2009 spring print_it

SPRING 2009A BI MAGAZINE SUPPLEMENT

THE PRINT & MFP MAGAZINE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS

Muratec’s compact MFD wins Editor’s Choice award

PRINT.ITA BUSINESS INFO MAGAZINE SUPPLEMENT

18.

04 BulletinToshiba makes MFPs carbon zero

06 The Future of PrintAre print volumes on the way up or down? We ask the experts

09 Colour MFPsHow green is ColorQube?

10 Paper HandlingFaster forms printing

12 Cover StoryIntroducing the MFX-C3400

14 Green Print SurveyYour chance to win a mini TV

16 Managed PrintWhy TSG is doing well out of managed print services.

18 B&W MFPsSharp breaks new ground

21 Printer ReviewOn Test: the Canon PIXMA MX860

22 Electronic FaxingFax machines are on the way out

WELCOME

One reads a lot today about the en-vironmental impact of printing, so it came as something of a surprise to learn that the cost of carbon offsetting a Toshiba MFP plus one million prints was just £50, or in a language famil-iar to print buyers 0.005p per click (see page 4). And that’s to offset the carbon emissions of everything, from the screws used in the MFPs, to the paper consumed and even the petrol used by service engineers.Are Toshiba MFPs, supply chains and manufacturing facilities unusually efficient or could it be that printer manufacturers have been over-stating the environmental cost of printing to encourage customers to adopt profit-able software solutions and managed print services?

Xerox is promoting its ColorQube (see page 9) as a sustainable alternative to laser/LED MFPs, largely because the solid ink consumables generate considerably less waste than those for laser/LED devices - as much as 90% less according to Xerox. The fact that it also offers colour cost savings of up to 62% is an even more potent sales message. But even this may not be enough to take the market by storm. If it were, Kyocera ECOSYS printers famous for their low running costs and toner-only consumables would be the best-selling printers in the UK.

James Goulding, [email protected]

No part of Print.IT can be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Copyright 2009 Kingswood Media Ltd.

Print.IT is a Business Info supplement. Published by Kingswood Media Ltd.www.binfo.co.ukAdvertising: 0870 903 9500Editorial: 01962 771862Publisher: Neil Trim [email protected]: Ethan White [email protected]: James Goulding [email protected]: [email protected]

4 PRINT.IT www.binfo.co.uk

Toshiba MFPs now carbon zero

Following a similar scheme operated by Toshiba’s consumer electronics division, Toshiba is working with co2balance to make Toshiba MFPs and the fi rst million pages on each device carbon zero.

The voluntary carbon offset specialist worked out the lifecycle carbon footprint of a Toshiba MFP (including manufacture, transport, energy use and servicing) plus that of its fi rst 1 million prints and calculated how much would need to be invested in carbon-saving projects to offset the equivalent amount of CO2.

Steve Hewson, marketing and indirect sales director for Toshiba TEC UK Imaging Systems Ltd, said that the fi gure of £50 (split evenly between the MFP and the printed pages) was so low that it made sense for Toshiba automatically to make all e-STUDIO devices sold direct after June 1, 2009 carbon zero.

Businesses that print more than 1 million pages can buy bolt-on packages to maintain carbon zero status throughout the MFP’s lifetime.

The carbon zero option applies to all e-STUDIO devices, from small desktop units to high volume production machines, and will also be offered as an option to dealers. Hewson is convinced that the benefi ts are so great that they, too, will choose not to pass on the cost to customers.

“The response has been phenomenal because we have made it so simple. There are not multiple levels for different devices but one fl at fee, and it saves you from having to do your own complicated calculations,” he explained.

Hewson added that whatever one’s thoughts about global warming and carbon offsets, investment in projects, such as the supply of energy effi cient stoves in Kenya (see photo), is worthwhile as it provides employment and helps development.

“Even if you don’t believe in the carbon thing and all the evidence that supports it, most people have charitable and CSR obligations and this initiative fi ts in well with that too,” he said.www.toshiba.co.uk

Samsung printers with 0% fi nance

Samsung is partnering with De Lage Landen (DLL) to offer its B2B printers with 0% interest fi nance.

The programme offers competitively priced and fl exible leasing terms for Samsung printers, including the CLP-770ND, Samsung’s fastest A4 colour laser printer to date (see caption).

The offer is available via participating Samsung resellers in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 1st June 2009 to 31st May 2010.

Samsung claims that leasing is an attractive option in the current fi nancial climate as it enables businesses to maintain cash reserves for longer-term strategic investments; provides predictable and simple budgeting; can offer tax advantages over equipment ownership; and enables businesses to buy higher spec equipment than they might be able to afford outright.

Commenting on the programme, Neil Sawyer, head of marketing, European Printing Operation, Samsung Electronics said: “The introduction of the Samsung 0% fi nance programme makes our printer technology more affordable and accessible to businesses at the right time.”

To see the available products and full terms of the 0% fi nance programme, visit www.samsung.com/printerfi nance.

Samsung’s fastest colour laser printer, the CLP-770ND has print speeds of 32 pages per minute, a 720MHz processor, 256Mb of memory (expandable to 768MB) and a generous 600-sheet paper capacity (expandable to 1,600 sheets). Options include wireless networking and an 80GB hard disk. A four-line LCD control panel and intuitive compass navigation system ensure that the system is easy to use, while high capacity toner cartridges of 7,000 pages keep user interventions and costs to a minimum.

Developing relationshipsKonica Minolta has launched a Developer Support Programme (DSP) to help software vendors and system integrators create customised solutions for its bizhub range of MFPs. The DSP provides everything needed to develop applications using the bizhub OpenAPI, which enables the seamless integration of third party software applications such as authentication tools, pull print functionality and metadata enhanced scanning. dsp.konicaminolta.eu

Two-sided printing for all

Brother has broken new ground by offering all models in its new range of mono laser printers and all-in-ones with two-sided (duplex) printing as standard.

This will enable even those on

the tightest budget to reduce the fi nancial and environmental cost of printing, as setting duplex printing as the default can reduce paper consumption by about 30-40%.

There are fi ve new models in the HL-5300 series of mono laser printers and three new

all-in-ones in the 8000 MFP series. The Energy Star and Blue Angel-certifi ed printers and all-in-ones offer print speeds of up to 30ppm, with prices starting at £179 for the printers and £375 for the MFPs. www.brother.co.uk 08444 999 444

Secure printing for SMEsSmall and medium-sized businesses with limited budgets are the target market for Canon’s Security and Cost Control Pack for MFPs.

This software-only solution enables businesses or departments with up to 5 Canon MFPs and 50 users to implement secure print, authentication and MFP monitoring without having to invest in a print server or sophisticated output management solutions.

The Security and Cost Control Pack includes Canon’s My Print Anywhere tool, which lets users securely print and retrieve output from any networked MFP running the software by entering a PIN number or swiping an ID card. Once the user has identifi ed himself, the document is retrieved from his PC and printed.

