Looking for good printers

Hi All:

Our office has reached that time of needing to replace our multi-functional printers. We currently have a Sharp AR M650N (about $12,000 when new) and another Sharp AR M550N (don't have price but estimating at about $9,000 - $10,000). I'm trying to get some reviews on different manufacturers and different models from a third party that delivers reliable information, as opposed to each manufacturers website claiming theirs to be the best. Does anyone know of a website that has this type of info, comparing multi functioning printer/copiers/scaner? We've check out Consumer Reports and they don't have anything.

We've obtained some quotes from area businesses. One company recommend we use Toshiba (E-Studio 655: $7,850 and E-Studio 555: $7,000) and another recommends Xerox (WorkCentre 5675, no price).  My followup question, do you know of the reliability of these or recommend another?

I've never heard of Toshiba in the printer market - then again I don't usually buy printers this expensive.  I assume you're looking for multi function?  Scan, copy, print...  or just print?  I've had experience with Ricoh, Canon, Xerox and Kyocera-Mita.  I've found Kyocera-Mita to be good value for good functionality.

For just printers, I usually go HP (though I don't like their large multi-function machines).

I've been very happy with Kyocera-Mita  if you have a servicing dealer in the area, have them check on the availability of NPO discount pricing.  It's not a good now as a couple of years ago, but it make the Kyocera line very competitive, also the per copy click charge is very reasonable.  We use KM-3035 KM -4035 and KM-5035 for MFP machines and FS3800 and 3900 for stand alone printing.

Dave

We are to replace our multi finciton machines; print, scan, copy, fax that has a staple feature, duplex printing, and up to 11x17 paper. These are networked and one or the other is typically setup as the default printer for each computer in the office. 

Thanks!

I also have to admit I'm not familiar with printers in this range- what does your page load look like? I've had success in the past with Dell 2335dn multi function printers, and it's rated for 35k pages a month. if you need color, the 2145cn is its color counterpart and it's rated at 65k pages a month; I've never used the 2145cn but the 2335dn has served me wonderfully in the past (be warned- not all of Dell's printers are so kind, the 1125 has been a piece of garbage every time I've used it).

EDIT: Forgot to mention that both of these are sub-1000$; they're in the 700ish range.

We are currently running about 30-32K pages per month for each of the Sharps, all black and white. 

I actually have a couple of patents that are included in the Xerox 5675, though I left the company before it came to market.

Now, several years later, we have a few of the Xerox machines in our office. As much as I would love to recommend them, I find that they jam and require service calls more than any other Xerox machine we have ever had.

Probably my fault, huh?

Those big machines have a copier lineage; now with digital standards they become multi-function machines. I wonder what advantage they offer as printers compared to the much smaller and cheaper single-purpose printers? We have a big digital copier, but continue to use rather small network printers routinely, to avoid bottlenecks at the copier and to allow several kinds of paper to be available without reloading each time. Since we have  not been doing a lot of scanning, the big copier worked for us as a scanner, but I would like to have one or more stand-alone scanners, too.

Just this week our service company tried to replace our AR M450 with a much larger, refurbished, AR M550N, but it seems too big and we did not like the deal he offered and had doubts about how reliable it would be. So I too am wondering about comparison shopping for big digital copiers.

I find that the price and the features are  not the only considerations; there is room for bargaining over lease/sale/service terms with different vendors. Does anybody get service from someone other than the seller/lessor?

Jesse: when my clients own a system, then sometimes I will look for a better deal on service.  I know a company that provides labor for free if you buy their refilled cartridges for your devices.  If my client leases a system, then the service generally comes from the comany providing the lease (unless its a lease to own situation and you're getting your lease money from a financial institution instead of a copier broker).

Hello,

I've had very good results with Savin multifunction units and the Kyocera units are a decent MFP. I agree with others that a reliable local service is very important.