Weekend Document Imaging Notes 2/20/2011

- In the recent budget submitted by President Obama, it includes adding 1,054 agents to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to enforce new healthcare regulations. (this is first part of original plan to add 11,000 agents to IRS)


- HIPAA Data Breach Update:

o Charleston Area Medical Center of West Virginia announced that it inadvertently exposed personal protected patient information on its website. The breach impacted 3,655 patients and exposed them to potential identity theft, as the info included their social security numbers. Patient data on the website had been accessed more than 90 times, with some of the site’s hits formcing from Indian and Germany.

o St. Francis Health System of Tulsa, Oklahoma announced that its HIPAA breach impacted 84,000 patients, after a computer was stolen from one of its outpatient facilities.

- More HIPAA oversight? Senator Stuart Smalley (aka Al Franken of Saturday Night Live fame) of Minnesota was named the ranking member of a new U.S. Senate committee on Privacy, Technology and the Law. His duties will include; “oversight of laws and policies governing the collection, protection, use and dissemination of commercial information…”

- In new statistics released by RedSpin Inc., and IT security audit firm regarding HIPAA breaches:

o Private health information of more than 6 million people has been compromised since 8/2009

o Breaches occurred in all but 7 states in the U.S.

o Average breach affected about 27,000 people

o Average of 82 days passed between discovery of breach, and when it was reported to federal government (law requires notification within 60 days)

o 6 out 10 breaches were intentional and malicious

- Imprivata released EHR survey results of hospital executives:

o 75% claim meaningful use (investing in EHR systems that qualify for federal stimulus dollars) is the top budget priority in 2011

o 54% cite physician adoption of EHR to be greatest challenge to meeting meaningful use rules

o 48% believe that password management issues will slow physician adoption of EHR systems

o 87% say that the time it takes for an EHR system to access a patient record affects physician satisfaction

o 73% say that EHR access time impacts patient care

o 50% report that at least 26% of physicians are accessing EHR remotely

o 65% have deployed personal devices for physicians, or have plans to deploy by end of 2012

o 49% have virtual desktop infrastructure or have plans to implement by 2012

- Canon now shipping a new option that allows it to sell one of its color copiers as an output device for MRI reports, radiology reports and CT scans:

o Option is called the Canon imagePRESS Server T1 V2 Controller

o Works with Canon imagePRESS C1+ color copier (single drum 14ppm unit) that is already equipped a Canon CYPHER PS Print Server

o The T1 V2 processes DICOM (digital imaging and communication in medicine) data, which is used in radiology systems (instead of traditional PCL or PS)


- Does healthcare vertical really buy biometric units? Genesis Healthcare of Zanesville, Ohio announced it is investing in biometric finger vein readers from Lumidigm. Reasons:

o Coupled with BIO-key software, it integrates into most EHR software, including Epic, Allscripts and others.

o Helps compliancy with new HIPAA regulations

o “Because skin dryness is so prevalent in the healthcare industry, due in part to constant hand washing, traditional fingerprint sensors can produce up to a 20% failure rate” according to Bill Spence, VP of Lumidigm

- Sutter Health gives out more details on its Epic EHR implementation:

o Chain of 26 hospitals in California

o Originally had systems from IBM (MedSeriesIV) and Siemens, awarded a contract to Epic in 2007 for $500 million

o After originally putting the brakes on the project, it announced it would spend an additional $400 million to complete Epic EHR project by 2015.

- University Hospitals of Ohio announced it awarded its EHR project to Allscripts, for its Sunrise Enterprise Acute Care EHR version 5.5, in all 7 of its hospitals.

- Siemens Healthcare announced it won more Soarian EHR contracts:

o Baptist St. Anthony’s Health System of Amarillo, Texas

o Peconic Bay Medical Center of Riverhead, New York

o Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, LA

o MaineGeneral Health of Maine

- McKesson, an EHR vendor, announced it won a contract from Parrish Medical Center of Titusville, FL.

- eClinicalWorks announced it won an EHR contract from Riverside HealthCare of Chicago, Illinois.

- ImageSoft, a dealer in Michigan, announced it has won document management contracts (with Hyland OnBase software) from Duke University and Henry Ford Hospital.

- According to a survey on EHRs conducted by the University of Chicago, 78% of Americans favor the use of electronic medical records systems. Other data:

o 59% believe it will reduce costs

o 72% support sharing of data between providers

o 80% favor electronic prescriptions

o 79% believe that access to their personal health records (PHR) on-line would keep them better informed

o 48% are concerned about privacy of records

o 64% believe that the benefits outweigh privacy concerns

o 44% are not willing to pay more to get benefits of electronic records

o 57% do not believe that use of electronic records would impact their choice of physician


- Record Nations, a national network of document scanning service provider, published results of survey:

o Rate of medical record scanning grew 22% in 2010

o Scanning requests to get space back grew 11%

o Requests to scan from businesses that were closing was up 8%

o Requests to scan due to “green” concerns up 4%


- Survey conducted by Oce’ reveals the following about document management systems:

o 30% were only managing paper records

o 81% said it improves process of filing and retrieval

o 47% able to use in business process workflows

o 40% said collaboration was easier

o 77% use to improve processes and operational efficiencies

o 72% use to reduce paper and save storage space

o 50% use to comply with regulations

o 21% use to increase competitive edge

- Palisades Medical Center of New Jersey, which had chosen Siemens Soarian as its EHR, announced that it chose DB Technology’s RASi software as its document management system.

