xerox workcentre 4250/4260 vs. lexmark x656/x658 series

Xerox® WorkCentre® 4250 / 4260 vs. Lexmark X656 / X658 SeriesCompetitive Assessment

WorkCentre® 4250 / 4260Multifunction PrinterCompetitive Assessment

This document has been prepared from data prepared by Buyers Laboratory Inc. (BLI), the imaging industry’s leading source of unbiased and reliable competitive intelligence. Data was collected in BLI’s 10,000 square-foot lab in Hackensack, New Jersey and has been published in BLI’s Lab Test Reports, Environmental Test Reports, and BLI Side-By-Side Comparison publications, among others.

The WorkCentre 4250 / 4260’s innovative print drivers were recognized with a BLI “Pick” award for “Outstanding Achievement,” Fall 2008The WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 supports the Global Print Driver and the Mobile Express Print Driver, which received a BLI “Outstanding Achievement Award” in Fall 2008.

“In our lab trial using the Xerox Global and Mobile Print Drivers, we were able to print documents on non-Xerox devices, including copier-based and printer-based models, on our test network,” said Tony Maceri, BLI’s Senior Test Technician. This flexibility lets workers print anywhere in their office, even on non-Xerox printers and copiers, with a single interface, instead of having to keep numerous print drivers installed (which is time-consuming for IT workers as well as confusing to end users).

* BLI tested the Xerox WorkCentre 4260 and Lexmark X6556 for this report. Feature sets are typically common among product families of the same class; therefore, the advantages highlighted in this report can apply to all products mentioned. The caveat to this is when page per minute productivity figures are quoted, these apply specifically to the products tested.

2 Xerox WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 vs. Lexmark X656 / X658 Series

Summary: WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 advantages

The WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 has the follow-ing advantages over the X656 / X658 series:Productivity*

“Print-Around” feature helps avoid bottlenecks at the •printer

Easier misfeed clearing keeps workers more productive•

Faster tested first-copy time from the document feeder•

Faster simplex printing (one, 10 and 20 sets)•

Faster duplex printing (one, 10 and 20 sets)•

Faster tested first-print speeds (most file types tested)•

Faster simplex copying (all modes tested)•

Faster duplex copying (multiple sets)•

Consumables status is available in print drivers•

Cost Control Lower IT overhead: easier installation•

Lower IT overhead: configuration management•

Lower IT overhead: lower help desk costs•

Better accounting/tracking•

Lower cost per page•

Security Better administrative utilities•

Standard audit log with encryption•

Standard hard drive encryption •

More department/user I.D. codes•

Confidential fax transmission and reception•

Common Criteria Certified•

Environmental considerations Lower energy usage when printing•

Lower energy usage in power-save mode•

Releases less ozone and less styrene•

Generates less noise•

Xerox-funded recycling of all CRUs•

Separate toner and image drum maximizes consumables •yield and minimizes waste

Xerox WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 vs. Lexmark X656 / X658 Series 3

Test conditions:

BLI tested the Xerox WorkCentre 4260 and Lexmark X6556 for this report. Feature sets are typically common among product families of the same class; therefore, the advantages highlighted in this report can apply to all products mentioned. The caveat to this is when page per minute produc-tivity figures are quoted, these apply specifically to the products tested.

The device(s) to be tested, lab test equipment and paper are tested with daily conditions maintained between 20 and 25.6 degrees Celsius/68 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit and 35% to 65% RH. A4/Letter-size 80 gsm/20-lb. bond paper is used for all testing. Electricity is automatically regulated to <1% variation at 115 VAC using a Powerstat voltage regulator. Energy measurements used in Environmental Test Reports are recorded using a Yokogawa WT210 digital power meter. Devices with multiple energy level settings are set to use the lowest amount of energy for energy-save mode and/or sleep mode and to go into each mode at the shortest interval possible. The Job Stream Test conducted for BLI Environmental Reports is started from sleep mode after overnight dormancy and the running mode tests are started from idle mode.

This document is strictly for internal use and is provided for self training purposes – it should never be provided in whole or part to a customer.

