFP vendors. If you’d like more information on a specific product or a manufacturer’s extensive MFP product line, be sure and circle the appropriate reader service number on the card in this issue.
The WORKiO DP-190 from Panasonic for small departments and workgroups offers faxing, PC printing, color network scanning, network printing, network faxing, Internet faxing, color scan-to-e-mail, and platen copying. Copy and print speeds are 19 ppm. Standard features include an automatic duplex unit, Ethernet LAN port, document management software, and double exposure, which allows small double-sided documents such as ID and insurance cards, receipts, and canceled checks to be automatically copied onto one side of a single sheet of paper. The suggested list price of the DP-190 is $2,695. www.panasonic.com, Reader Service No. 550
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Sharp’s AR-168S is a compact MFP that outputs at 16 ppm and handles letter- and legal-size paper. It comes standard with 600-dpi PC printing, full-color PC scanning, as well as advanced features, such as electronic sorting, offset stacking, and a 30-sheet automatic document feeder. A PC connection is via standard USB 2.0 and IEEE 1284 parallel ports. Also bundled with the unit is Sharpdesk personal document manager software, which enables users to edit, save, or distribute their electronic documents. www.sharpusa.com, Reader Service No. 551
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Samsung’s SCX-4720F MFP delivers laser printing and faxing, digital copying and color scanning, and is recommended for offices that need complete document management capabilities. It prints and copies at up to 22 ppm and is equipped with a 33.6-Kbps fax modem that transmits a page in about 3 seconds. It has a 250-sheet paper cassette and a simple one-piece toner cartridge. USB 2.0 and IEEE 1284 parallel ports allow for connectivity. The SCX-4720F has a monthly duty cycle of up to 10,000 pages. www.samsung.com, Reader Service No. 552
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The bizhub 180 from Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. is a digital print/copy/scan/fax solution for small businesses. With standard GDI printing, digital copying, and TWAIN scanning capabilities, the bizhub 180 can be upgraded to support PCL printing, network scanning, and high-volume faxing. The bizhub 180 offers print and copy speeds of up to 18 ppm, 600 X 600-dpi print and copy resolution, and a zoom range of 25-400 percent. Businesses with more advanced output needs may add the optional PCL print driver for up to 600 X 1200-dpi (equivalent) output and the optional duplex unit for printing and copying two-sided originals. It has a maximum paper capacity of 1,475 sheets, including an optional 100-sheet manual bypass tray. www.konicaminolta.com, Reader Service No. 553
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Canon U.S.A.’s Color imageCLASS MF8170c is the first copier-based color laser multifunction device priced under $1,000. It offers color laser printing and copying, scanning, faxing, and network sharing. The MF8170c prints and copies letter-size documents at up to 16 ppm for black and white and 4 ppm for color. It includes a 250-sheet front-loading paper cassette and a 125-sheet multipurpose tray for a total paper capacity of 375 sheets. The device’s 50-sheet automatic document feeder accommodates multipage originals up to 8 1/2 X 14 inches. Fax features include 19 one-touch speed dial numbers, 100 coded speed dial numbers, and a 256-page memory capacity. www.usa.canon.com, Reader Service No. 554
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Muratec America’s F-520 and F-520D are 14-ppm MFPs. Each has a standard Ethernet port, a 33.6-Kbps fax modem, a touch screen user interface, an 80-sheet automatic document feeder, a 500-sheet paper cassette plus a 50-sheet bypass tray (a second 500-sheet cassette is optional), and a range of document delivery solutions, including color scan-to-folder. The units use the new Network Gateway Platform (NGP), which allows them to be installed on a corporate network in minutes, according to the company. The F-520 has a suggested retail price of $2,199, and the F-520D with standard duplex printing is $2,299. www.muratec.com, Reader Service No. 555
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Lanier Worldwide’s LD015, LD015f, and LD015spf digital MFPs output at 15 ppm at up to 600-dpi resolution. The LD015f includes fax functionality, and the LD015spf delivers advanced network printing and embedded scanning capabilities. All three MFPs feature a first-copy time of 7 1/2 seconds, automatic built-in duplexing, and electronic sorting. The LD015spf also offers embedded scan-to-e-mail functionality, enabling users to scan originals just like regular fax documents, convert them to PDF or TIFF files, then distribute the files via e-mail without installing additional software on a local server. www.lanier.com, Reader Service No. 556
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The KM-1820 from Kyocera Mita offers 18-ppm output, standard network printing, and color scanning as well as optional fax and network fax capabilities. Standard features include electronic sorting; scan-once, print-many; a 250-sheet paper drawer; a 50-sheet multipurpose tray; 20-second warm-up time; and the ability to handle letter- and legal-size paper. www.kyoceramita.com, Reader Service No. 557