-=Greetings from Sandy Hook=-

Canon imageCLASS MF9280Cdn and MF9220Cdn "Spec Review"

Canon launched two new A4 desktop color laser MFPs, the imageCLASS MF9280Cdn and MF9220Cdn featuring:
o Copy/scan/fax/print standard
o Auto duplex standard
o 50 sheet document feeder
o Comes standard with 250 sheet paper drawer and 100 sheet stack bypass
o Optional 500 sheet paper drawer
o 22ppm color or b/w top speed
o 4 tandem OPC drum design
o 3.5” full color LCD display (not touch screen)
 Easy Scroll Wheel to help select features on the display
o Built-in print controller
 Actual maker unknown
 USB port
 Can print from or scan to a USB thumb drive
 Scan to email with LDAP
 MF9220 offers PCL print driver only
 MF9280 has PCL and PostScript print drivers
 Apparently no XPS print driver available

Need to lease or buy a new multifunctional copier? Call a P4P solutions expert at p4pcafe http://www.p4pcafe.homestead.com/

-=Greetings from Sandy Hook=-

Canon U.S.A. Unveils imageCLASS MF5800 Series Black-and-White Laser MFPs for Demanding IT Professionals

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.-- Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in document imaging and advanced office solutions, today announced two new additions to its award-winning imageCLASS line-up – the imageCLASS MF5850dn and MF5880dn black-and-white laser multifunction printers (MFPs). These MFPs will enable IT administrators to better position small businesses and workgroups for short- and long-term growth, while delivering the exceptional quality and reliability of the imageCLASS line.

“These new imageCLASS models meet the needs of small businesses that need an MFP that allows its users to be more productive, while also enabling administrators to accurately track and control device usage”.“These new imageCLASS models meet the needs of small businesses that need an MFP that allows its users to be more productive, while also enabling administrators to accurately track and control device usage,” said Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A. “The imageCLASS MF5800 Series adds advanced Canon technologies for electronic document management and reduced energy consumption in a single, compact device.”

The new MF5800 Series provides IT and system administrators advanced levels of device management to ensure cost-effective yet powerful usage by general staff. Department ID management allows administrators to set up to 100 User IDs and passwords, enabling them to retrieve output numbers and set limits on how much employees can print, copy or scan. An embedded Web server provides an administrator the ability to manage the device remotely through a standard Web browser where they can view and modify settings such as address books, device activity logs and network information. Both models support USB 2.0 and 10/100 Base T Ethernet as standard interfaces, allowing the device to be used by one or shared by many and a wireless option is also available.

Further enhancing the capabilities of the new imageCLASS MF5800 Series, both models come bundled with an assortment of document management tools that help empower employees to be more productive. The fax forwarding mode allows a user to forward incoming fax and internet fax documents to an e-mail address, network folder or another fax numberI. Documents can be scanned directly to a USB flash drive in Canon’s Hi-Compression PDF mode, which significantly reduces scanned file size while maintaining outstanding text and image quality. The MF5880dn adds advanced sending capabilities, allowing users to scan and send documents directly to an e-mail or network folder.

Both new imageCLASS machines offer all-mode auto-duplexing functionality and utilize Canon’s On-Demand SURF (Surface Rapid Fusing) technology, which uses a linear ceramic heater that heats instantly for reduced energy consumption and fast warm-up speeds, resulting in first print and copy pages in approximately six and eight seconds, respectively. The imageCLASS MF5850dn and MF5880dn also boast print speeds of up to 30 pages-per-minuteII.

In addition, a 250-sheet cassette and a 50-sheet multipurpose tray come standard, while an optional 500-sheet cassette is also available. The new MF5800 Series utilizes Canon’s Single Cartridge System, which requires customers to only replace one consumable, ensuring consistent imaging quality and reducing total cost of ownership.

Today’s IT environments are increasingly complex, and it is essential that all the parts work together. The MF5880dn is the first Canon imageCLASS model approved by SAP® AG through the SAP Printer Vendor Program, meaning users will be able to enjoy the functionality of the device on their SAP solution platform. The MF5880dn also features support for PCL (Printer Command Language), while both machines utilize Canon’s proprietary host-based printer language, UFRII-LT (Ultra Fast Rendering), which takes full advantage of a PC’s processing power. IP address filtering and MAC address filtering help prevent access to a company’s network and its confidential data.

