Ricoh Aficio 2060SP versus Xerox WorkCentre Pro 165



Canon iRC2880 Series versus Xerox WorkCentre 7328

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Competitive Model: Xerox WorkCentre 7328

The Xerox WorkCentre 7328 has an advertised engine speed of 26 ppm in colour and 28 ppm in black. It features standard copy, network print and scan functionality and optional walk-up, Internet and PC fax functionality. The device includes a standard 75-sheet reversing automatic document feeder (RADF), 1 GB of RAM that is not upgradeable and a 40-GB hard disk drive. Standard paper supply is either 3,140 sheets or 2,180 sheets from five paper sources, including a 100-sheet bypass tray. Paper supplies are not upgradeable. The device incorporates Xerox’s EIP (Extensible Interface Platform) technology. True Adobe PostScript 3 is available via an optional EFI Fiery print controller. Print resolution is 1200 x 1200 dpi.

Highlights of the iRC2880 Series

The iRC2880 Series has an advertised engine speed of up to 26 ppm in colour (A4 size) and up to 28 ppm in black. It offers standard copy, network print, network scan and Internet fax functionality. The device comes standard with 1 GB of RAM (upgradeable to 1.5 GB) and an 80-GB hard disk. Standard paper supply consists of two 550-sheet paper drawers plus a 50-sheet bypass tray. Walk-up, network and PC fax are optional. Paper supplies can be upgraded to a maximum of 4,950 sheets from six paper sources. A 50-sheet reversing automatic document feeder (RADF) is optional on the “Base” C2880 model and standard on the “i” configuration. Duplex functionality is standard on both models. The “i” configuration also includes the PCL Printer Kit, which comes with PCL 5c as well as UFR II, Canon’s proprietary print controller language (PostScript 3 can be added as an option), Universal Send PDF Advanced Feature Set and Universal Send PDF Security Feature Set. Network print is available via a choice of print controllers. One includes Canon’s proprietary page description language, UFR (Ultra Fast Rendering) II. In addition, the EFI imagePASS-J1 controller, which includes Adobe PostScript 3 and PCL 5c, is optional. Unenhanced print resolution is 1200 x 1200 dpi, which can be enhanced up to 2400 x 600 dpi.

Sidebar:

Key Strengths of the iRC2880 Series

• Standard Colour Universal Send

• Faster Warm-Up Time

• Optional Web Access Functionality

• Higher Maximum RAM

• Higher Maximum Paper Capacity

• Higher Maximum Monthly Duty Cycle

• MEAP Enabled

• Dual Processor Architecture

• WebDAV Support

Robust Feature Set

The iRC2880 Series offers a robust feature set that makes it suitable for a wide range of environments. The iRC2880’s advantages over the WorkCentre 7328 include:

• Standard Colour Universal Send functionality: The iRC2880i comes standard with Colour Universal Send, which according to BLI’s Lab Test Report, “offers very easy-to-use and feature-rich scan functionality.” Colour Universal Send supports network authentication (whereby users can be required to enter their network user name and password to access the device), as well as LDAP searches from its control panel. It also supports scan to e-mail, Internet fax destinations, FTP sites, document management applications, desktops of users running eCopy Desktop (optional software allowing users to work with and OCR scanned documents), PC fax destinations (requires installation of optional fax board) and user mail boxes.

• Award-winning Web Access feature: Canon’s optional Web Access capability, which earned a Fall 2005 BLI Outstanding Achievement Award for innovation, is available for the iRC2880 Series, and there is nothing comparable for the WorkCentre 7328. With this feature, a Web browser is embedded within the iRC2880 Series device and allows users to access the Internet or a corporate intranet directly from the control panel, without the need for a PC. This means it can be used to access and print forms from a corporate intranet, for example, which can be very useful in environments without PCs. (As a security measure, the Web Access capability can be restricted only to certain groups, based on department ID.)

• Standard User Mail Box functionality: Users of the iRC2880 Series can scan or print documents directly to a User Mail Box, located within a dedicated portion of the machine’s hard drive, for storage. The stored documents can be manipulated right from the control panel, merged with other files via the Merge and Save function, moved to other mail boxes and even sent to other destinations using the Send function. Up to 100 User Mail Boxes can be set up, with the number of documents that can be stored limited only by memory. Although users of the WorkCentre 7328 have the capability to scan to mail boxes, scan to mail box functionality is a separate one-touch selection at the control panel, as is scan to fax and network scan capability (each must be selected separately and therefore users cannot scan a document to multiple types of destinations in a single session).

