PRINT
IT
RESELLER.UK
BUSINESS INKJETS
45
Mark Robinson, market business developer,
Canon UK
As part of this positioning, Canon is
drawing a distinction between its existing
Pixma range, which Robinson describes
as “photo lab quality printers for home
use” and the new Maxify range, which he
says is designed for higher volumes and
document-based print runs.
Like other business inkjets, Maxify
models are faster – the current range has
print speeds of up to 23/15 images per
minute (mono/colour); cheaper to run,
with a cost per colour page comparable
to a low-end i-Sensys i.e. circa 5-7p
(multipack purchase, depending on model);
and more productive, thanks to business-
class features like single-pass, two-sided
scanning on the Maxify 5350.
“Maxify has much higher ipms (images
per minute) than Pixma: even printing in
draft mode, a Pixma wouldn’t compete,”
explained Robinson. “Pixma MX models
have tried to fill the space of business
inkjets and have done a good job, but if
we take Maxify 5000 series models and
compare them to the Pixma MX92, a)
they are a lot quicker and b) they are 50%
cheaper to run. We are trying to make sure
HP expands business
inkjet range
HP has expanded its HP Officejet Pro range of
business inkjets with two new models that can be
purchased with an HP Instant Ink contract, combining
low cost printing with the convenience of automatic
supplies replenishment.
Available from October and November respectively, the
Energy Star-accredited HP Officejet Pro 6830 e-All-in-One
(£129.99) and HP Officejet Pro 6230 ePrinter (£69.99)
produce laser-like quality prints for up to 50% less than
competitive colour laser printers.
The new models offer faster print speeds and higher duty
cycles, plus automatic two-sided borderless printing and a
gesture-enabled colour touchscreen for greater ease of use.
Users can print securely and easily from smartphones,
tablets, Internet-connected notebooks and PCs using HP
wireless direct, HP ePrint, AirPrint, Android printing, Samsung
inOS printing and Google Cloud Print.
Both models are eligible for HP Instant Ink, which enables
customers to save up to 70% on the cost of Original HP Ink
and enjoy automatic deliveries of replacement cartridges on a
just-in-time basis.
Customers can choose one of three monthly price plans,
starting at £1.99 a month. Customers pay for a set number
of pages and receive automatic consumables deliveries at no
extra cost.
·
What we say
Canon’s entry into the business inkjet market is overdue and Canon has some
catching up to do. The big questions for customers are how does the cost per page
compare with HP and Epson and how well do Maxify printers address the needs of
business customers. Single-pass, two-sided document feeders on top end models
are a recommendation, but the absence of an easily accessible draft printing mode
on the model tested by
PITR
(the Maxify MB2350) is a strange oversight. There will
also be question marks over Canon’s new ink. Businesses increasingly choose to
print on both sides of the page, so ink must be fast-drying on normal office paper if
productivity is not to be affected – particularly when devices are shared in a small
workgroup.
PITR
feels there are improvements to be made in this area. It is far from
certain that business inkjets will triumph over laser in the long run. Nevertheless,
Canon’s entry into the space is another vote of confidence in the technology’s
business credentials.
people understand that by buying into
Maxify, the cost savings are much greater.”
A second major difference between the
two brands, says Robinson, is the types
of ink used, with Maxify using new Dual
Resistant High Density (DRHD) ink.
“Maxify inks are brand new and built
around a completely new system: they
are single ink models, they are pigment-
based and they are all XL cartridges, so
they have much higher yields. The inks also
have increased water resistance, so there
is no bleed when you use a highlighter.
That’s why we are positioning Maxify as a
small office home office business product,
whereas Pixma is firmly in the consumer
photo printing space.”
But what about i-Sensys laser
products? How does Maxify dovetail with
Canon’s laser range?
Robinson says that Canon has been
careful to clearly de-lineate its proposition.
Maxify is for small office home office users,
with 1-8 users who are after an entry-
level colour product costing £199-£299,
whereas i-SENSYS is for businesses that
have a preference for laser output, are
printing higher volumes or are sharing
devices amongst more users.
When it comes to mono printing,
Robinson says that i-Sensys is the best bet
every time.
“There are i-Sensys mono products
going from sub-£150 all the way up to
£499. We didn't see the point in bringing
out an inkjet model that only offers mono.
Canon’s heritage with i-Sensys is such
that we want i-Sensys to remain our mono
option,” he said.
The new printers will be sold through
a number of channels, including retail,
to meet the needs of small and home
office users who value the convenience of
shopping at a Staples, PC World or John
Lewis, and via distributors and resellers
operating in the IT and office sector, such
as Misco, Insight and Beta Distribution.
HP Officejet Pro 6230