The requirement to identify oneself at an MFP before a document is printed helps maintain confi dentiality of printed documents and prevents unnecessary or repeat printing. User authentication makes it possible for administrators to monitor individuals’ printing habits and identify wasteful practices. www.canon.co.uk 01737 220000

Going green bit by bitBioplastics with a smaller carbon footprint than traditional plastics are starting to be used in MFPs as manufacturers look at ways to reduce the environmental impact of their products. Xerox has become the latest company to make use of the material, which it has used in a small way in the new Xerox WorkCentre 7400 colour A3 MFP. Xerox claims the MFP’s drum cover is made entirely from biomass plastic that generates 16% fewer CO2 emissions during manufacture than traditional plastic.www.xerox.co.uk

Bernard Matthews says no to fax machines

According to a recent survey by Spinvox, almost one third of adults have not used a fax machine in more than two years. This will come as no surprise to employees of Bernard Matthews Farms, which as long ago as 1996 replaced its standalone fax machines with a RightFax PC-based system for 600 computer users. In 2008, it was the turn of standalone printers and copiers to be phased out as the poultry specialist standardised on Konica Minolta MFPs. These have now been integrated with RightFax so that outbound faxes can be sent via the MFP with all in-bound faxes routed into RightFax, thus eliminating the risk of printed faxes falling into the wrong hands.01962 835053 www.avanquest-solutions.co.uk

Talk to printVisually impaired users can look forward to simpler device operation following the addition of touch-to-speech technology and Braille panel overlays on the Océ VarioPrint 1055/65/75 and 2062/75 MFDs. Touch to Speech technology generates speech for selected copy settings (e.g. number of copies, single/duplex, fi nishing, enlargement/reduction) and for error messages (e.g. jams, toner/staple empty). It can be used in conjunction with VarioPrint's Touch To Print application, which enables users to access a digital mailbox via biometric authentication, select and print required print jobs, then delete them from the mailbox.

Lexmark encourages home workers to print lessLexmark has launched an ‘eco-simulator’ to encourage home workers to print more responsibly.

Originally developed for business customers, the green calculator shows the environmental cost of a user’s printing habits based on a full Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) of their

Lexmark printer. The calculator shows the impact of

one year’s printing, in terms of its global warming potential, ozone emissions and the amount of non-renewable resources used, and how this can be reduced through the adoption of sustainable printing practices.

The eco-simulator can be accessed at www.lexmark-emea.com.

Three-year warrantyOKI Printing Solutions has introduced a free three-year on-site warranty for its entire range of printers, faxes and multi-functional printers. The warranty provides all-inclusive next-day service on-site, including labour costs and parts.www.oki.co.uk

A fi rst for KyoceraKyocera is fi lling a gap in its product range with the launch of its fi rst A4 colour printer/copier/scanner/fax. The FS-C1020MFP has print speeds of 20 pages per minute in colour and B&W and costs £489 (ex VAT).www.kyoceramita.co.uk

Ikon awardIkon has been awarded a ‘Partner of the Year’ award by Boots UK. Ikon has been working with Boots for 18 years, providing a diverse range of document and print services to its Nottingham Support Offi ce and 2,000 retail outlets across the UK.

news in brief

Affordable A3Small businesses that need to print A3+ documents are likely to welcome the launch of the HP Offi cejet 7000 Wide Format printer. HP claims that the inkjet device consumes 40% less energy than comparable laser printers and has a 40% lower cost per page.

25 years of LaserJetThis year marks the 25th anniversary of the fi rst HP LaserJet printer, the HP LaserJet Classic (illustrated), and the 15th anniversary of the world’s fi rst colour laser printer, the HP Color LaserJet. Since launching the fi rst model in 1984 HP has sold 132 million LaserJet printers worldwide.

New A3 inkjet all-in-oneBrother has launched a new version of its A3 inkjet all-in-one. New features of the top-of-the-range MFC-6890CDW include a 4.2in colour LCD touchscreen display and an A4 duplexing unit for automatic two-sided printing. A3 prints are still single-sided. It costs £335.80 (inc VAT).


Printing in 2010PRINTIT ASKED LEADING LIGHTS IN THE PRINTER MARKET FOR THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE OF OFFICE PRINT

The printer industry has had a difficult nine months. According to IDC, worldwide hardcopy unit shipments declined 18% year-on-year to 26.4 million units in the first quarter of this year, with an even greater decline in shipment value of 21%.

This represents the third consecutive quarterly decline, with printer sales being particularly badly hit (down by 28%). Even colour laser printer shipments fell back by 15% after a rise of 1% in the last quarter of 2008.

The decline in printer sales is partly the result of the continuing transition towards multifunction printers (MFPs), which declined less steeply than other segments (-10%) and now account for 62% of the hardcopy peripherals market.

The only part of the market to record year-on-year growth was colour laser MFPs, with sales 6% up on Q1, 2008.

IDC expects the market to recover early in 2010 as the world comes out of recession, but what will the market look like in a year’s time? And what will purchasers’ priorities be? Will businesses loosen their purse strings or, mindful of manufacturers’ green printing messages, choose to print less and make do with fewer devices?

PRINT VOLUMES?PrintIT’s survey of UK printer manufacturers found that while everyone agreed hardware sales were down, there was disagreement over whether print volumes had declined in the same period – or how they would develop in the future.

Brother sales and marketing director Phil Jones was typical of those who felt that ‘smart printing’ techniques were having an impact on print volumes.

“Printing on both sides of the page, Toner Save mode, booklet print mode and using large monitors have impacted the amount people print,” he said. “We accept there are fundamental shifts happening in technology.”

Others, like Tom Primett, group product marketing manager for Sharp, were not so sure, pointing out that pages are printed for a reason and that is to do business.

“You may see a reduction in print volumes in the home but in the office, print is the price of doing business. You can do scan-to-email, but someone will still print it out at the other end. All you are doing is moving the print around. That is why print volumes have gone up since email,” he said.

Paul Callow, Lexmark UK marketing director, said that he had noticed a reduction in the number of pages printed but expected print volumes to

increase as the economy improved.“There has been a reduction in the number of pages but we are trying

to work out if that’s because there are fewer businesses or if it’s combined with the fact that people are doing the same amount but are now printing smarter,” he said. “As the economy recovers the fact that business will grow again will offset the fact that people are being more responsible, so print volumes may start to go up again.”

THE DUPLEX EFFECTEveryone drew a distinction between physical pages printed, which is influenced by the growing practice of two-sided printing (duplex), and the number of impressions made, which is not.

Duplex printing may be a problem for paper merchants, but it doesn’t affect toner sales, which is what really matters to printer vendors – and, as Brother’s Phil Jones points out, in the short term at least it gives users of simplex printers a good reason to upgrade their equipment.

“Our view is that if a business doesn’t have a duplex printer it will be worth their while to buy one. Our booklet printing mode puts four sides of A4 onto one sheet of A4: we use that all the time here because it’s really convenient and it reduces paper consumption by 75%,” he said.

What may have more of an impact on consumable sales, argues Samsung’s Steve Pearce, is Toner Save or draft printing mode.

“I see a change in the number of pages output – the same number of impressions but fewer pages because of duplex. At the same time, manufacturers are driving environmental features, such as the Toner Save button, which will decrease toner consumption by 40% but not necessarily affect page volumes,” he said.