• Higher maximum monthly duty cycle: With a robust maximum monthly duty cycle of 100,000 impressions, the iRC2880 Series can handle even the most demanding environments. The WorkCentre 7328’s maximum monthly duty cycle is only 80,000 impressions – considerably lower than that of the iRC2880.

• Higher maximum RAM: The iRC2880 Series’ standard 1 GB of RAM can be upgraded to a maximum of 1.5 GB for users who need increased processing power to handle complex jobs. In contrast, the WorkCentre 7328’s RAM cannot be upgraded beyond 1 GB.

• Hard drive has double the capacity: The standard hard disk drive included with the iRC2880 Series stores up to 80 GB – double the storage capacity of the WorkCentre 7328’s 40 GB hard drive. This allows users of the iRC2880 Series to store far more documents on the hard drive for easy access, as well as allows more memory for complex jobs and job spooling capabilities.

• More available paper sources: The iRC2880i Series can be upgraded to handle a maximum of six paper sources, while in contrast, the WorkCentre 7328 can’t handle more than five.

• Higher maximum paper capacity: Fully configured, the iRC2880 Series’ paper supply is 4,950 sheets – more than 57% higher than the 3,140-sheet maximum paper capacity of the WorkCentre 7328. This means users can print and copy longer without worrying about replenishing paper supplies.

• Embedded MEAP architecture: The iRC2880 Series incorporates Canon’s MEAP technology, which enables it to run applications that add capabilities, as well as customise the control panel. Current MEAP applications include the optional eCopy ShareScan OP, which won BLI’s Fall 2005 “Pick of the Year” Award as “Outstanding Scan-Routing Solution.” According to the BLI Lab Test Report, eCopy ScanStation OP is “very easy to use and manage and provides seamless integration that enables users to scan directly into a range of document management and other enterprise applications.” While Xerox has recently introduced its own open architecture scheme (EIP architecture), this technology is quite new and may not yet support the popular applications already in use in many workplaces.

• Dual processors: Unlike with the WorkCentre 7328, the iRC2880 Series’ print controller incorporates dual processors, giving it the ability to simultaneously RIP one job while another job is processing.

• Higher enhanced print resolution: Although both devices start with print resolution of 1200 x 1200 dpi, only the iRC2880 Series delivers enhanced resolution (2400 x 600 dpi).

• Standard USB interface: The iRC2880 Series includes a standard USB connection. Users of the WorkCentre 7328 who require a USB interface have to pay additional money to purchase the option.

• Airtight security: The iRC2880 Series comes standard with a wide range of security features that can help protect sensitive data. These include Department ID for up to 1,000 departments, Single Sign On (SSO) and Simple Device Log-In (SDL) authentication, IP and MAC address filtering and network port management. Additional document security options are available via the Universal Send PDF Security Feature Set, which offers Encrypted PDF (allows password-protecting of documents to restrict access, editing and printing) and Digital Device Signature (enables verification of a device’s identity to recipients by adding the digital certificate to documents). Users can also embed optional Secure Watermarks that appear only when copies are made, which can help to protect against security leaks of confidential information. (This watermark will not only appear on copies made on Canon MFPs, but will also appear when copies are made on other vendors’ machines as well.) Finally, password protection for the device’s 100 user mail boxes is also available. The optional security kit available for the iRC2880 Series protects scanned, printed and stored data with 168-bit encryption and overwriting of the hard drive up to three times. It also conceals the job logs. The hard drive encryption kit contains a Common Criteria-certified chip. In addition, users can create encrypted secured prints, as well as add a digital user signature.

• WebDAV scanning support: Unlike the WorkCentre 7328, the iRC2880 Series’ Colour Universal Send supports the WebDAV (Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning) protocol, an emerging standard for collaborating on documents via Web servers.

Better Productivity

When BLI subjected both devices to comparable laboratory testing, the iRC2880i proved faster and more efficient than the WorkCentre 7328 in many important categories. The productivity-enhancing benefits of the iRC2880 Series when compared to the WorkCentre 7328 include:

• Faster warm-up time: The “Base” model iRC2880 warms up in only 30 seconds (38 seconds for the iRC2880i) – faster than the WorkCentre 7328’s warm-up time of 45 seconds. This means that the iRC2880 is consistently up and ready to work faster, every time it’s needed.

• Faster first-copy time from the platen (auto colour mode): In BLI lab testing, the iRC2880i produced its first colour copy from the platen significantly faster than the WorkCentre 7328 (11.7 seconds versus 14.6 seconds).

• Faster first-copy time from the platen (black mode): Similarly, from the platen, the iRC2880i produced its first copy in black mode in only 8.1 seconds versus 13.4 seconds on the WorkCentre 7328. (See Chart 1.)

