Welcome to the Digital Age
Written: Aug 01 '00
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Fast, high quality, versatile
Cons: heavy stocks can be troublesome
|
|
|
| Mynameismir's Full Review: Xerox DocuColor 40 PRO Laser Printer |
I have worked for a well known 24hours copy center (I think you know which) for about 7 years now and feel that I can accurately give an assessment of various copiers that I have had continual, daily use. This particular color copier is our high end, color production machine. It is actually a pretty piece of equipment. In our store we have made over 300,000 copies since we acquired it. It is networked through a fiery server.
There is no point in investing in this machine unless you get it networked. By networking it you are able to make numerous consistent copies that are first generation (meaning that it is like an original – not a copy of an original). The benefit of this it two fold. First, the quality is the best you can get based on the specifications of your digital file and the machine’s limitations. Second, digital is faster. Rather than having to wait for the initial scanning bed (glass) pass to locate where and what size your original is, you also eliminate the subsequent 4 color passes from the glass. Therefore your output is consistent since it is a direct digital image.
Yes, this is a fast machine. The 40 pages per minute is accurate for single sided, 8 1/2 x 11 size on standard 24# text weight paper. You will see a difference in output if you want your copies printed on a cardstock, transparency, coated stock or a size greater than letter size. It has three internal paper trays and a bypass tray. It will copy double sided internally – on 24# text weight paper. Many other stocks can be put through the Bypass tray manually for double sided copies. We have had difficulties with10pt coated stocks as it tends to jam in either long runs or when you want to make a double sided copy.
Some of the cool functions you find on most copiers are here in a logical 3-section touch screen user interface. Be sure to get the edit pad for direct copies that you want to manipulate. You can convert colors easily and can edit areas out from your copy. You can make mirror or negative images, copy in a book mode (this erases the glare from the glass at the middle of the book automatically). It copies maps exceptionally as well as charts, forms etc… I feel that other copiers handle photographs better but this is consistent with Xerox copiers. However, for most users it is outstanding quality in this area (you have to remember that I see this stuff everyday and work with computers and tend to be more visually sensitive).
Maintenance is normally handled by Xerox (we have a 24 hr. contract with them for this machine and the techs we have go out of their way at times to make sure they get it fixed). You should do a color calibration (this will keep the colors as accurate as possible) at least once a day, plus after any long runs or after the equipment has been serviced. This is a painless process and takes about 5 minutes. The toner cartridges are a snap to pop in and out and the only other thing you need to do is clean the glass and feed it paper.
Jams – yes, this machine will jam. The paper path is easily accessed. There is a 3-sheet capacity photoreceptor belt (this is where the 4 layers of color – CMYK – are applied) and since it applied toner via static electricity, you must be careful not to touch it with your hands. There is a small green set of tongs attached to a string that you much use to clear paper from this area. Other common jams I have experienced are through the bypass area (this is where you load in paper stocks like transparencies or cardstocks) and the fuser area. The only concern with clearing jams is that sometimes paper that is stuck will tear when you are clearing it. When this happens it can block sensors that are along the paper path and you will constantly get an error message until it is cleared. This goes for dust particles too – here is where Xerox comes in handy to help you keep it clean. I have also seen papers stuck behind the photoreceptor belt "carriage" and then you need someone with small hands and arms to reach in and try to urge it out. This is rare though.
Another area you will need to keep an eye on is if you opt for the optional sorter unit (a very helpful tool if you tend to print more than one copy of collated documents. This will sort about 25 books.) Sometimes if you are printing a large stack of copies to the top output tray and you forget to keep a close eye on it pages tend to drop into this hollow compartment. It will not stop the machine or harm anything but the copies will remain there until you think about opening that door.
We have had other maintenace issues as well, however you need to keep in mind that this machine runs almost 24 hours a day non-stop so there will be problems. The Document Center line – which this is a part of – by Xerox is a good representation of where documents are going. Xerox is a leader in this development and I would not hesitate to recommend most of their products. This is not their "top of the line" copier but is certainly in the top 5 in their color line-up. I know it is not cheap to buy or maintain and those figures are not known to me (call your sales rep). However, if you are a company interested in setting up an in-house print production center and your company is currently networked/digital, and you produce a large volume of color prints on a regular basis this is the copier for you.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Mynameismir
|
|
Member: Mireille
Location: Baltimore, MD
Reviews written: 66
Trusted by: 31 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.