5 Multifunction Printers For A Hard-Hit Economy

As the economy continues to steamroll over profits everywhere, print vendors and VARs have found a bright spot in the mess: color multifunction printers (MFPs). By switching from single, standalone printers, MFPs are helping companies cut costs in hardware, equipment, office footprints and are also providing green benefits. With resellers making money and customers saving it, it's a win-win situation for everyone. Channelweb.com takes a look at the newer color MFPs that score with customers.

Xerox's latest MFP launch is the WorkCentre 7232 and 7242 machines. The 7242 model has e-mail, fax, Internet fax, LAN fax, network fax server and scanning capabilities, and has print speeds of up to 10 pages per minute for color. The printer is built on Xerox's Extensible Interface (EIP) platform which lets independent software vendors and developers customize document workflow applications for Xerox office multifunction products. Additionally, by using the PagePack cost-per-print program, Xerox resellers can equip customers with tools that the company said significantly increases productivity while using MFPs.

"Resellers clearly recognize that customers are looking for more return on their technology investments, especially given our current economy," said Gary Gillam, vice president of North American channel operations at Xerox. "Customers want to consolidate equipment and they're looking for partners who will help maximize their document workflow and increase profits."

The WorkCentre 7242 is priced at $6,999.

On Jan. 6, Oki Data launched the MC860 series of MFPs. These MFPs have copy speeds of 26 pages per minute and can deliver A3, wide-format color MFP functionality with flexible media handling and high-definition (HD) color output. Of course they also print, copy, scan and fax up to tabloid-size media. One model is compact enough that it can sit on a desktop.

Oki Data has definitely seen a bump in the market, and according to Carl Taylor, director, product and industry marketing, Oki Data Americas, the company shipped about 4,000 color MFP units through solution providers in the last 12 months.

"We are seeing a trend in color MFPs in both the SMB and midmarket," said Taylor. "From a category standpoint, single function printers are flat in the market vs. color -- MFPs customers are asking for a broader product."

Vinny DiSpigno, CEO, of Holbrook, N.Y.-based Webistix, a Ricoh and Xerox reseller, agrees.

"In the last six months, I think the color MFP space is the hottest in printers, and monochrome has not been moving that much," he said. "At the price point and performance level for color MFPs, you're getting a lot more functionality for just a little more money.





The MC860 MFP includes three models that can be configured to deliver different levels of productivity. Pricing for the desktop model begins at $3,999; the floor-standing model with one tray and a cabinet begins at $4,459; and the floor-standing model with two trays and a cabinet starts at $4,739.

The HP Color LaserJet CM2320fxi MFP was designed to develop professional-quality marketing materials in-house on a four-in-one device that HP said helps small to midsize business customers save time and money.

"This translates to savings on not only hardware, utilities and supplies cost but also on marketing spending," said Larry Trevarthen, director, market development, HP LaserJet Enterprise Solutions.



The duplex copier functions include color print, color copy, color scan, black/white fax and color direct digital photo print. The copier runs at 20 pages per minute for both black and white and color copies, with the first page (color) out at 17.9 seconds.

The HP Color LaserJet CM2320fxi MFP is priced at $899, but HP is selling it for $799 under a special offer, good until Feb. 14.

As Lexmark points out, if you frequently print in color, the cost of supplies can be hard to swallow, and bills the X782eXL as a remedy that lets high-volume workgroups print in color without worrying about the cost of consumables. According to the company, its unique cartridge pricing helps save money and time by printing professional color documents in-house. Although color toner cartridges usually cost more than black toners, all original Lexmark XL high yield toner cartridges, including cyan, yellow and magenta, which cost the same as black cartridges.

"The equipment isn't the big cost," said Billie Bryant, president and CEO of Dallas-based CESCO. "Supplies like toners are very expensive."

The X782eXL can print up to 35 pages per minute in color, 40 per minute in black, with the first page out in 13 seconds. This MFP also provides security to protect data and devices and includes a numeric pad for secure PIN release of print jobs.

The Lexmark X782eXL has a street price of $4,499.

The Aficio SP C222SF Series aims to reduce paper usage and supply costs with standard automatic duplex printing. These MFPs print and copy full-color and black and white documents at the exact same rate: 21 pages per minute (SP C221SF and SP C222SF) or 16 pages per minute (SP C220S). All three MFPs offer resolutions up to 2400 x 600 dpi. Scanned documents can have resolutions up to 1200 x 1200 dpi, or scanned files can be converted to editable text. First print speed is 14 seconds for both black and white or color, and first copy time from the automatic document feeder is 30 seconds.



Street prices run from $399.99 to $849.