• Faster first-copy time from the document feeder (black mode): When copying in black mode, the iRC2880i’s tested first-copy time was 10.4 seconds, while in contrast the WorkCentre 7328 took much longer (14.4 seconds) to produce its first copy from the document feeder.

• Faster simplex copy speed (black mode): When subjected to identical BLI laboratory tests, the iRC2880i proved faster than the WorkCentre 7328 when copying black documents in simplex mode, running at an overall tested speed of 23.8 cpm versus 22.2 cpm on the WorkCentre 7328.

• Faster duplex copy speed (black mode): The iRC2880i’s productivity advantage was even more pronounced when creating black copies in duplex mode, running at a tested average speed of 21.1 cpm in 1:2 duplex mode (while in contrast the WorkCentre 7328 ran at only 15.5 cpm in the same test) and at a tested overall speed of 19.0 cpm (versus 17.1 cpm on the WorkCentre 7328) in 2:2 duplex mode.

• Better tested overall simplex copier efficiency (black mode): BLI testing found that when copying in simplex mode, the overall copier efficiency rate for the iRC2880i was 84.9% versus an overall simplex black copier efficiency rate of 79.3% on the WorkCentre 7328.

• Better tested overall duplex copier efficiency (black mode): In black mode, the iRC2880i’s overall duplex copier efficiency rate was higher than that of the WorkCentre 7328 in both 1:2 and 2:2 duplex mode. In 1:2 duplex mode, the iRC2880i’s efficiency rate was 75.3% while on the WorkCentre 7328, the overall 1:2 duplex copier efficiency rate was much lower (55.2%); and in 2:2 duplex mode, the iRC2880i’s black copier efficiency rate was 68.0% versus only 61.2% on the WorkCentre 7328 in the identical mode. (See Chart 2.)

• Faster tested duplex print speed (mixed colour and black mode): In BLI testing, the iRC2880i displayed a significant duplex printing efficiency advantage in auto-colour mode, performing at an overall tested speed of 16.9 ppm versus 14.9 ppm on the WorkCentre 7328. (See Chart 3.)

• Better tested duplex printer efficiency (auto-colour mode): The iRC2880i also outperformed the WorkCentre 7328’s overall efficiency rate when printing colour documents in duplex mode (64.8% versus 57.1%).

• Faster tested simplex print speed (black mode): While both devices advertise rated engine speeds of 28 ppm in black, in BLI testing the iRC2880i proved faster, with an overall tested simplex print speed of 22.6 ppm versus only 20.1 ppm on the WorkCentre 7328. (See Chart 4.)

• Faster tested duplex print speed (black mode): Similarly, in duplex, the iRC2880i’s tested overall black print speed was 20.4 ppm, while the WorkCentre 7328 had a much lower overall tested print speed of 15.3 ppm when printing black documents in duplex mode. (See Chart 5.)

• Better tested printer efficiency (black mode): The iRC2880i was proven to print black documents more efficiently than the WorkCentre 7328 in both simplex and duplex modes. In simplex, the iRC2880’s overall print efficiency was 80.7% in simplex mode (versus 71.8% on the WorkCentre 7328) and in duplex, the iRC2880’s overall print efficiency rate was 72.8% (versus 54.7% on the WorkCentre 7328). (See Chart 6.)

• Faster job stream printing (auto-colour): BLI’s job stream test is critical in understanding how a device will perform under real-world conditions. In this test, a series of different types of files is sent to the MFP in rapid succession, simulating the kinds of demands a busy environment has on a typical workday. The iRC2880i outperformed the WorkCentre 7328 in this important test, with BLI reporting, “When printing BLI’s job stream, the iRC2880i’s efficiency was higher than the average for competitive products.” When printing in PCL (which was the print driver used in testing on the iRC2880i), the iRC2880i completed BLI’s job stream test in auto-detect mode in 56.91 seconds, running at 20.03 ppm. In contrast, the WorkCentre 7328 took longer to complete the same job – one minute and 5.50 seconds – which translates to a running speed of only 17.4 ppm. (See Chart 7.)

*Data from BLI’s Lab Test reports.

Superior Ease of Use

No matter how many useful features an MFP offers, if it isn’t easy to use, many workers will simply avoid using it. The iRC2880 Series was designed with ease of use in mind, offering user-friendly benefits including:

• Choice of control panel displays: BLI’s Field Test Report on the iRC2880i notes, “The standard Copy display makes it intuitive for novice users to execute simple copy tasks while the Express Copy menu provides advanced users quick access to various copying modes on a single screen.” There is currently no alternative screen available for users of the WorkCentre 7328.

