Konica Minolta Proves More Versatile than Ricoh In Printing Challenge
Konica Minolta PagePro 1390 MF
Konica Minolta's PagePro 1390 offers print, copy, scan and fax functions in a compact unit with an MSRP of only $349. The PagePro 1390 has a 15,000-page-per-month duty cycle and features true 1,200-dpi resolutionoutput is sharp and easy to read. Equipped with 48 Mbytes of memory, the MFP prints the first page in about 14 seconds and the rest of the document at 21 ppmit can make 600-x-600-dpi copies at 20 ppm.
A zoom function allows copies to be resized from 25 percent to 400 percent of the original size. Standard paper inputs include a 250-sheet multipurpose tray, a single-sheet feeder and a 50-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF). Printouts and copies feed into a 100-sheet face-down output tray. Duplex printing must be done manually. The small-format unit supports paper sizes up to 8.5 by 14 inches.
The PagePro 1390 can't print in color, but it can scan documents and photos in 24-bit color at 1,200 dpi. It can scan to a file, to e-mail or directly into compatible software applications. Images can be saved in various formats, and documents can be converted to editable text using the OCR feature. The 50-page ADF allows for hands-free copying and scanning.
The PagePro 1390's stand-alone fax functionality means the computer it's attached to doesn't have to be turned on to send faxes, which saves time and electricity. The 33.6-Kbps faxing system offers 12 one-touch dials, 100 speed dials, group dial and broadcast dial.
One drawback to the MFP, but a common one these days, is that it ships with a starter cartridge good for only 1,500 pages. Fortunately, standard-capacity toner cartridges with a 3,000 print life span cost only $80 while high-capacity cartridges good for 6,000 prints cost $130. Drum cartridges for 20,000 prints cost $105.
Because of its small size and weight, solution providers won't need help from a second person to set up the PagePro 1390. It has a square footprint of roughly 19 inches with a height of 21.5 inches and it weighs about 30 pounds.
Konica Minolta's two-tier partner program is broken down into a Partner level and a Platinum Partner level. The Partner level is open to all VARs and has no initial requirements to join. Partners are offered SPIFs on selected products, a demo program, dedicated field and inside sales representation, technical support and an online partner portal.
Platinum Partners get all of the aforementioned benefits plus MDFs, custom marketing materials, preferred status on the company's online locator and a partner plaque. To become a Platinum Partner, VARs must demonstrate six solid months of product sales, which will be evaluated by Konica Minolta. The company did not disclose margins, leaving that calculation to the product distributors.
Ricoh Aficio CL3500N
Ricoh's Aficio CL3500N, a 22-ppm network-ready color laser printer, is a single-pass unit rated to print both color and monochrome output at the same speed. It's also rated for a duty cycle of 50,000 pages per month, so it can easily meet the needs of small offices and workgroups, provided they don't need a large-format printer. Ricoh's MSRP of $999 is reasonable for a single-pass unit.
The Aficio CL3500N's base price includes USB 2.0 and 10/100 Ethernet connectivity, so it readily installs locally or on a network. It has a standard 530-sheet input tray and 100-sheet multipurpose tray and pages feed into a 250-sheet face-down output tray. Automatic duplex printing is optional. A 533 MHz processor and 128 Mbytes of memory are standard, but note that the printer's top rated speed of 22 ppm is when printing at the default resolution of 600 x 600 dpi.
The CL3500N's toner cartridges are quite slim and don't look like they hold much toner, but at least they're not terribly expensive. A black toner cartridge with a life span of 7,000 pages costs $50, while cyan, magenta and yellow toner cartridges are good for 6,000 pages at $110 each.
The Aficio CL3500N also is easy to handle with its small size and weightespecially considering it's a color laser printer. It measures 16.5 inches wide by 21.1 inches deep by 15.7 inches high and weighs about 73 pounds. While many new printers come with preinstalled consumables, the Ricoh unit does notsolution providers must install the toner cartridges and imaging drums.
Ricoh rates the Aficio CL3500N at 22 ppm in both color and monochrome, and performance tests conducted by Test Center engineers confirmed those claims. Sample color images also printed quickly, but image quality was not very good and some images looked washed out while others did not.
Ricoh's three-tier channel program aims to help partners capture market share from businesses of all sizes. The levels are Gold, Platinum and Diamond and offer increasing rebate levels, including 5 percent up front for all levels, and back-end rebates of 4 percent for Gold, 7 percent for Platinum and 10 percent for Diamond-level partners.
Partners can expect scores of incentives and support including volume incentive rebates, discounted demo unit purchases, SPIFs, listings on Ricoh's Web site and more. Partner levels are determined by volume, and there are no up-front requirements or costs for becoming a Ricoh partner.
