Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), a leading provider of advanced imaging and networking technologies for the desktop to the print shop, today announced the introduction of the bizhub 501 and the bizhub 421 multifunctional products (MFPs - print, copy, fax, and scan all in one system). With print/copy speeds of 50 and 42 pages per minute (ppm), respectively, the bizhub™ 501/421 Series is ideal for mid- to high-volume office environments that require a reliable, monochrome MFP with network capabilities, and flexible document finishing and distribution functionality.

Featuring monthly duty cycles up to 175,000 impressions, high toner yields, PageScope network management tools and bizhub OP, the bizhub 501/421 Series brings a new level of performance and reliability to mid-to-large-sized offices by delivering a common user experience, increased manageability, superior print performance, improved scanning functionality and enhanced security.

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Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, the world's second largest manufacturer of laser printer engines, expands its lineup of mid range color MFP solutions for office workgroup environments with the launch of the CLX – 6240FX. The CLX – 6240FX delivers impressive color documents at rate of up to 25 PPM in letter mode. The impressive list of standard features include a legal size platen, auto duplex printing and copy, 80GB hard drive, open architecture and a straightforward control panel to enable a wide range of productivity enhancing document workflow solutions.

Today’s business environment increasingly relies on workgroup MFPs as the entry point for paper-less document management workflows. The CLX – 6240FX has a high resolution up to 4800x4800 (SEE THIS) color scanner with CCD technology (Charge Coupled Device) for high quality scanning. Advanced scanning features include intuitive scan-to-network and scan-to-anywhere support for PDF, TIFF and JPEG file formats. A unique Samsung feature is a Direct USB Interface that enables mobile professionals the option of scanning to or printing from any standard USB drive. Scanning management tools include full LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) support and secure document management tools.

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HP still holds the lion's share of the inkjet all-in-one market and produces both business-oriented machines and those intended for the photo-enthusiast at home. The Photosmart C7380 fits in the second category, though it would be fine for simple SOHO tasks, too.

HP tries hard to make its printers and all-in-ones look good and to innovate with the design of each new range. This can be done through small details, like the light blue LEDs on the buttons - dark blue is so last year. Or it can be through the work done to reduce the height of the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF), which in turn reduces the overall height of the machine, though not by a lot.

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At $400, the Photosmart C8180 sits in Hewlett-Packard's lineup as one of its most expensive All-in-One (AIO) players. This printer, scanner, and copier has a suite of features for the amateur photo enthusiast that includes a touch-screen display, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity, a slide scanner, and a dual paper feed tray, but it's not without a few missteps. The photo quality is better than average and the hardware is well designed, but the lack of an auto-document feeder (ADF) and painfully slow print speed prevent us from giving this otherwise excellent printer an Editor's Choice award.

Design and features
The design of the C8180 is similar to the rest of the printers in the Photosmart series, but this particular model has a few notable hardware additions that you won't find in most All-in-Ones. Unlike most printers, the C8180 has a swiveled touch screen that lets you control all the software functions including photo editing, wireless setup and management, and scanning jobs. The touch screen eliminates button clutter and frees up the rest of the front panel for simple buttons that control one-touch red-eye removal as well as a few others for start, stop, and cancel. The front of the C8180 also has a memory card bay with slots for Compact Flash, xD, SD/MMC, and Memory Stick cards.

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Multifunction printers typically print, copy, scan and fax. But the Brother MFC-885CW adds an interesting new twist to the familiar space-saving formula: a digital cordless phone. The printer supports up to 4 handsets, features speakerphone and an answering machine, and presents one of the most comprehensive all-in-one printing solutions on the market today.

Besides the phone, the Brother MFC-885CW All-in-One Inkjet Printer faxes, scans, copies at 22 cpm Black/20 cpm Color, and prints at 30 ppm Black/25 ppm Color. In addition, this new MFP features Ethernet and Wi-Fi network connectivity, a 4.2” LCD screen for previewing, editing and printing photos, and PC-free photo printing via media card, PictBridge and USB flash drive.

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Epson unveiled today a flagship model for a self-described “new generation of all-in-one printers.” This model is called the Stylus NX400 and you’ll find it pricing around $100.

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The Dell 968w color inkjet multifunction printer is a faster, more expandable step up from its cousin, the948 AIO. The 968w we tested also has integrated Wi-Fi (a cheaper model is available without that feature). But while it has many office-oriented features, it suffers from design flaws, and it also faces stiff competition from similarly priced models--including the Lexmark X9575 Professional, which the 968w closely resembles.

In our tests, the 968w performed satisfactorily. It posted a faster-than-average speed of 10.2 pages per minute (ppm) in printing text on plain paper. Color graphics came out more slowly; in printing a small photo on plain paper, for instance, the 968w managed only 2 ppm. Text samples appeared a little fuzzy but nicely black. Colors showed a yellowish or bluish cast, and images had a grainy look, even on Dell's own photo paper. The machine produced very good copies (a little chunky) and slightly dark scans.

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The Lexmark X9575 Professional is a color inkjet multifunction printer packed with business-centric features--including integrated Wi-Fi. However, while it outshines other models in the same price range (including the near-identical Dell 968w), its costly inks and design flaws might frustrate busier offices.

The X9575 Professional performed reasonably well in our tests, posting an above-average rate of 9.9 pages per minute (ppm) in printing text and a below-average rate of 2 ppm in printing color graphics. Text samples looked a little fuzzy but nicely black. (SEE THIS)s appeared somewhat grainy on plain paper but melted into smoothness on Lexmark's own photo paper. Scan quality was good, though a little dark; copies looked a bit thicker and fuzzier, but were still very good.

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When Kodak announced its first generation of all-in-one (AIO) printers last year, including the EasyShare 5300 All-In-One, it wasn't content with simply offering printers that held their own on speed, output quality, and features. It also claimed a low cost per page—a claim that got a lot of attention. Now Kodak's introducing its second wave of AIOs, starting with the ESP 3 All-In-One Printer ($129.99 direct). The obvious question is, what is Kodak doing for its second act? The answer: More of the same.

The ESP 3 has a sleeker design than the original Kodak printers, thanks to a black case and a slightly shrunken size: 6.9 by 16.6 by 11.8 inches (HWD). Inside, however, not much has changed from last year's models, with the same ink system as before, the same low claimed cost per page, and similar speed and output quality.

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Regular readers know I have a thing for wireless printers, like the $99 Wi-Fi laser I posted last month. Here's a more versatile model that costs even less: The Lexmark X4580 printer/copier/scanner, which Circuit City has on sale for $79.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states).

Designed with home offices and small businesses in mind, the X4580 is a color inkjet that can churn out 26 pages per minute (black). It scans in 48-bit color and comes with OCR software. And it makes one-touch copies. There's no sheet feeder--it's a flatbed model--and there's no LCD for previewing photos before printing. But it does offer 802.11g for easy wireless printing, and it's compatible with Windows and Mac machines.

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