• Easy to use contrast adjustment dial: BLI’s Lab Test Report on the iRC2880 Series says, “Enhancing ease of use from the control panel are a contrast adjustment dial for the display conveniently located on the control panel,” while in contrast the BLI Lab Test Report on the WorkCentre 7328 notes, “Monitor brightness adjustment takes 16 steps through the control panel’s menu system and must be made by the administrator.” This makes it difficult for users to adjust the screen to a comfortable viewing brightness.

• Easy-to-use dedicated Help key: The iRC2880’s control panel features a dedicated Help key that is clearly labeled and easy to find. According to the BLI Field Test Report on the iRC2880, “a new and intuitive Help hard key provides explanations of modes and functions. For example, on the main Help screen there are five touch keys that correspond to the different functions of the unit. The Making Copies touch key offers five screens listing different topics for making copies, such as creating booklets. In addition, text-based information and a ‘Display more detailed settings’ touch key provide users with easy steps for sending faxes, sending documents and using the unit’s mail boxes. Furthermore, an Additional Functions hard key allows users to customise settings.” There is no Help hard key available on the WorkCentre 7328.

• Better feedback to administrators: BLI’s Lab Test Report on the WorkCentre 7328 criticized it because of “No pop-up error messages are available to alert users of completed jobs or error conditions.” In contrast, the BLI Lab Test Report on the iRC2880 Series noted, “imageWARE Enterprise Management Console can be configured to send pop-up error messages to one or more administrators.” This helps keep iRC2880 Series MFPs up and running while WorkCentre 7328 devices might sit idle, waiting for someone to notice an error condition.

• Easy-to-use print drivers: The iRC2880’s print controller includes PCL 5c and UFR II (Ultra Fast Rendering II), which is Canon’s proprietary print language and is not available for the WorkCentre 7328. The BLI Field Test Report on the iRC2880i said, “The print controller offers flexibility with two standard print drivers, as well as an optional PostScript 3 kit. All the drivers are similar in layout and appearance, making navigating their menu screens easier for users who need to switch between them for different types of jobs.”

• Less user intervention: BLI’s Lab Test Report on the WorkCentre 7328 noted, “In addition to toner, user-replaceable consumables include the drum, fuser, waste bottle and staples…It should be noted, however, that this design does require more user intervention overall than units that employ service-replaceable components.” It also means that offices must find time to order and manage various consumable items and keep them on-hand at all times. It should also be noted that the rated photoconductor yields are higher on the iRC2880 Series than on the WorkCentre 7328 (70,000 black/60,000 color versus 26,000 black and color).

• Easy misfeed clearing: BLI’s Lab Test Report on the iRC2880i noted, “BLI test technicians praised the guidance provided by the graphical illustrations and messages that appear on the display to help the user clear misfeeds. Two graphical images of the unit appear on the display, one showing the location of the misfeeds and one guiding the user step by step through the misfeed removal process. Text indicators indicate when the process is complete, and the job resumes without the user having to press any additional keys.”

• Better Interrupt functionality: Both the iRC2880 Series and the WorkCentre 7328 resume interrupted copy and print jobs when the interrupting job is complete. However, according to the BLI Field Test Report on the iRC2880, “The unit automatically and immediately returned to non-interrupted copy or print mode and restarted the job that was interrupted without user intervention.” In contrast, the BLI Lab Test Report on the WorkCentre 7328 noted, “During testing, the WorkCentre 7328 automatically returned to non-interrupted mode within approximately 45 seconds.” In other words, if a WorkCentre 7328 user interrupts a copy job and forgets to restart it, the machine sits idle for nearly a minute, while the iRC2880 immediately returns to the interrupted job.

• Easily access meter count information: The iRC2880 Series’ control panel has a dedicated Counter Check hard key that allows users to easily access meter count information for total copies, prints and scans, as well as a meter for MEAP. While a Machine Status hard key is offered on the WorkCentre 7328, it does not track scans and also requires users to scroll through additional screens on the control panel.

Summing Up

Offering a faster warm-up time, higher-capacity hard disk drive, higher maximum paper capacity, and a higher maximum monthly duty cycle than the WorkCentre 7328, the iRC2880 Series is an excellent fit in a wide range of office environments that need occasional colour output. With a wide range of optional Web Access functionality, powerful Colour Universal Send scanning and embedded MEAP customisation capabilities, the iRC2880 Series offers an excellent feature set that cannot be matched by the WorkCentre 7328.