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The WorkCentre C2424 color MFP from Xerox is recommended for small to midsize workgroups and offers color copying, printing, and scanning. It produces color and monochrome documents at 24 ppm and uses solid-ink technology, which according to Xerox, allows for color speeds twice as fast as comparable products in its class. Scanning speed is 20 images per minute. The C2424 has an estimated retail price of $2,999. www.xerox.com, Reader Service No. 558
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An all-in-one imaging system, the Savin AC104 offers copying, printing, color scanning, and faxing and is designed for a range of business environments, from home offices to corporate workgroups. It copies and prints at up to 17 ppm and includes an electronic sorting feature that eliminates the need to hand-collate sets. The AC104 also offers 3-second faxing via a 33.6-Kbps modem and the ability to scan color documents up to 8 1/2 X 14 inches. The AC104 has a suggested retail price of $499. www.savin.com, Reader Service No. 559
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Oki’s C4410n is a color MFP designed for small workgroups. It offers color network printing and copying at up to 12 ppm in color and 20 ppm in black and white. Print resolution is 100 X 600 dpi, and copy and scan resolution is 600 X 600 dpi. The system can also scan and save color documents as editable electronic files or transmit them via e-mail into a network folder from the system’s operator panel. The estimated street price of the C4410n MFP is $1,399. www.okidata.com, Reader Service No. 560
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Brother International’s MFC-7420 personal laser flatbed MFP copies, prints, faxes, PC faxes, and scans. Designed for home offices and small offices, it copies and prints at 20 ppm and also offers color scanning. It’s equipped with a 250-sheet paper tray and offers print resolutions up to 2400 X 600 dpi. The unit boasts 16MB of standard memory and is equipped with a 14.4-Kbps fax modem with eight one-touch and 200 speed-dial locations as well as a 35-page automatic document feeder. The MFC-7420 has an estimated street price of $299.99. www.brother.com, Reader Service No. 561
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Toshiba America Business Solutions’ e-STUDIO162/162D digital multifunction device series is designed to meet the needs of small businesses, executive offices, and small workgroups. The e-STUDIO162 and 162D (with optional reverse auto document feeder) offer a print speed of 16 ppm, 600-dpi image quality, copying, and color scanning with optional network printing/scanning and fax. Both models have a first-copy-out-time of 9.6 seconds, support a maximum paper size of 8 1/2 X 14 inches, and come standard with a 250-sheet paper cassette and a 50-sheet multi-bypass tray. The e-STUDIO162 and 162D have suggested list prices of $1,495 and $1,695, respectively. www.toshiba.com, Reader Service No. 562
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Epson’s AcuLaser CX11N series represents the company’s first color laser multifunction printers designed for small offices and small workgroups. The MFPs are available in two versions: the CX11NF, with standard color faxing and an automatic document feeder (ADF), and the CX11N, without the fax or ADF. Both models copy and print at up to 25 ppm in black and white and 5 ppm in color. Other features include standalone copying and scanning. The units’ standard paper capacity is 180 sheets. An optional 500-sheet paper cassette is available. The CX11NF has an estimated street price of $799, and the CX11N is $699. www.epson.com, Reader Service No. 563
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The HP Officejet 7210 All-in-One printer/fax/scanner/copier offers built-in networking, enabling multiple users to share printing, scanning, and memory card access. Copy and print speeds are 30 ppm in black and up to 20 ppm in color. Its standard features include a 50-sheet automatic document feeder, a 50-sheet input paper tray, digital camera memory card slots, and photo-editing and photo-sharing software. An automatic duplexer for two-sided printing and copying is optional. The Officejet 7210 has an estimated street price of $299. www.hp.com, Reader Service No. 564
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The AC204 from Ricoh is a compact, 16-ppm, all-in-one system that provides users with duplex copying and printing, a legal-size platen, full-color TWAIN scanning, 3-second fax communication, and 600-dpi print resolution. It’s equipped with a 550-sheet paper tray and 100-sheet bypass tray that allows users to load different paper sizes, ensuring continuous workflow productivity. The unit has a 30-sheet automatic document feeder and can be connected to a PC via a USB 1.1 or IEEE 1284 parallel port. It has a suggested retail price of $1,299. www.ricoh-usa.com, Reader Service No. 565
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