HIGH-END GROWTHReplacing a simplex printer with a duplex model is part of a wider trend to acquire more powerful technology that Tracey Fielden, Canon UK head of office marketing, believes will cushion lower hardware sales caused by device consolidation.

“We might not sell as many machines, but you will find there is growth at the high end. We will sell fewer low-end devices and more high end ones. And organisations are embracing software technology. So while we have had a downturn in the number of physical hardware units sold, we have seen an increase in the sale of workflow software – up 140% on last

year,” she said.Another profitable trend identified by Fielden is the shift from

mono to colour devices, driven in part by organisations’ eagerness to reduce the cost of using external print suppliers.

“We are still seeing a migration from mono to colour: mono is declining and colour is growing, albeit not as quickly as we would have liked. That is down to two things: colour is becoming cheaper; and where people are managing costs they are looking at what they outsource and what they can bring in-house.”

Helen George, Ricoh services marketing manager, was another to point out that a narrow focus on the number of pages printed was the wrong way to approach the printer market.

“Ricoh is not worried about the number of pages or clicks reducing,” she said. “What’s more important is to have the right level of printing for the customer, as this creates opportunities for MPS providers. We are not dependent on increasing clicks to grow the market: we have different and higher level solutions to help the customer do more. If a company is only looking at page numbers to grow their business they are behind what is expected [from a modern print provider].”

PHIL JONES

TRACEY FIELDENPAUL CALLOW

making life

konicaminolta.co.uk

gorgeous

For further information contact us on email [email protected] or visit konicaminolta.co.uk

PRINT.IT 9www.binfo.co.uk

Xerox makes a splash with ColorQubeWILL LOWER COLOUR COSTS AND REDUCED WASTE BE ENOUGH FOR XEROX’S SOLID INK TECHNOLOGY TO PENETRATE THE A3 MFP MARKET? JAMES GOULDING REPORTS

Ever since acquiring solid ink technology nine years ago, Xerox has spoken about its suitability for use in high speed, large format devices. Last month, it made good its – and solid ink’s – promise with the launch of the Xerox ColorQube 9200 Series of A3 MFPs.

The development of a new printhead with twice the number of nozzles per linear inch has enabled Xerox to increase ink fl ow by 400% and achieve print speeds of up to 50 pages per minute in colour and B&W (85ppm in draft mode).

Throw in full A3 multifunctionality (colour printer/copier/scanner/fax), all the fi nishing options you would expect from a departmental MFP; and support for the customisable Xerox Extensible Interface Platform (EIP), and Xerox is confi dent that the ColorQube is a ‘no compromise’ alternative to MFPs based on laser technology.

“Over the last 9 years, solid ink products have been successful for Xerox and we felt that now was the time to bring ColorQube to market: it’s a strong proposition in a market that’s receptive to its key messages,” explained Xerox Offi ce marketing manager Nick Stainton.

KEY BENEFITSThese revolve around three key concepts: the environment, ease of use and affordable colour.

From an environmental perspective, solid ink’s greatest advantage over laser is the amount of waste generated by consumables. According to Xerox, solid ink generates 90% less waste than comparable laser MFPs thanks to cartridge-free consumables (the ink sticks are simply dropped into a feeder, while the machine is still printing); and a printhead that is designed to last for the lifetime of the machine.

In other respects, ColorQube is less green. Xerox cites a study, which estimates that the ColorQube series uses 9% less energy and produces 10% fewer greenhouse gases than a comparable laser device, but it is important to note that this takes into account the production, transport and disposal of consumables and their packaging throughout its lifecycle.

It is perfectly valid to include such factors, but it does obscure the fact that solid ink MFPs are not as energy-effi cient as modern toner devices. Comparing power consumption fi gures of the

ColorQube with Kyocera’s new TASKalfa 500ci (50ppm B&W, 40ppm colour) clearly shows that the former is more energy-hungry.

The ColorQube consumes an average of 750 watts when printing (with a maximum of 1,410 watts) compared to 1,150 watts on the TASKalfa. But the real difference is in standby and low power modes. The ColorQube consumes 360 watts in standby, 200 watts in Low Power Mode and 113 watts in Sleep Mode, compared to 210 watts in standby and 19 watts in ECOpower (sleep) mode on Kyocera’s device.

These fi gures are signifi cant because it takes solid ink much longer to print from low power mode and sleep modes – 47 seconds and 3 mins 30 seconds respectively – compared to about 30 seconds from Kyocera’s ECOpower mode. This means that in busy offi ces, solid ink devices are likely to remain in standby mode or at best Low Power Mode, which still consumes 200 watts compared to 19 watts in Kyocera’s power-saving mode.

HYBRID PRICINGMore compelling is ColorQube’s Hybrid pricing structure. Instead of

having a single colour click charge regardless of the amount of colour on the page, Xerox has a three-tier pricing plan: Black Plus Useful Colour e.g. an offi ce document with a logo and small graphic; Everyday Colour e.g. documents with moderate colour coverage, such as a web page; and Expressive Colour e.g. estate agent property details.

At the time of going to press, there were no UK pricing details but Nick Stainton quoted US prices of 1 cent for Black Plus Useful Colour, 3-4 cents for Everyday Colour and about 7 cents for Expressive Colour. Xerox is advertising overall colour page cost reductions of up to 62%.

NOT THE FIRSTXerox is not the fi rst manufacturer to offer variable click charges or, indeed, a low-waste alternative to laser technology. Two years ago HP made exactly the same claims for its Edgeline series of A3 inkjet MFPs, the HP CM8050 and HP CM8060.

Like the ColorQube, these high speed MFPs (up to 60ppm mono/50ppm colour) have three colour click charges: accent colour, which is charged at 0.9 US cents compared to 0.83 US cents for a B&W page; general offi ce colour;

TACTILE: XEROX SOLID INK STICKS BEING LOADED INTO A COLORQUBE MFP

EDITOR’S CHOICE: THE COLORQUBE 9200 SERIES HAS PRINT SPEEDS OF UP TO 50 PAGES PER MINUTE IN COLOUR AND B&W (85PPM IN DRAFT MODE).


and professional colour. This feature alone should

have generated a great deal of interest, but neither it nor other benefi ts such as reduced energy consumption (half that of a similarly specced laser device), lower servicing requirements or fewer consumables (and therefore less waste), seem to have caught the imagination of purchasers.

HP MFP category manager John Duckworth was unable to tell PrintIT how many Edgeline devices HP had sold in the UK nor what the devices cost (they are sold on a contract basis with service and support). However, he did intimate that the take-up had been slow and that HP was only now “starting to get some momentum” behind the technology.

It is hard to tell whether this is due to the limitations of the devices, notably a slow fi rst copy out time (12 seconds) and limited

fi nishing capabilities, or whether it is due to business’s innate suspicion of inkjet devices.

If the latter, selling the current generation of Edgeline MFPs is likely to become harder, as the number of rival technologies with greater acceptance in offi ce environments increases (according to Stainton, Xerox sells as many A4 solid ink printers in the UK as it does A4 laser printers).