Table of contents

ProductivityProductivity analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Ease of use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

IT advantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Speed comparisons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Cost controlCost per page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

SecuritySecurity features comparison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Environmental considerationsEnergy consumption comparison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Environmental awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Key positioning strengthsList . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

SpecificationsComparison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10


Productivity

Productivity analysis Productivity is infl uenced by a variety of factors, ranging from the obvi-ous (rated engine speed, rated scan speed) to the subtle (streamlined administrative procedures, for example), and overall ease of use. We will examine numerous factors that contribute to the overall productivity advantages of the WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 Series in this section.

Ease of UseEase of use is a critical factor in determining productivity. If users have to spend time fi guring out how to use a function properly, they’re not doing the jobs they’re paid to do and their productivity suffers dramatically. The WorkCentre 4250 / 4260’s advantages in ease of use include…

Intuitive print drivers keep workers more productive

Check status before you send a print job…right from your application

WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 X656 / X658 Series

Paper gauge in print driver lets users check consumables before sending a print job, without leav-ing their desks.

No paper gauge in print drivers.

Toner gauge in print driver with information on remaining toner in increments of 1 percent.

No toner gauge in print drivers.

Select collate through the print driver.

“Unlike the previous generation Status Window, users can’t proactively access Status Messenger to check device or consumables status.” *

“Although there’s a collate section in the driver, it didn’t function in testing; collate must be selected from the Windows print screen within an application for output to be collated.” *

* Quotes from BLI’s Lab Test Report on the Lexmark X656 Series

The Lexmark X656 / X658 driver does not provide consumable and paper tray status.

The WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 print driver keeps users informed with consumable and paper tray status.

Enhancing worker productivityXerox Print Around feature avoids bottlenecks at the printer

Thanks to WorkCentre 4250 / 4260’s unique “Print Around” feature, one problem job (such as a print job calling for a kind of paper that isn’t cur-rently loaded) won’t hold up the queue behind it. Instead, the problem job is simply held in the queue until the problem job can be printed. Other jobs in the queue simply print around it in the meantime.

There is no comparable capability for the X656 / X658 series.


Clearing paper misfeeds is easier and faster “Removing jams is simple, aided by dynamic text and graphical instruc-tions on the display. Misfeeds are accessed from the front and sides of the unit; the areas are clearly marked. Consumables don’t have to be removed during the process.”

— BLI’s Lab Test Report on the WorkCentre 4260

“There are six access points for misfeeds…however, a portion of the drum is exposed and could suffer some damage if users aren’t careful. Furthermore, the drum might have to be removed to clear a misfeed.”

— BLI’s Lab Test Report on the X656 Series

Only the WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 offers scan to hard drive capabil-ity, allowing users to store often-used documents directly on the MFP’s hard disk drive.

“Most noteworthy is that the unit’s actual running speeds when output-ting multiple sets in simplex print mode and all three copy modes are the fastest of competitive models tested to date.”

— Quote from BLI’s Lab Test Report on the WorkCentre 4260

Higher visible halftone range results in better printed output.Measured printed halftone range:


1% to 100% 6% to 100%* Data from BLI Lab Test Reports

BLI productivity analysis: Faster tested fi rst-copy time from the document feederTested fi rst-copy time (in seconds)*

WorkCentre 4260 X656 Series

9.25 10.29* Data from BLI Lab Test Reports

BLI productivity analysis: Faster printing (one, 10 and 20 sets)Tested print speeds using the PCL print driver (in ppm)

WorkCentre 4260 X656 Series

Simplex mode:One set

32.3 29.4

10 sets 50.1 46.9

20 sets 51.4 49.8

Duplex mode:One set

26.7 21.7

10 sets 37.6 35.0

20 sets 39.2 36.3* Data from BLI Lab Test Reports

Lexmark X656 / X658 users may have to remove the sensitive drum to access paper misfeeds.Lexmark X656 / X658 users may have to remove the sensitive drum to access

WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 users can easily access misfeeds.


Cost control is influenced by factors including actual toner and supplies cost as well as energy usage and – most often overlooked – the amount of time workers spend installing, tracking and maintaining it on the network. In this section, we’ll examine the WorkCentre 4250 / 4260’s advantages over the X656 / X658 series in all of these key areas.

