Konica Minolta bizhub PRO C500 v Xerox DC240 CAR.pdf

Competitive Analysis

Konica Minolta bizhub PRO C500 vs Xerox DocuColor 240

Competitive model: Xerox DocuColor 240

The Xerox DocuColor 240 runs at a speed of 40 ppm in color and 55 ppm in black. The device is positioned as a “professional color” unit targeted to print for pay, CRD, graphic-arts and graphics-intensive office environments. It is available with a choice of controllers, including a Fiery controller. The device comes standard with 256 MB RAM (non-upgradeable), an 80-GB hard drive and a 250-sheet bypass tray. All standard paper sources can handle paper weight up to 110-lb. cover. This unit offers four optional print controllers: the Xerox FreeFlow DocuSP DXP 250 print controller; the embedded EFI (Fiery) print controller; the Creo Spire CX250 print controller; or the EFI (Fiery) EXP250.

Highlights of the bizhub PRO C500

Robust Feature Set

The Konica Minolta bizhub PRO C500 is a 50 ppm unit in both color and black. It features standard standalone copy, standard duplex and a 250-sheet bypass tray that handles paper weights up to 140-lb. index. A choice of four optional print controllers is available to add network print functionality; these include the IP-921 embedded Fiery controller; the external IP-901 v.2.0 controller for graphics-intensive environments; EFI’s MicroPress v7.0 for advanced workflow and clustering; and for the highest degree of control over color output, the Creo IC-301 controller. Standard RAM is 512 MB, and a 20-GB hard drive is included standard as well. In addition, this device supports advanced document management and communication features via the PageScope suite of software utilities. The bizhub PRO C500 offers a number of advantages over the DocuColor 240, including:

Higher capacity LCT: The bizhub PRO C500’s optional large capacity tray holds 2,500 sheets – a capacity 25% higher than the DocuColor 240’s optional 2,000-sheet LCT. That means bizhub PRO C500 users spend less time replacing paper in the LCT and more time on other tasks, increasing office productivity overall.



LCT handles oversize paper: Not only does the bizhub PRO C500’s LCT handle more paper, but it handles larger paper as well, accommodating paper sizes from 8.5" x 11" to 13" x 19.2". DocuColor 240 users can load only letter-size paper in the LCT, and can feed 12” x 18” paper only through the bypass.

Better toner technology: The bizhub PRO C500 uses Konica Minolta’s proprietary Enhanced Simitri polymerized toner, which employs toner particles that are smaller, smoother and more uniform in size than toner particles produced by traditional pulverization techniques, resulting in more even halftones, more accurate text and better grayscales. Additionally, BLI’s Lab Test Report on the bizhub PRO C500 noted, “Tested toner yield is above average for black and competitive for color when compared with that of tested color multifunctional products.”

More standard and maximum RAM: The DocuColor 240 has 256 MB RAM, which is not upgradeable. In contrast, the bizhub PRO C500 starts with double the standard RAM (512 MB), which can be upgraded to a maximum of 1.5 GB RAM.

Secure print from both drivers: Users printing sensitive or confidential information can use the Secure Print function available in either print driver of the bizhub PRO C500 as needed. In contrast, there is no Secure Print feature available for the DocuColor 240, which puts it at a disadvantage in any business which needs secure printing, for example, to comply with federal privacy regulations such as HIPAA.

Better Productivity

When Buyers Laboratory ran identical productivity tests on the bizhub PRO C500 and the DocuColor 240, the bizhub PRO C500 (as tested with the IP-921 Fiery X3e controller) proved to be a more productive unit. For example, the bizhub PRO C500 offers:

Faster first-copy time in auto color mode. In BLI’s tests, the bizhub PRO C500 produced the first color copy from the platen in only 8.1 seconds – a full 45.6% faster than the DocuColor 240’s first-copy from the platen of 11.8 seconds. When copying using the document feeder, the bizhub PRO C500 again proved faster. It produced its first copy in only 10.8 seconds, versus 12.5 seconds for the DocuColor 240. Fast first-copy times are particularly important when you consider how many typical office copy jobs consist of a single quick, walk-up copy. Under these conditions the bizhub PRO C500 gets the finished work to its users faster, so they spend less time waiting for copies and more time being productive.