A THIRD WAYKyocera recently launched a ‘managed print service’ for its laser-based MFPs that combines traditional copier servicing and support with the supply of a specifi ed number of consumables as and when needed throughout the term of the contract – all paid for up-front (if necessary through a lease with monthly payments).

In this way KYO print pack

delivers the main benefi ts of a traditional cost per page contract (e.g. the supply of consumables and maintenance) without some of the drawbacks, such as minimum monthly page volumes and a single colour click charge regardless of the amount of colour toner used.

Because customers pay for a volume of toner rather than for each page printed, they are not penalised every time they print a colour logo and can benefi t from implementing toner-saving features, such as draft-print mode, that make toner supplies last longer.

The fl ip side is that you pay more for pages with high colour toner coverage, as there isn’t the price cap offered by both traditional click charges and Edgeline/ColorQube-style variable charges.

CONCLUSIONXerox’s ColorQube is an exciting

development, but whether it offers enough benefi ts to change people’s preference for laser technology is a moot point. Lower running costs and reduced waste alone are no guarantee of market acceptance – if they were Kyocera would be market leader in the UK print market.

However, the combination of these factors with ease of use, attractive consumables, vibrant colour print quality and reduced servicing and support should encourage corporate buyers to look at solid ink as an alternative to laser devices and allay any fears they may have about adopting what for many will be a new print technology.

“Solid ink will be new to many people,” explained Xerox Europe’s Robert Corbishley. “But there’s nothing to fear. If anything it’s easier to use and maintain than what they are used to.”

Xerox makes a splash with ColorQube

A License to PrintThe Licensing Department of New Forest District Council has maximised the effectiveness of multi-page form production by adding a TowerTray sheet feeding system to its HP LaserJet 4350 printer.

Supplied by DPI Products Ltd of Guildford, TowerTrays enable organisations to increase the functionality of laser printers either by increasing paper capacity to as much as 4,100 sheets or by expanding the variety of paper stocks available on-line.

Based in the council’s Lyndhurst headquarters, the Licensing Department is responsible for the implementation of the Licensing Act in the New Forest Region and has to produce hundreds of different types of license, covering everything from pubs and clubs to taxis, lotteries and charitable collections.

It recently installed a TowerTray system to facilitate the printing of a huge variety of multi-page forms each of which may include different types and colours of plain or pre-printed paper printed on one or both sides.

The combination of nine numbered paper trays and DPI’s Paper Flow Control (PFC) language, which embeds commands in template documents, ensures that the right mix of pages is automatically fed into the printer according to the form selected and printed in the right way (e.g. single or double-sided).

The ability automatically to print a letter with the fi rst page double-sided from tray 8 with 2 copies on plain paper from tray 3, for example, has hugely simplifi ed what would otherwise be a complicated and time consuming operation, enabling the department to produce licensing documentation and other multi-page forms quickly and accurately to the benefi t of everyone.www.dpiproducts.co.uk 01483 203735

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Launched this month by Muratec, the groundbreaking MFX-C3400 has been awarded the Print.IT Editor’s Choice award for its compact design and comprehensive document imaging functionality.

Designed from fi rst principles, the MFX-C3400 provides a cost-effective and highly productive colour multifunctional that is packed with technology. Yet its compact footprint fi ts easily into even the smallest offi ces. This means that SMEs and workgroups can enjoy the full benefi ts of A3 colour output with copy, print, scan and fax functionality even in the most confi ned offi ce spaces.

Many organisations are now aware of the considerable economic and environmental benefi ts of using networked multifunction devices for print output, compared to personal desktop printers. Cost savings of many thousands of pounds are possible even for SMEs. Reduced noise, emissions and space savings are other strong incentives for using networked multifunctionals. Management and cost control is also easier.

Perhaps the only serious drawback is the size of most multifunctionals for workgroup use. An A3 colour printing multifunctional is usually a large console machine that takes up a lot of offi ce space. In confi ned business premises where space is at a premium this can be a considerable drawback.

Space effi ciency was a key consideration in the design of Muratec’s fi rst A3 colour multifunctional, the MFX-C3400. Featuring a compact footprint that can fi t into an opening under two feet wide, the MFX-C3400 is the smallest A3 colour multifunctional in its class. As all consumable items are loaded from the front and all cabling is connected at the rear, no side access is needed for the machine, allowing it to fi t neatly into a crowded offi ce.

The Muratec MFX-C3400 may be compact, but it packs a big punch, combining high quality A3 colour output with fl exible multifunction features for copy, print, scan and fax as standard. For colour output, the powerful MFX-C3400 has a 26 pages per minute (ppm) print and copy speed, making output of colour documents, such as reports and training notes, easy and quick. For black-and-white output, the MFX-C3400 has a fast 34ppm print speed.

The MFX-C3400 delivers high quality colour output with a super-detail resolution of 1200 by 600dpi for outstanding results. Muratec’s proven colour print technology ensures subtle tones and gradations of colour to give photographic quality to images in business documents. An RADF (recirculating automatic document feeder) allows the versatile MFX-C3400 to perform fully automatic duplex (double sided) copying and scanning. Routinely printing and copying on both sides of the page drastically reduces paper consumption, saving costs and helping the environment.

As well as printing onto A3 stock up to 200gsm in weight, the versatile MFX-C3400 can print full colour banners up to 1,200mm in length and 297mm wide. Banner printing is a real boost to businesses that want to use banners for marketing and sales purposes, particularly at point of sale. Open days, sales incentives, motivational slogans and other messages can all be promoted to

staff or customers with banner prints.Designed for high productivity, the Muratec MFX-C3400 is supplied network

ready for network printing and scanning. PCL5c and Post Script 3 are supported as standard providing powerful network functionality for workgroups. Using the Post Script 3 driver allows the MFX-C3400 to store document templates on its hard drive. These can then be used for standard business stationery applications such as letterheads, invoices delivery notes and so on, saving the cost of pre-printed stationery.

When used for network printing, a system administrator can monitor usage remotely via a web browser interface and can set maximum user print volumes for the MFX-C3400. Usage monitoring can be used for print job cost allocation, by department, individual and so on.

The MFX-C3400 is really easy to use thanks to a large backlit touchscreen that makes the management of document imaging tasks, such as scanning, simple and intuitive. It is easy to securely scan to folders and archive applications, or scan to e-mail for sharing printed documents with colleagues without the need to print. When scanning to network folders, users can utilise the IP address of a PC as a scanning destination. The versatile MFX-C3400 can also scan direct to USB memory stick.

For faxing the MFX-C3400 has a 33.6k bps modem for fast fax transmission. ITU-T Super Group 3 standard is supported with JBIG compression. The broadcast fax facility can be used for up to 530 destinations.

As a leading manufacturer of multifunction offi ce equipment and business solutions, Muratec has ensured that the MFX-C3400 meets customer needs for a compact device that offers full networked functionality for workgroups including A3 colour output. For more information on the new MFX-C3400 call 0870 608 6084 or visit www.muratec-europe.co.uk

Muratec’s compact colour multifunctional isPrint.IT Editor’s Choice


MURATEC’S UI PROGRAMME PRODUCES COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCT RANGE

The groundbreaking MFX-C3400 is a product of Muratec’s Usability Improvement (UI) R&D programme for the development of the next generation of Muratec multifunctional imaging systems. The programme has the slogan ‘More User-friendly Products for Everybody’ and aims to develop products that are easier to use through ergonomic analysis.