BLI Cost Analysis: Lower Tested Cost Per PageCost per page (in cents)

WorkCentre 4250 / 4260

X656 / X658 Series

Toner cost per page 0.509 cents 1.064 cents

Total supplies cost per page

1.127 cents 1.183 cents

* Data from manufacturer specifications

Cost Control

X656 SeriesWorkCentre 4260XF

Tested 2:2 duplex mode (in cpm)*

35.9

36.6

Five sets

10 sets

20 stets

47.2

48.4

34.643.4

Faster Duplex Copying (multiple sets)

Tested 1:2 duplex mode (in cpm)*

35.0

36.3

Five sets

10 sets

20 stets

45.5

48.5

32.840.7

Faster Simplex Copying (all modes tested)

Tested simplex copy speeds (in cpm)*

46.8

49.7

52.1

One set

Five sets

10 sets

20 stets

47.6

51.2

52.9

29.930.6

BLI productivity analysis: Faster first-print speeds (four out of five file types tested; in seconds)

WorkCentre 4260 X656

Word DOC 7.19 10.46

PowerPoint PPT 7.78 12.65

Photoshop TIF 15.75 12.07

Acrobat PDF 9.25 10.79

Photoshop JPG 8.80 10.20* Data from BLI Lab Test Reports

Advantages for a company’s Chief Technology Officer or IT DirectorComparing Xerox CentreWare Web with Lexmark MarkVision Professional

CentreWare Web Markvision Professional

Discovery of locally connected devices?

Yes No

Active Directory integration?

Yes No

Standard report templates?

11 None

Automated consum-ables ordering?

Yes No

Paper Gauge (Web Page)?

“Ready,” “Near Empty” or “Empty”

“OK” or “Empty”

Accounting capability?

Standard Optional

Clone settings? Standard No

* Data from BLI Lab Test Reports


Security

The WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 offers better standard security features.Does the MFP offer…

WorkCentre 4250 / 4260

X656 / X658 Series

Standard audit log with encryption?

Yes No

Hard drive encryption?

Standard Optional

Number of dept./user ID codes?

2,000 1,000

Follow You printing feature?*

Optional No

Confidential fax TX/RX?

Yes (with fax option) No

* Xerox’s Follow You printing feature allows users to submit jobs to a secure print queue for print-ing on any available networked device after user authentication.

Safeguard against attacks

External device:

The WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 leverages port blocking and fax securities to ensure product safety.

Internal device:

With scan securities and rate-based access along with CAC or SMARTcard access restrictions, the WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 defends against any breach attempts.

Xerox has gained full product Common Criteria Certification to ensure product security. Lexmark has not achieved this certification for any of its security functions.

On the WorkCentre 4250 / 4260, the administrator can set security levels to meet specific requirements. Xerox allows setting hard disk overwrite and encryption as needed. Hard disk overwrite can be ad hoc now or can be set to occur after every print or scheduled daily, weekly, monthly.

OSFax Card

Disk

Controller

Others’ Full System Certified

Xerox Full System Certified

PostScript

Local IU

Scanner

Full system Common Criteria Certification

•Mostrigoroustestingintheworld

•Xeroxhasmoredevicescertifiedthananycompetitor


Environmental considerations

Lower Energy Consumption = Lower Cost The WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 uses less energy than the X656 / X658 Series when printing.*


Energy used 794 watts 800 watts* Data from manufacturer specifications

The WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 uses less energy than the X656 / X658 Series in Sleep/Power mode.*



The WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 uses less energy than the X656 / X658 Series in power save mode:*



Less Air PollutionThe WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 releases fewer greenhouse emissions and pollutants than the X656 / X658 Series.*


Ozone (in mg/h) 0.08 0.54

Styrene 0.119 0.160* Data supplied by vendors and published in BLI Lab Test Reports

Less Noise PollutionThe WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 produces less noise than the X656 / X658 Series.*


Noise (in decibels) 54 56* Data supplied by vendors and published in BLI Lab Test Reports

Maximize Consumables

Because the WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 uses separate toner cartridge and imaging units, the life of each consumable is maximized to the fullest extent of the technology.