[SIDE BAR]

Shortcomings of the Xerox WorkCentre 7328

BLI’s Lab and Field Test Reports on the Xerox WorkCentre 7328 cited the following shortcomings of the product:

• Higher-than-average SRP for comparably equipped business color units in its speed range.

• Below-average efficiency rate when printing BLI’s job stream in black mode.

• Below-average drum yield.

• The user has to press a key, “Close,” in order to program a copy job while one is already in progress.

• Unlike with some previous Xerox engines, a priority function cannot be established. Copy jobs move ahead of print jobs.

• No pop-up messages are available to alert users of completed jobs or error conditions.

• Unlike some other Xerox units tested, when a print job requiring a specific size of paper that is not available is sent to the device, the device does not automatically proceed to the next one in queue and return to the skipped job once the required resources are available.

• Scan to fax, network scanning, scan to PC and scan to mailbox are all separate one-touch selections. Some other systems enable users to san a document to multiple types of destinations in a single session.

• Destinations are programmed by an administrator via the Web utility; users cannot program their own destinations.

• The names of the scan modes don’t reflect the level of compression, which will make selecting the right mode difficult for users.

• A scan preview is not available.

• Monitor brightness adjustment takes 16 steps though the control panel’s menu system and must be made by the administrator.

• The unit’s toner cost per page for both black and colour toner is higher than the average of business colour models tested.

Note: Data taken from BLI’s Lab and Field Test Reports.

Specifications at a Glance

| |Canon iRC2880i |Xerox WorkCentre 7328 |

|Domestic Intro Date |Oct-06 |Apr-06 |

|Rated Engine Speed (Black) |28 ppm |28 ppm |

|Rated Engine Speed (Colour) |26 ppm |26 ppm |

|Warm-Up Time |38 seconds |45 seconds |

|Web Access Functionality |Optional |No |

|Max. Monthly Duty Cycle |100,000 impressions |80,000 impressions |

|Max. Paper Capacity |4,950 sheets |3,140 sheets |

|Max. Paper Sources |6 |5 |

|Copy Resolution |600 x 600 dpi |600 x 600 dpi |

|Bypass Capacity |50 sheets |100 sheets |

|Standard RAM |1 GB |1 GB |

|Max. RAM |1.5 GB |1 GB |

|Copier Hard Drive |Standard 80 GB |Standard 40 GB |

|Document Feeder |Standard RADF (optional on ‘base’ C2880|Standard RADF |

| |model) | |

| Capacity |50 originals |75 originals |

|Unenhanced Print Resolution |1200 x 1200 dpi |1200 x 1200 dpi |

|Enhanced Print Resolution |2400 x 600 dpi |Not applicable |

|Print Processor Type |Dual processors, 533/400 MHz |Single processor, 667 MHz |

|Black Toner Yield |26,000 impressions |24,000 impressions |

|Colour Toner Yield |14,000 impressions |16,000 impressions |

|Photoconductor Yield |70,000 impressions black/60,000 |26,000 impressions black/26,000 |

| |impressions colour |impressions color |

|Internet Fax Capability |Standard |Optional |

|PC Fax Capability |Optional |Not available |

|Controller |UFR II, opt. PCL 5c, opt. PostScript 3 |PCL 5e/6, PostScript 3 |

|PDL/PCL Supported | | |

Chart 1: First-Copy Time From Platen (black mode)

iRC2880i 8.1 seconds

WorkCentre 7328 13.4 seconds

Chart 2: Tested Overall Duplex Copier Efficiency Rate (black mode)

1:2 mode:

iRC2880i 75.3%

WorkCentre 7328 55.2%

2:2 mode:

iRC2880i 68.0%

WorkCentre 7328 61.2%

Chart 3: Tested Overall Duplex Print Speed (mixed colour and black mode)

iRC2880i 16.9 ppm

WorkCentre 7328 14.9 ppm

Chart 4: Tested Overall Simplex Print Speed (black mode)

iRC2880i 22.6 ppm

WorkCentre 7328 20.1 ppm

Chart 5: Tested Overall Duplex Print Speed (black mode)

iRC2880i 20.4 ppm

WorkCentre 7328 15.3 ppm

Chart 6: Tested Overall Printer Efficiency Rate (black mode)

Simplex mode:

iRC2880i 80.7%

WorkCentre 7328 71.8%

Duplex mode:

iRC2880i 72.8%

WorkCentre 7328 54.7%

Chart 7: Tested Job Stream Print Speed (auto-colour)

iRC2880i 20.3 ppm

WorkCentre 7328 17.4 ppm

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