The UI programme begins with an analysis of existing products by a group consisting of specialists in marketing, customer support, product planning and engineering. The goal is to identify usability improvement. The UI programme members thoroughly examine potential areas for improvement by interviewing customers and carrying out on-site tests with some users. Information gained in the process is used to make all Muratec products more user-friendly.

The UI R&D programme has allowed Muratec to facelift its entire product range over the last year with a series of upgraded models, starting with the entry level 13ppm MFX-1350. The MFX-1350 benefi ts from Muratec’s low Total Cost of Ownership sales policy, making the operating costs for Muratec fax and multifunctional systems amongst the most competitive in the market. For example the MFX-1350 has a 0.75p cost per copy because it uses Muratec’s new high yield toner (based on six percent document coverage and two page printing cycle). With a total design life of 300,000 pages the MFX-1350 is also far more robust than cheaper multifunctionals designed for the home offi ce rather than commercial use.

The MFX-1350 was followed by the MFX-1450. Featuring Muratec’s groundbreaking NGP (Network Gateway Platform) technology, the MFX-1450 provides an ‘out-of-the-box’ solution for network connectivity. The MFX-1450 has auto-duplex for double sided copying and printing as standard, saving time and paper.

Muratec has also launched two new A3 multifunctionals, the MFX-2225 and MFX-2725, with RADF and the option of Muratec’s Offi ceBridge software. Offi ceBridge allows the MFX-2225 and MFX-2725 to operate as powerful network solutions for sharing documents between a workgroup of up to 50 users. Offi ceBridge provides network print, network scan, scan to e-mail, Internet fax, desktop fax and workfl ow management functionality all in one simple to use application.

Finally, Muratec recently launched the MFX-2050, an ideal workgroup multifunctional for small offi ces that also features NGP technology and DHCP (Dynamic Host Confi guration Protocol) compliance for automatic installation and confi guration on a network. The MFX-2050 has received Best Buy status in the latest What To Buy For

Business printer-copier MFP awards. In its description of the Muratec MFX-2050, the What To Buy For Business report states: “Plenty of good functionality on this device with print, copy and scan and fax all in a compact A4 footprint. Can be set up and managed from a web browser. Generous paper handling and low cost page rates give this model the edge.”To know more about Muratec’s best-selling multifunctional range call 0870 608 6084 or visit www.muratec-europe.co.uk


The Print IT, Samsung Sustainable Print Survey 2009

WIN a mini Flatscreen Samsung TVSustainable printing practices can help businesses save money, eliminate waste and reduce their carbon footprint. But how many organisations have a formal policy to reduce paper and toner consumption? To help us find out, please complete the survey below and return it to us by August 14, 2009. All completed entries will be entered into a prize draw for a mini Samsung TV. Good luck!

1. Does your company have a formal policy to reduce the environmental impact of office printing?c Yes c No (please go to Question 6)

2. If Yes, what were the reasons for implementing sustainable printing? (please rank in order, 1 being the most important)

c To reduce the cost of printc To reduce the amount of waste paperc To improve efficiency by driving paper out of the businessc For a smaller carbon footprintc To create a better working environmentc For CSR reasonsc Other________________________

3. Does your policy include the following? (please tick where appropriate)

c Default duplex (printing on both sides of the page)c Toner Save or Draft Modec The use of recycled paperc Quotas by department/individualc Print restrictions by application c Restricted access to colour printingc Secure Printc User identification at MFPsc Automatic shut down at end of dayc Use of remanufactured cartridgesc Use of remanufactured MFPs

4. Have you measured the impact of these initiatives?c Yes c No

5. If Yes, please specify any reductions in the following areas:Print Costsc 0% c 10% c 20% c 30% c 40% c 50%

Paper consumptionc 0% c 10% c 20% c 30% c 40% c 50%

Toner consumptionc 0% c 10% c 20% c 30% c 40% c 50%

Number of Print Devices c 0% c 10% c 20% c 30% c 40% c 50%

Please go to Question 8

6. If No, why have you not yet put a sustainable printing policy in place? (please rank in order, 1 being the most important)

c Have not had the time or resources to look at itc It wouldn’t make a difference to business efficiencyc Don’t know where to startc It is too expensive to implementc Printing is not a priorityc The environment is not a priorityc Other________________________

7. Do you or your colleagues voluntarily practice the following? (please tick where appropriate) c Two-sided printingc Toner Save or Draft Modec Two or more pages per side (n-up)c Booklet mode (n-up and duplex)c No printing of emailsc Print preview to check formattingc Turn off printer at end of day

8. What do you do with your used toner cartridges?c Return them to the manufacturer for recyclingc Donate them to charity/school collection schemesc Sell them to cartridge re- manufacturersc Throw them outc Other________________________

9. What features/qualifications do you look for when purchasing a printer/MFP?c Automatic duplexc Toner Save Buttonc USB port for print from/scan to memory sticksc Wireless networkingc Low power consumption in standby modec Cartridge recycling programc Energy Star certificationc Energy Saving Trust certificationc Blue Angel certificationc TCO certification

10. How do you rate the following for their impact on the environment and productivity? (on a scale of 1-3 with 1 being

not effective, 2 effective, 3 very effective)

Using multifunctional printers (MFPs)c The Environment c Productivity

Replacing A3 devices with A4 MFPs c The Environment c Productivity

Secure Print c The Environment c Productivity

Monitoring of printer/MFP usec The Environment c Productivity

User authentication at print devicesc The Environment c Productivity

Automatic job routingc The Environment c Productivity

Scanning to electronic workflowsc The Environment c Productivity

Managed Print Servicesc The Environment c Productivity

11. Which of the following would influence your choice of printer?c Use of recycled plastics in machine manufacturec Use of bio plastics in machine manufacture

c Phasing out of harmful chemicalsc Carbon Zero accreditationc Remanufactured devicesc Environmental reputation of supplier

12. What are the most important criteria for your business when choosing a printer? (please rank in order, 1 being the most important)

c Low purchase pricec Low running costsc Reliabilityc Extended warrantiesc Space-efficiencyc Wireless Networkingc Low energy consumptionc Environmental accreditations

13. Do you believe that there's a lot of noise about green printing but still far too much time, energy, paper and toner wasted?c Yes c No

Please send the completed form to: Samsung/PrintIT Survey, Kingswood Media, 4 New Cottages, Green Farm Lane, Shorne, Kent DA12 3HQ. Alternatively, please Scan and Email to [email protected] completed entries received by August 14, 2009 will be entered into a draw for

a mini Samsung flatscreen television.