Faster first-copy time in black mode. The bizhub PRO C500’s first-copy advantage extends to black copying as well. From the platen, the bizhub PRO C500’s first-copy time was tested at 6.6 seconds, versus the DocuColor’s 7.1 seconds. Additionally, from the platen, the bizhub PRO C500 produced its first copy in 7.5 seconds, versus the DocuColor 240’s 9.8 seconds.

Better print efficiency. The bizhub PRO C500’s productivity advantage isn’t just in copying. It proved to have better print efficiency than the DocuColor 240 in a number of modes as well. For example, when printing 5 sets of a document in 1:1 black print mode, the bizhub PRO C500 showed an overall efficiency of 69.7% versus the DocuColor’s efficiency of only 65.2% in the same mode.

Faster job stream: The BLI Job Stream productivity test is critical in understanding how well a device functions under real-world workplace conditions. In the Job Stream test, a mix of documents, including Word, Outlook e-mail messages, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint, HTML and Acrobat PDF files is sent to the device in rapid

ShortcomingS

of the DocuColor 240

BLI’s Lab Test Report on the Docu-Color 240 noted a number of the device’s shortcomings, including:

A copy job cannot be pro-grammed, nor can the copy menu be accessed, while a file is being transmitted to a mailbox.

While print jobs leave the net-work queue, they do not appear at the control panel until all wait-ing copy jobs or any waiting print job is completed. Only one print job appears on the control panel at a time. Consequently, an oper-ator would not be able to access and promote an important print job until it is displayed.

When a copy job is initiated dur-ing a print job, there is a pause of about 10 seconds after the print job completes, before the copy job starts. In addition, when programming a second scan job while one is already in progress, the scan speed of the document feeder drops to a fraction of its rated speed.

Not all of the features needed to specify the requirements of typi-cal jobs are accessible from the main screen; users select from the main categories listed on the main screen, at which point the screen for making specific selec-tions for the selected function is displayed.

Neither print driver offers secure print, nor do they offer an over-view of selected settings.

There are two selections for printing in color in the drivers and if both are not enabled, the job will be output in black mode.

For the scan function, file format cannot be changed at the control panel.

The cost per page of toner(based on suggested retail pricing and tested yield) is higher than the average for tested color models.

from BLi’s Lab test report

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Competitive AnalysisKonica Minolta bizhub PRO C500 vs Xerox DocuColor 240

First-Copy Time in Auto Color Mode (seconds)

0

5

10

From Platen From Document Feeder

15

bizhub PRO C500DocuColor 240

8.1 11.9 10.8 12.5

First-Copy Time in Black Mode (seconds)

0

5

10

From Platen From Document Feeder

15

bizhub PRO C500DocuColor 240

6.6 7.1 7.5 9.8

Print Efficiency*

0

20

40

60

69.7

bizhub PRO C500

65.2

DocuColor 240

80

100%

* Average for 1 and 5 sets in black and white, 1:1 mode.

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succession, simulating the kind of demands a busy workplace would place on an MFP. In this test, devices generally run at a fraction of their rated productivity; the closer the efficiency rate is to 100 per cent, the more efficiently the machine handles the job stream. The bizhub PRO C500 showed a job stream productivity rate of 51.2%, proving more efficient than the DocuColor 240, which showed efficiency of only 50.7%.

* Data from BLI’s Lab Test Reports. The bizhub PRO C500 was tested configured with the IP-921 controller; the DocuColor 240 was tested using the Fiery X3e controller.

