In the wake of last week’s blog, “How to Avoid Copier Cloning”, I want to talk about a related case of imitation. No doubt realizing that printer-based MFPs have the preferred technology base and are the future of multi-function printing, Xerox launched a printer-based MFP on September 6^th. While this further validates the HP market approach, you might ask—why would I trust a printer-based MFP from a copier company, when there is a wide-selection of printer-based MFPs from leading printer companies?

More specific questions to be asked (if the Xerox WC 4150 is part of the printer-based MFP consideration set) include:

• Can this product effectively support a workgroup?
• Do their specifications tell the whole story?
• Can they offer a market-leading printer management solution to manage the device on a network?
• What’s the value of the consumables shipped with this product and does it arrive ready to use?

The answers to such real-world questions are decidedly unflattering—to the Xerox MFP. You should have concerns about this product adequately supporting your workgroup printing needs. The base model, the 4150C is not even an MFP, it’s a standalone copier (the next model up doesn’t have network scanning)! On the 4150 there isn’t even a multi-bin option and it has lower maximum memory than HP models. And only the monochrome scan speed is listed, suggesting the color scan speed is lower. In fact, a little comparative testing showed the 4150 to scan color documents at the pokey speed of 4 images per minute (ipm)—whereas the HP LaserJet M4345 MFP series scans color images at 30 images per minute—over 7 times faster.

And when they claim a competitive edge for “Faster first-page-out time than competitive products” don’t buy it. First Page Out (FPO) testing for the 4150 came in at 60 seconds, with the HP LaserJet M4345 MFP at 18 seconds. This is because with HP Instant-on Technology you minimize the time to start printing from powersave mode. You might think of it this way, in the time you’d have to wait for the 4150 just to start printing--you could print up to a 30 page document on the LaserJet 4345 MFP!

In order to manage this product on your network, Xerox has at least seven (7) different applications to navigate through. HP does a better job with one. HP Web Jetadmin. This industry-leading peripherals management utility lets you manage all of your HP devices, as well as non-HP devices with a single application. Such management tools should actually make device-related IT simpler and more powerful, rather than 7 times more complex.

[I want to share a little secret with you. Xerox does not want to sell this device to an IT manager, who is going to have an opinion and be somewhat savvy about printing and printing-related issues, especially over their network. Xerox hopes the facilities management people (you know … the guys that lease copiers, procure office equipment, and set up office cubes) will somehow see the advantages of their new printer-based MFP as a last ditch effort to prevent yet another copier contract from moving to printers.]

Despite productivity (realized scanning and printing speed) and management concerns, if the Xerox WC 4150 is still in your solution-set, consider this—HP offers almost twice as much toner in the box at purchase. This means HP users save money upfront. And who wants to get a new MFP and have to replace the toner cartridges right away? When you do have to replace them, HP’s one-piece toner cartridges replace the imaging drum as well as the toner, so you consistently ensure unmatched HP print quality.

“The WorkCentre 4150 uses a two-piece consumable design, which may be a turn off for some IT managers. When replacement intervals for the toner and drum units differ, which is likely under real-world conditions, then customers may place a higher value on the cost savings associated with fewer lifecycle interventions - as with the HP LJ 4345.”

- Gap Intelligence

Of course, it is flattering that Xerox has chosen to now head down the path that HP trail-blazed some time ago and has continued to improve upon. However, HP printer-based MFPs have been developed to be radically simple and easy to use. The difference is immediately apparent as the 4150 comes in about 7 (there’s that number again) separate boxes--requiring hours to build and install—while the HP LaserJet M4345 MFP series comes assembled in 1 box.

We appreciate a copier company helping to grow the awareness that printer-based MFPs are superior. But don’t believe for a minute that the WC 4150 is in the same class as printer-based MFPs from printer companies. However, the unwary Xerox 4150 user would have that 60 seconds to ponder on this question as they wait for their first page to print . . .