Users of the X656 / X658 Series throw away their imaging units every time they change their toner cartridge.

Xerox’s Recent Environmental Awards:Corporate Leader by US EPA •

Climate Protection Award•

FTSE4Good Index•

World’s Most Ethical Companies List•

Supplies Recycling ProgramConsumables for the WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 are part of the Xerox Green World Alliance Supplies Recycling Program. For more information, please visit the Green World Alliance website at www.xerox.com/gwa.


Key positioning strengths of the X656 / X658 Series and how to combat them with prospective customers

Handles heavier paper weightsWhat the Lexmark sales rep could say:

“The X656 / X658 series can handle paper as heavy as 47-lb. bond through its main paper drawers (versus paper weights of up to 28-lb. bond on the WorkCentre 4250 / 4260).”

How to respond

Let’s be honest. How many office documents are printed on thick oak tag? The WorkCentre 4250 / 4260’s paper trays were designed to handle typical office document paper weights easily and efficiently. On the rare occasion where extra heavy media weight is needed (such as for a book-let cover), the WorkCentre 4250 / 4260’s standard 100-sheet bypass tray can handle paper weights as heavy as 53-lb. bond, which is thicker than most offices will ever need to use.

Faster scanning speedWhat the Lexmark sales rep could say:

“The X656 / X658 Series’ rated scanning speed is 57 images per minute in both color and black, while the WorkCentre 4250 / 4260’s scanning speed is rated much slower at only 25 ipm in color and 55 ipm in black.”

How to respond:

Scanning speed is only one part of the entire workflow equation. The productivity of most workgroups is influenced more by overall productivity in printing and copying (where BLI Lab Tests confirmed the WorkCentre 4260 was faster in very), first-copy time (where the WorkCentre 4260 proved faster) and overall ease of use (so workers don’t have to spend time figuring out how to program a copy job, or leave their desks to check on toner and paper supplies).

Standard DSPFWhat the Lexmark sales rep could say:

“The X656 / X658 series includes a duplexing single-pass document feeder (DSPF), which scans both sides of a document at one time instead of scan-ning one side, then reversing the document in order to scan the other. This increases productivity when you’re working with two-sided documents.”

How to respond:

In theory, this is correct. However, in BLI lab testing, it turned out not to be the case. When copying multiple documents in both 1:2 and 2:2 duplex modes, the WorkCentre 4260 proved faster.

For more information, call 1-800-ASK-XEROX or visit us at www.xerox.com/office © 2010 Xerox Corporation. All rights reserved. XEROX®, XEROX and Design®, CentreWare® and WorkCentre® are trademarks of or licensed to Xerox Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Product information and/or specifications are subject to change without notice. 7/10 610P730067A W60CA-04UB

Specifications at a glance

Xerox WorkCentre 4250 / 4260 Lexmark X656 / X658 series

Engine Speed * 55 ppm 55 ppm

RADF Capacity 100 sheets 75 sheets

Rated First-Copy Time 5 seconds 7.5 seconds

Rated First-Print Time 6 seconds 9.5 seconds

Max. Monthly Duty Cycle 250,000 impressions 275,000 impressions

Max. Paper Capacity 3,100 sheets 3,200 sheets

Max. Photoconductor Yield 80,000 impressions 36,000 impressions

Scan to Hard Drive? Standard No

Hard Drive Encryption Standard Optional ($218)

Color Scanning? Standard Standard

Confidential Fax TX/RX? Standard (with fax option) No

Fax Polling? Standard (with fax option) No

PostScript/PCL? Standard Standard

Operating Noise Level 54 decibels 56 decibels* BLI tested the Xerox WorkCentre 4260 and Lexmark X6556 for this report. Feature sets are typically common among product families of the same class; therefore, the advantages highlighted in

this report can apply to all products mentioned. The caveat to this is when page per minute productivity figures are quoted, these apply specifically to the products tested.

xerox workcentre 4250/4260 vs. lexmark x656/x658 series

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