Significant Cost Advantage

The bizhub PRO C500’s advantage over the DocuColor 240 is particularly noticeable when purchase and running costs are taken into account. In plain terms, the bizhub PRO C500 costs less to buy and it costs less to run. In fact, according to BLI’s Lab Test Reports, the bizhub PRO C500’s toner costs are significantly lower than the costs for the DocuColor 240 – in some cases, less than half the price of the identical consumables for the DocuColor 240. Over the course of time, that can add up to a huge difference to the bottom line.

For example, using toner costs outlined in the bullet points below and assuming a single machine doing a monthly volume of 150,000 impressions, the monthly black toner cost for the bizhub PRO C500 would be $331.50. Contrast that price with the monthly black toner cost for the DocuColor 240, which would be $1,027.50 based on the toner cost determined by BLI’s Lab Test Report. Now, multiply that by 12 (the number of months in a year) and you’d find an annual black toner cost of $12,330 a year for the DocuColor 240, versus only $3,978 a year to supply the bizhub PRO C500 with black toner. And that covers the costs of only one device over the course of a single year.

In fact, over the course of five years, the difference in black toner price on just one device, doing a monthly volume of 150,000 impressions (the DocuColor’s


Job Stream Efficiency

0

20

40

60

51.2

bizhub PRO C500

50.7

DocuColor 240

80

100%

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$61,650 vs. the bizhub PRO C500’s $19,890), would be enough to buy a second bizhub PRO C500.

The bizhub PRO C500’s cost-conscious features include:

Lower base price: The bizhub PRO C500’s base MSRP is $35,900, while the base price of the DocuColor 240 is $40,495 – giving the bizhub PRO C500 a price advantage of 12.7%, or $4,595.

Lower upgrade cost: The bizhub PRO C500’s price advantage continues on to the price of its optional upgrades. For example, the densitometer option on the DocuColor 240 costs $2,100, versus a price of only $1,000 for the densitometer option on the bizhub PRO C500. That’s more than double the price for DocuColor 240 users.

Lower black toner cost: BLI’s Lab Test Report on the bizhub PRO C500 reported black toner cost per page of 0.221 cents, based on tested yield at 6% coverage. In contrast, the BLI Lab Test Report on the DocuColor 240 revealed that black toner costs per page are approximately 0.685 cents – virtually triple the cost of black toner for the bizhub PRO C500. This is especially significant when you consider that these are high-volume devices that may do a lot of printing and copying in black.

Lower color toner cost per page: BLI’s Lab Test Reports also show that the bizhub PRO C500’s total toner cost per page (including all four toner colors) is 4.1 cents, versus the DocuColor’s total toner cost per page of 6.8 cents. Over time, those pennies add up to dollars and can have a major impact on a company’s bottom line.

Other Highlights

The bizhub PRO C500 offers a number of helpful additional features, including:

Certified highly reliable: BLI’s Lab Test Report on the bizhub PRO C500 stated, “Proving to be highly reliable in BLI’s rigorous two-month laboratory evaluation, the Konica Minolta bizhub PRO C500 completed its 150,000-impression durability test with no service required, other than a single regularly scheduled PM (preventive maintenance) visit.” As a result, BLI rated this device’s reliability as “Excellent.”

Range of useful utilities: PageScope Web Connection lets users check device conditions on all network-connected Konica Minolta printers and copiers directly from their desktop PCs. PageScope Net Care provides network administrators with detailed information about operating conditions on all output devices containing a Management Information Base (MIB) on a network from any Web browser. Optional utilities are also available to handle a wide range of applications including document management and OCR, variable data printing, file format conversion, imposition, routing and bill-back. A plug-in is also available allowing the device to work with HP’s popular Web JetAdmin administrative utility.

Extensive finishing options: The bizhub PRO C500 offers an extensive range of professional-level finishing options, including a trimmer unit and a post-process sheet inserter, allowing users the flexibility to create a wide range of output.

Full-bleed ledger output support: With the ability to handle paper up to 13" x 19.2", the bizhub PRO C500 enables users to easily create full-bleed ledger-size output. Even the bizhub PRO C500’s large capacity tray handles full-bleed ledger-size paper, allowing long runs on large media.


