Showing Their True Colors: HP, Xerox, Lexmark Printers Face Off

HP Business Inkjet 1100d

HP's Business Inkjet 1100d is ideal for small workgroups or individuals. The Business Inkjet 1100d prints at speeds up to 23 ppm in black and up to 20 ppm in color using the draft setting, but only 7.5 ppm in black and 7 ppm in color using normal mode. The Business Inkjet 1100d uses four individual ink cartridges, which can be replaced separately instead of requiring that all four be replaced each time one cartridge runs dry.

The HP model features USB and parallel ports, a 250-sheet input tray, an 80-sheet output tray and automatic duplexing. It can't take wide paper, but it can handle sizes up to 8.5 x 14 inches. The printer measures just 19.5 x 8.5 x 18 inches and weighs only 20 pounds. It costs $199.

HP's PartnerOne channel program includes compensation tools and customized marketing assistance. Marketing and sales materials and technical resources are available online. Solution providers focusing on the SMB market can receive additional marketing funds, rebates for demo equipment, sales and marketing assistance, and leasing programs.

Xerox Phaser 8400

Xerox's Phaser 8400 solid-ink printer uses blocks of colored wax instead of powdered toner. The blocks are keyed by shape for easy installation, and these printers take just minutes for a reseller to set up. The Phaser 8400 prints at 18 ppm in color or monochrome using standard mode, and the first page pops out in 6 seconds—after a 12-minute warmup cycle. The Phaser 8400 has a 100-sheet multipurpose tray and a 525-sheet second tray.

The high-end DP model costs $1,699 and includes networking, 256 Mbytes of memory, duplex printing, an embedded Web server, remote printing capability and e-mail alerts. The base model offers standard parallel and USB 2.0 interfaces and provides good performance and image quality for $999. The Phaser 8400 does not accept wide-format paper.

Xerox's Phaser 8400 measures just 16.3 x 14.5 x 21 inches and weighs only 59 pounds. This is the perfect printer for graphics arts departments that demand glossy, detailed output on inexpensive paper. The Phaser 8400 provides great output, but the long warmup cycle and the potentially high electricity bill might deter some customers.

Xerox's partner program offers leads, pre- and post-sales support, technical support, training and volume-based rebates. Commissions, incentives and margin enhancement programs are available based on a partner's level. Xerox did not disclose average margin information.

Lexmark C510

Lexmark's C510 is very small for a color laser printer. The unit measures 15 x 19 x 16.5 inches and weighs 69 pounds. It's easy to set up, as toner cartridges are preinstalled. However, they must be removed, stripped of packing materials and replaced before the printer can be used. The photodeveloper cartridge must be installed separately.

Lexmark's C510 prints up to 30 ppm in black, with the first page ready in about 10 seconds. Printing speeds in color are roughly 8 ppm. The C510 prints full-page color photos and graphics much faster than an inkjet printer and almost as fast as solid-ink without the long warmup cycle. Color graphics and photos came out great.

The C510 is priced at $619. For less than it costs to set up one high-end color laser printer, numerous C510 machines can be set up for individual users. The C510 does not print on wide paper.

Lexmark's Partner Source program offers 20 percent commissions on service offerings. The company also provides pre- and post-sales support seven days a week, and online help 24 hours a day. Extensive marketing collateral, a dedicated solution provider Web site and fee-based training are also available.

CHANNEL PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS
>HP Business Inkjet 1100d

COMPANY: Hewlett Packard
Palo Alto, Calif.
1-800-HPINVENT
www.hp.com
DISTRIBUTORS: Direct from vendor
AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS: None
TECH RATING:

CHANNEL RATING:

>Xerox Phaser 8400

COMPANY: Xerox
Stamford, Conn.
(800) 275-9376
www.xerox.com
DISTRIBUTORS: Direct from vendor
AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS: None

TECH RATING:

CHANNEL RATING:

>Lexmark C510 Color Laser Printer

COMPANY: Lexmark
Lexington, Ky.
(800) 358-5835
www.lexmark.com
DISTRIBUTORS: ABS Computers, CDW, Dartek, Dell, Direct from vendor, Global Computer, Tiger Direct, Viscom
AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS: None
TECH RATING:

CHANNEL RATING:

Note: Recommended status is earned with a score of eight stars out of 10