Name:

Company:

Company Size: c 1-10 c 11-20 c 21-50 c 51-100

c 101-250 c 251-500 c 501-1000 c 1001+

Address:

Position:

Tel:

Email:

If you do not wish to receive further mailings relating to this competition, please tick the box. c

LLeett ssccaannnniinngg ttaakkee tthheepprreessssuurree ooffff yyoouurr wwoorrkkllooaadd

Call now on 01908 547896

ccording to leading worldwide market research and strategiconsulting firm, InfoTrends*, 65 % of office workers useigital copiers/MFPs and over 50% use the “scan” featureaily, to help them become more efficient; living proof,deed, that in today’s workplace the need for improvedroductivity in one machine is vital.

Manufacturers, like Olivetti, are really focusing on major issuescluding scanning capabilities: fast speeds, better qualitynd enhanced drivers to enable paper and time savingunctions such as Scan to email, Scan to Windows Foldersnd Scan to FTP.

canning, using MFPs, will allow you to make significantavings, as workgroups can use one machine for all theiropying, printing and scanning, and improve internal as wells external communication.

et us show you how you can improve your company’s

workflow and save you money. Contact us now for a FREEonsultation in your area.

livetti UK Limited00 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 2BEl: 01908 547980, Fax: 01908 547885, email:[email protected]

The Olivetti d�Color MF450


Awin:winsituationPRINTER COMPANIES WITHOUT A SERVICE CAPABILITY ARE TURNING TO THIRD PARTY MAINTAINER TECHNICAL SUPPORT GROUP (TSG) TO DELIVER MANAGED PRINT SERVICES

Managed print services (MPS) are often described as a win:win situation for both client and supplier.

Another company doing well out of the popularity of MPS contracts encompassing consultancy, device management, consumables delivery, servicing and support is third party maintainer Technical Support Group (TSG).

Despite the diffi cult economic climate, it has seen sales grow 25%

year-on-year by meeting printer manufacturers’ need for a reliable nationwide servicing partner.

Customers include Brother, Xerox, Samsung and Kyocera Mita, which recently took on TSG to carry out the maintenance elements of its new MPS proposition.

MD Meyer Kempf said that TSG was able to meet Kyocera’s needs including stringent service level agreements (SLAs) because it has made signifi cant

investments in its IT infrastructure, premises, training and workforce.

TSG recently moved into a new building with on-site workshops and training facilities; it has upgraded its infrastructure with a new phone system and servers; and continues to recruit new managers and service engineers.

“In the last three months alone we have taken on engineers in some of the more remote areas of the UK, so that we have no need to sub-contract,” he said.

Kempf added that TSG would continue to increase the ratio of engineers to machines in the fi eld to enable it to provide four-hour response times across the UK.

“We already provide 6-hour support for 1,200 different makes of machine and are now investing money and manpower to enable us to provide four-hour multi-vendor support for all our clients. We have done this fi rst in London and are rolling it out to other conurbations.”

Manufacturers are not the only ones to benefi t from this investment:

40% of TSG’s business comes from corporates with mixed printer, fax and MFP fl eets and they, too, can look forward to faster response times and improved device management.

“What attracts corporates to TSG is our ability to provide good quality multi-vendor service and detailed management information (MI) on their printer fl eet, and the fact that we are a dedicated support company, not a sales company with service,” Kempf explained.

“In preparation for going to an MPS, a lot of businesses want to improve their understanding of their fl eet and infrastructure. As a multi-vendor support company, TSG can help a business manage their migration from Point A to Point B. We've found a real market for that, as we can give them such great MI.”

As more businesses embrace managed print services to reduce print costs, TSG’s service offering looks increasingly attractive to manufacturers and corporates alike.0870 4176010

Xerox launches hosted MPSXerox has launched a hosted version of its enterprise managed print service (MPS) to meet growing demand for managed print amongst small and medium-sized businesses.

IDC predicts that 60% of SMEs in Europe will consider purchasing an MPS solution in 2009 in an attempt to lower print costs, reduce IT support and increase offi ce productivity.

Xerox Print Services is designed to be delivered by Xerox's channel partners and includes tools to manage the four phases of a managed print service (Assess, Design, Implement and Manage) in organisations with as few as 50 devices.

The hybrid offering will enable certifi ed channel partners to build their own branded services with their own agreements and contracts, backed by a technology platform and support infrastructure

provided by Xerox.“Xerox hosts these tools,” explained

Darren Cassidy, VP for Large Accounts Europe. “We run services and then we provide the information to the partner who includes it in customer reports showing all relevant data and what actions need to be taken.”

Xerox Print Services uses tools fi ne-tuned by Xerox in the 12 years since it launched Xerox Offi ce Services, its managed print services for large enterprises, which now manages more than 2 million devices, half of which are non-Xerox.

Cassidy said: “Xerox Global Services has led the way in managed print in the document space. We have focused on large enterprise customers and have developed fantastic tools for managing the document environment. We have now redeveloped and optimised these tools to enable

channel partners to deliver managed print to smaller businesses.”

The tools allow resellers to assess a customer's current printing environment, fi ne-tune its printing networks for optimum performance, and manage multi-vendor printer fl eets effi ciently and cost-effectively, with remote monitoring for proactive maintenance and just-in-time supplies delivery.

All print activity and events are captured so that customers can monitor print costs (and carbon emissions) and check that promised cost reductions and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are being met.

Cassidy believes that now is the perfect time to launch Xerox Print Services, as it has the potential to deliver costs savings of 30% or more, a reduced carbon footprint and productivity improvements, whilst

freeing customers from the burden of managing their printer fl eet.

“If there's ever a time people need to be focused less on printing and documents and more on their core business it is now,” he said. “This is the right time to say to people, 'Why not let the partner you trust manage your print: sign up to SLAs and let them manage it while you run the business'.”www.xerox.com

TSG MD Meyer Kempf

Xerox’s Darren Cassidy

A case of natural selection

High-end office colour multifunctionalThe right amount of rain and sunshine make a good vintage year, so technically

good wines are made in the vineyard, not in the winery. Océ’s engineering

inspiration is founded on the same principles: designed in the field to match your

daily office printing requirements. Selecting the right machine for the right job

is like selecting the right grapes for a good wine. Make your selection now.

Océ VarioLink 5522c and 6522c: Naturally beyond the ordinary.

For more information contact: Bryony Young 0870 600 5544 Email: [email protected] Visit: www.oce.com/uk

Printing for professionals


Last year Sharp invigorated its colour MFP range with the launch of a new platform that combines outstanding functionality with the industry's most daring design. Now it’s the turn of Sharp’s mid-range B&W devices to be transformed.

This August, Sharp will be building on the success of its colour MFPs with the launch of a new generation of B&W devices that share the same tactile fi nish and powerful feature set as the MX-4100/01N and MX-5000/01N colour devices.

The new workgroup/departmental devices are not just stunning to look at: they are also Sharp’s most productive B&W MFPs to date, with ‘colour-centric’ features previously unavailable on mono devices.

Sharp will be launching four devices, with print speeds of 28-50ppm. Three - the 36ppm MX-M363, the 45ppm MX-M453 and the 50ppm MX-M503 - are offered in a choice of ‘N’ or ‘U’ confi gurations, making a total of seven models in all.