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Summing up

The bizhub PRO C500 offers the features and functionality businesses need, including faster first-copy times, more efficient job streaming, better print efficiency (particularly in black, which is the mode used most often in the majority of offices), production-level finishing options, and a much lower purchase price and run-ning costs. Offering an extensive range of print controllers which allow users to suit their needs precisely, the bizhub PRO C500 is an excellent, cost-effective solution for many different kinds of businesses, from print for pay shops and central reprographics departments to graphic arts environments.

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Specifications at a Glance

Konica Minolta bizhub C500 Xerox DocuColor 240

SRP $35,900 $40,495

Fully Configured SRP1 $51,900 $47,190

Domestic Intro Date Feb-05 Jul-05Recommended Monthly Volume Up to 150,000 copies Up to 200,000 copies

Multicopy (Ltr) 50 cpm (full color) / 50 cpm (black) 40 cpm (full color) / 55 cpm (black)

First-Copy Out Time 7.6 sec 7.8 sec

Scan Functionality Opt Std

Std Paper Sources 3 4

LCT Capacity 2,500 sheets 2,000 sheets

Paper Weights 17 lb. bond to 110 lb. index / 64 gsm to 220 gsm

18 lb. bond to 110 lb. index / 64 gsm to 220 gsm

Bypass Capacity 250 sheets 250 sheets

Paper Weights 17 lb. bond to 140 lb. index / 64 gsm to 256 gsm

18 lb. bond to 110 lb. cover / 64 gsm to 300 gsm

Std Paper Capacity 1,500 sheets 3,010 sheets

Max Paper Capacity 4,250 sheets 5,260 sheets

Scan Resolution 600 x 600 dpi 600 x 600 dpi

Copy Resolution 600 x 600 dpi 2400 x 2400 dpi

Copier Memory (std/max) 512 MB / 1.5 GB 256 MB (non-upgradeable)

Copier Hard Drive (std/max) 20 GB (optional) 80 GB (non-upgradeable)

Document Feeder Opt RADF Std DADF

Capacity 100 originals 250 originals

Job Programs 30 40

Copy Control 999 accounts 1,000 accounts

Black Drum Yield 100,000 215,000

Color Drum Yield 100,000 90,000

Color Toner Price $55 $199

Black Toner Price $98 $399

Printer Memory (std/max) 512 MB, 60 GB HD / 1 GB, 60 GB HD

256 MB, 40 GB HD

Standard Controller PDL/PCL — EFI (Fiery X3TY) Network Color ServerPCL 6c, Adobe PostScript 3

Optional Controller PDL/PCL EFI IP-901 (Fiery S300)Adobe PostScript 3

EFI EXP250 Color ServerPCL 5/6 (emulation), Adobe PostScript 3

Optional Controller PDL/PCL EFI IP-921 (Fiery X3e)PCL 6c, Adobe PostScript 3

Creo Spire CX250 Color ServerAdobe PostScript 3

Optional Controller PDL/PCL Creo IC-301Adobe PostScript 3Xerox FreeFlow DXP250 Color ServerAdobe

PostScript 1, 2, 3; PCL 5c/6XL

Trimmer Unit Optional Not Available

* Based on U.S. pricing; pricing in Canada may vary. The DocuColor 240’s SRP includes base price ($33,200) plus required purchase of network con-troller ($6,995) plus offset catch tray ($300), as one of the finishing options must be purchased.

1 Based on U.S. pricing; pricing in Canada may vary. The DocuColor 240 is configured with the Professional Finisher and the 2,000-sheet HCF. The bizhub PRO C500 is configured with the IP-921 print controller, 20 GB copier hard drive, RADF, saddle-stitch finisher and 2,500-sheet LCT.

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Documents

Konica Minolta bizhub PRO C500 v Xerox DC240 CAR.pdf