New multifunction printers by Xerox and Lexmark, aimed squarely at small businesses and midmarket companies, add enhanced features that ease use and provide greater workflow efficiencies.Xerox and Lexmark both stepped up their efforts to woo smaller organizations
today with the introduction of new multifunction printers (MFPs) aimed at two
divergent segments of the SMB market.
Lexmark announced today the introduction of a new line of all-in-one
printers that will include three Web-connected, touch-screen models designed
specifically for the SMB market. Priced between $199 and $399, these new units
seem to be a direct response to HP’s
Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart, only at a lower price.
How well these Web-connected MFPs perform in the market still remains to be
seen, though there may be some doubts as to how well they can perform outside
the consumer market.
Regardless of Web functionality, Lexmark is leveraging the touch-screen
technology to provide one-touch access to a number of features lumped together
in what it calls SmartSolutions, a group of workflow functionalities adapted
from Lexmark’s enterprise-class options and designed to cut down repetitive
tasks. For example, one feature included is the ability to scan both sides of
ID cards and copy them to a single sheet of paper, a boon for medical and dental
offices.
Lexmark’s new line also adds Wireless N capabilities to its all-in-ones, as
well as an "Eco Mode" that automates two-sided printing. Another
bonus is a new business card functionality that automatically uploads contact
information from scanned cards directly into address book programs such as
Microsoft Outlook.
All of Lexmark’s new all-in-ones are set to be released in September.
Meanwhile, Xerox concentrated its targets slightly upmarket by unveiling the
new WorkCentre 5230. Developed more for the small enterprise than the SOHO
market, the WorkCentre 5230 is a feature-rich unit for organizations seeking
additional functionality beyond what entry-level units can provide. It will
start at a list price of $7,999 and be available to the channel this month.
With a full slate of scanning utilities—including scan to e-mail, scan to
network and job flow sheets that route to predefined files, the unit copies up
to 30 pages per minute. It includes auditing tools for IT tracking of printing
activity, as well as security capabilities such as network authentication and
hard disk overwrite to protect sensitive information.