Best of everythingSharp ‘N’ series MFPs come with the best of everything, including an 8.5in colour display; colour network scanning; a 100-sheet DSPF (duplex single pass feeder) that scans both sides of a page in a single pass; and an optional retractable QWERTY keyboard.

‘U’ series MFPs are a lower cost option for customers that don’t have a requirement for colour scanning. They have a smaller mono LCD display, B&W scanning, a slower reversing single pass feeder (RSPF) and no retractable keyboard option. But in almost every other respect they are identical to the ‘N’ series.

The 28ppm MX-M283 is available in an ‘N’ version only. However, to

With Sharp’s new range of mono MFPs, customers can enjoy the same productivity features as users of the company’s colour MFPs, from network colour scanning to an 8.5in colour touchscreen display.

No compromise


Promotion

keep the price at a level attractive to smaller businesses, it comes with a lower-cost RSPF.

Product marketing manager Marc Brion is confi dent that these products will meet the growing demand for high speed, highly featured mono devices.

“For customers who are unsure about standardising on colour devices, we now offer a range of competitive mono MFPs offering unrivalled ease of use and advanced features, such as colour scanning and the Sharp OSA development platform,” he said.

Ease of useIn designing these products Sharp has considered the needs of everyone, from end users, facilities managers (FMs) and CSR professionals to IT administrators, developers and dealers. End users will love the unrivalled

ease of use offered by the N series’ 8.5in colour touchscreen display and optional retractable keyboard; FMs will appreciate the super-

quiet operation, compact design and space saving options like the internal fi nisher/offset stacker; CSR managers will welcome the

manual power save button and energy consumption of less than 1 watt in standby; IT administrators will appreciate

class-leading data security features and a Remote Access Interface that lets them take remote control of a device’s front panel to change settings, show how to perform a function or diagnose and rectify problems; and Developers will love Sharp’s OSA

development platform, which can be used to produce customised interfaces with rich graphics, web-based HTML, Java and Flash video

clips, in crisp B&W or eye-catching colour on N series colour displays.

“These MFPs are the most powerful B&W MFPs Sharp has produced,” Brion explained. “We have addressed every aspect of the machines to offer customers unprecedented ease of use and productivity in every area.”

High quality printingThe MX-M283N, MX-M363N, MX-M453N and MX-M503N are fi rst and foremost outstanding B&W MFPs, offering high quality printing (true 1200 x 1200 dpi), colour scanning, copying and optional fax, with time and cost-saving features such as automatic duplexing; electronic sorting; scan-to-email; and a 100-sheet DSPF (excluding MX-M283N).

Compared to the Sharp MX-M350 and MX-M450, the new machines have faster warm-up times (20 versus 80 seconds); more memory; a larger hard drive (80GB vs. 40GB); more paper capacity; the ability to handle a wider range of media (56-209gsm); a larger document feeder (100 vs. 50 sheets); and an 800MHz multi-tasking controller that can process network scanning jobs while the MFP is outputting copy, print or fax jobs.

“Every aspect of these devices has been enhanced to improve end user productivity and remove bottlenecks,” Brion explained. “This makes them ideal for busy workgroups in companies of all sizes.”

Just as important from a productivity perspective are the 8.5in high resolution colour touchscreen display (N models only), which makes it easy for users to make job selections or view thumbnails of documents stored on the MFPs’ 80GB hard drive, and

the retractable QWERTY keyboard option (N models only) that provides a convenient alternative to the on-screen keyboard for typing email addresses and indexing data.

Electronic workfl owsThe Sharp OSA development platform on all seven new MFPs offers further scope for productivity improvements. Customers can use it to integrate their Sharp MFPs with network applications and implement electronic workfl ows to eliminate the errors and ineffi ciencies associated with paper-based processes.

Sharp OSA provides bi-directional communication between the MFP and network applications. At its simplest, this makes it possible for a user to walk up to a device and retrieve and print a fi le from any folder on the network, but it also allows users to scan documents straight into an enterprise document management or ERP system and input indexing data at the MFP itself.

“Despite the many benefi ts of in-house colour printing, there are still organisations or individual departments that only require a black and white device,” Brion said. “With the Sharp MX-M283N, MX-M363U/N, MX-M453U/N and MX-M503U/N MFPs, they can be confi dent that they are getting all the functionality enjoyed by users of Sharp’s top-end colour devices but with the low running costs of a black and white device. For existing colour customers, the MFPs are the perfect complement to our latest colour MFPs, as they share the same platform, fi nishing units and options for simpler device management.” www.sharpinbusiness.co.uk

SHARP ADDS A4 PRINTERS TO ITS RANGE

Earlier this year, Sharp also introduced its fi rst A4 monochrome laser printers, the 34 pages per minute (ppm) DX-B350P and the 43ppm DX-B450P.

These additions to Sharp’s range will enable it to meet customers’ B&W printing needs in their entirety, from single-function printers at the desktop, to workgroup MFPs and high volume production systems in corporate print rooms.

With fast print speeds, a fi rst page out time of less than 9 seconds, true 1200 dpi print quality and a maximum paper capacity of 1,800 sheets, these printers are ideal for busy workgroups with print volumes of up to 12,000 pages per month.

They come with a variety of features to simplify device management, including web-based administration tools; a printer status monitor that lets users check the operating status of a printer before sending a job; and email alerts whenever there is a problem that needs attention.

Options include a duplex module for automatic two-sided printing; an offset catch tray that keeps print jobs separate from each other; a 40GB hard disk; and a secure erase function that erases the disk after printing.

New INEO 6501Available October

Colour for Everyone

Enhanced print quality • New finishing • up to 3563 PPH


The Canon Pixma MX860

Canon describes the Canon Pixma MX860 as a premium home and office inkjet all-in-one. It costs less than £200 online, yet still offers colour print, copy, scan and fax capabilities, with WiFi and Ethernet network connectivity and a duplex automatic document feeder. Such features are clearly designed to appeal to business users, but is the MX860 up to the job?

WHAT WE LIKE

1. The unobtrusive design This is not an especially small machine. Its footprint is no smaller than the colour laser printer that normally sits beside me, but it is much flatter – almost flying saucer-like. Everything folds away very neatly – and, in the case of the output tray, automatically flips open when you press print. This MFP comes with a host of business class features, all cleverly hidden away in a SOHO-sized device

2. Quiet operation Like all inkjet devices, the MX860 clicks and whirrs before and after print jobs, but the rest of the time it is blissfully quiet – unlike laser printers. It is also cool and odour-less – a great comfort for those worried about the health effects of toner particle emissions and a real boon for people in small offices.

3. Business-class featuresFor business users, the MX860 has a number of major selling points

On testincluding individually replaceable ink tanks; automatic two-sided (duplex) printing; and a 35-sheet duplex automatic document feeder that scans both sides of the page automatically – a real time-saver. There is also the option of scan-ning/copying via the platen: es-sential for copying/scanning books, magazines and solid objects.

4. Print DriverSome suppliers make a song and dance about cost-saving/waste reduction features and then bury them deep in the driver. Not Canon. Click on Properties and you will be presented with all the paper and ink-saving features you could want, including duplex, 2-on-1, 4-on-1 and Fast (draft) printing. The ‘Always Print with Current Settings’ tick box makes it easy to set duplex or fast print (or both) as the default.

5. Ease of useThis ‘user-friendliness’ extends to every aspect of the MFP. Particular mention must be made of the Canon MP Navigator EX operating software, which is a model of clarity; and the 2.5in colour TFT display that makes it easy to perform complex copying jobs, such as collated copies, 4-on-1 copy, binder margin copy, punch hole removal and frame erase when copy-ing books.

6. FlexibilityAnother aspect of this device that’s likely to appeal to home users is its ability to perform business and non-business tasks with equal

ease. When you are not using the MX860 for work, use it to print photos from a memory card or from the digital camera itself, on paper sizes from snapshots to A4.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

1. Slow printing Our list of dislikes consists mainly of quibbles. The one exception is the print speed, which is much slower than office workers are used to. The MX860 has an official print speed of 8.4 images per minute (B&W) and 5.6 images per minute (colour) but it sometimes felt much slower. Even home workers don’t like to wait for their output.

2. Paper capacityThe price of a low profile is a small paper cassette with a capacity of just 150 sheets. This is mean for a network device with business pretensions. However, it can be supplemented by filling the sheet feeder at the back of the machine. This ruins the MX860’s clean lines, but reduces the frequency of refills. Alternatively, use the second pa-per supply for letterhead or photo paper (the printer automatically detects the type of document be-ing printed and chooses the paper source accordingly).

3. Inconsistent copy qualityCopy quality on the MX860 was adequate rather than spectacular and somewhat variable. In today’s digital age, this doesn’t matter too much, as most people copy only for

convenience: if quality is important, best to keep it digital.

4. Incomplete feature setThe MX860 has an impressive fea-ture set, but it does not cover every need: the scan to email capability does not support Mozilla Thunder-bird; you need to buy an adapter to print from XD cards (though you can attach a digital camera direct-ly); you cannot use the Fax function with a broadband connection; and you can ‘Scan To’ but not ‘Print From’ a USB stick.

5. Not so Eco ModePeople who like to save money by printing in draft mode will be disap-pointed by the 10-15% saving on the MX860. Other printers reduce ink/toner consumption by as much as 40%.

ConclusionThe Canon Pixma MX860 has its faults but they are easy to live with. In its favour are a compact, well thought out design; impres-sive functionality; and some use-ful productivity features. The limited paper capacity and slow print speeds make the MX860 unsuitable for busy of-fices, but it is ideal for micro-businesses with low print volumes and home workers requiring a printer that the whole family can use for everything from homework to photo printing.

´´´´´www.canon.co.uk

James Goulding reviews Canon’s premium inkjet all-in-one


. . . .the cry goes up to cut costs

A timely moveSteve Adams explains how SMBs can save money and improve efficiency by using web-based applications like the MyFax internet fax service.

As soon as the economy falters the cry goes up to cut costs. Yet, this is good practice whatever the state of the economy. Even when times are good, an organisation shouldn’t pay for the things it doesn’t need, or pay more than necessary for the ones that it does.

Typically, when an organisation purchases a new business application, it must install it onto a server or servers; pay monthly maintenance costs that most software manufacturers require as part of the license; buy upgrades; and employ IT people to keep everything running smoothly

Businesses today simply do not have the financial or human resources to support such a model and as a result are moving from technology purchases to web-

based services with ‘pay-as-you-go’ pricing and all the latest features and upgrades but no up-front capital expenditure, maintenance or support costs.

The move to web-based services is not just for ‘outlier’ applications either. Even core applications, such as office productivity suites, are moving away from a traditional client/server model. Larger, more complex applications, such as a contact management or e-mail campaign management system, provide even more scope for savings as the need to maintain both hardware and software is reduced and in some cases eliminated.

Faxing is another example of how organisations can cut costs by moving to a web-based system. With an internet fax service, a

company can send and receive faxes from a desktop PC, laptop or mobile device using an existing internet connection. There is no need for a fax machine or second phone line and because files are electronic, paper costs are also reduced; you only print the pages you choose to print.

Any organisation looking for ways to reduce business costs – and who isn’t these days – should consider moving some applications to the web. It’s a great way to cut costs without cutting efficiency.

Steve Adams is Vice President of Marketing for MyFax, www.myfax.com, a provider of Internet faxing services for individual home users, small businesses and large corporations.

Haines Watts (HW) is a Top 20 firm of chartered accountants, with more than 50 offices and 250 associates throughout the UK, including chartered accountants, business and tax advisors and corporate finance specialists.

Based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, the HW Financial Services (HWFS) office provides financial planning solutions for clients of the accountancy practice.

Each month it sends/receives hundreds of faxed pages to and from clients, insurance companies, banks and accountancy firms, most of which contain confidential information including personal details such as telephone numbers, dates of birth, address history, credit scores and bank account details.

Despite the importance of fax to the business, HWFS had just one machine for 30 people located on two floors. Since this was on the floor above the financial services department, staff wasted a great deal of time simply walking to and from the machine. As some documents were

30 pages long, faxes also took a long time to send.After reviewing various options, the HWFS team trialled the MyFax

Internet fax service, which allows users to send and receive faxes from their desktops, using their e-mail client or a secure online server. Recipients receive faxes on their normal fax machine or in their Inbox if they are MyFax users.

As a result, the HWFS team no longer has to spend time walking to and from the fax machine; the quality of faxed documents has improved; and compliance procedures are more streamlined. In order to meet the requirement to save all client documents on the IT system, staff used to scan fax correspondence into client folders, which took time and could result in scanned papers becoming misplaced.

Now, by using the email function to send/receive faxes, all documents can be dragged into the client’s folder, with the added benefit that only authorised users can access the fax records on the IT system.

Faster faxingCase study

What

you don’t need

when TSG provide your support

At TSG, we guarantee to save you money

Whether it’s maintenance, capital replacement or running costs,

we can reduce what you currently pay. You can tailor our nationwide

service to create a support package that exactly matches your

existing fax, printer and copier fleet, future purchases and the

operating needs of your company.

With TSG, you stay in control

You can save a lot of time and money by using our service record

system. We provide you with secure online access to your entire

service history. The details of every item we support, service history

and maintenance schedule are available at the click of a mouse and

updated automatically.

With TSG, you get the bigger picture

Saving you money on support is only the start. We can optimise

your document workflows, maximise the performance of your

hardware and networks, and guide you through the complexity of

product features and software compatibility. For many customers,

we have appraised their existing equipment and systems, calculated

total cost of ownership and recommended ways to reduce hardware,

consumables, maintenance and printing costs.

To find our how TSG

can help you improve

your bottom line,

call 0870 417 6010 technical support group

Because some service companies also sell hardware, you could end up

buying new equipment when repairs would be more cost effective.

At TSG we don’t sell hardware, we just deliver ‘best value’ support.

TSG SUPPORTS ALL BRANDS OF FAXES, PRINTERS, SCANNERS, MFP’S, PLOTTERS, COPIERS, PC’S, NETWORKS AND DATACOMS

2009 spring print_it

Documents