The black-and-white imageCLASS MF5850dn and MF5880dn meet the ENERGY STAR guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE). Canon is a long-time ENERGY STAR partner and is a strong advocate of consumer education of energy-efficient products through its product labeling and environmental programs.

The Canon imageCLASS MF5850dn and MF5880dn will be available through select authorized Canon resellers at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $995 and $1,195III, respectively.

Canon recently won an Editor’s Choice award for....

Canon recently won an Editor’s Choice award from Better Buys for Business magazine for the new imageRUNNER 3200 series featuring:

- IR-3225 offers 25ppm for $5200
- IR-3230 offers 30ppm for $6600
- IR-3235 offers 35ppm for $8500
- IR-3245 offers 45ppm for $10,500
- All are A3 models, allowing ledger size 11”x17” paper handling
- Optional embedded software via the Multifunctional Embedded Application Protocol (MEAP)
- Color touch screen LCD control panel
- Optional 101 key keyboard
- Control panel has instruction manuals built-in via help mode
- Optional Web access from control panel
- Optional print controller for $900
- PCL print driver standard
- PostScript print driver is $600
- 768MB RAM (can upgrade to 1GB) & 60GB hard drive
- Optional WiFi port
- 10/100BaseT & USB ports
- Optional Universal Send scan kit
- Can scan in color or b/w
- Scan to email/LDAP/FTP/folder
- Scan to PDF, XPS, JPEG, TIFF standard
- Two 550 sheet paper drawers standard and 50 sheet stack bypass
- Can add two more 550 sheet paper drawers for $1450 and/or a 2,700 sheet letter size drawer for $2100
- Auto duplex standard
- Optional corner stapling internal finisher for $1230
- Optional multi-position stapling finisher for $2700
- Hole-punch kit for $670
- Optional booklet making finisher for $4000 with optional hole-punch for $850
- Optional 100 sheet document feeder for $1200 (does not scan both sides of original at same time)
- 1200x1200dpi
- Optional fax board for $950 but is only 400dpi, second line for $420, third line for $950
- 35 second warm-up time
- 1000 account codes standard

Need to purchase or lease a new multifunctional device? P4P members are on your side click p4pcafe.

-=Cheers=-

Canon ir-adv C5000 series printers

Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE C7000/C9000 Review

More information on the new Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE C7000/C9000 series of color MFPs:

- the Canon Advanced imageCHIP system, which runs the MFP, actually consists of:
- Main board which works with the scanner to adjust image size, and process the image
- Accelerator board controls the user interface and controls network connectivity
- Riser board connects other two boards together
- 2GB RAM standard with 80GB hard drive
- When the device feels it needs more toner, it unlocks the door to expose the toner. If end user wants to change the toner, and door is not unlocked, end user must go into the control panel and search for an unlock mode in the Settings/Registration menu
- The new Canon pQ toner does not need fuser oil, and replaces the previous “S” toner and “V” toner used in other models
- The waste toner cartridge is replaced on by a service technician and not by customer
- Every 100 pages, the “Real Time Calibration” is activated to improve consistency of image quality
- Unlike other Canon models, these new models have a paper size sensor in the drawers
- Paper drawers, however, still have a push button that has to be activated in order to open drawers
- There are no screening or gloss optimization controls
- Back to front registration is rated at +/- 1.0 millimeter
- Standard generic print controller does not come with either PCL or PostScript print drivers, as these are expensive options. Also need to add 512MB RAM for PS driver.
- Other print controller options are EFI Fiery & MicroPress
- Maximum paper size is 13”x19”
- Can handle up to 300gsm
- Unit slows down when printing on thick media
- Maximum duplex paper weight is 220gsm (this is only 80lb. cover)
- Does not have paper decurling function
- No perfect bind option
- Optional booklet maker can only stitch up to 20 sheets of paper
- The capacity of the output tray is only 25 booklets
- If customer has installed the Professional Puncher, Paper Folding Unit or Paper Deck A1, Canon recommends that a space of 39.4” between back of unit and wall for technician access.

-=Cheers=-

Should I get a Ricoh or Canon?

I picked this question up this AM from my email, and thought I would post here for everyone.

My firm is deciding between Canon Brand digital copiers and Ricoh. Which should we choose and why?

"thewindmaster_11" has got it wrong about IKON, they are now owned by Ricoh and only sell Ricoh, thus he may not be a reliable source to answer your question of which is better, Ricoh or Canon. He does have a good point in reference to support. Check out support references from all parties involved.

Getting the right machine may depend on what type of business you are in and what type of volume you are looking to produce. The copiers of today are no longer about speeds and feeds, but rather what type of "apps' that can be added to improve your business process. Yes, today's copiers are similar to iphones, where apps can be loaded on the systems operating system to improve scanning, faxing, and document management, plus many additional options.

Another item to consider is what is the largest paper size that you will print, copy or scan from the unit, if you have no need for 11x17 scan, copy or print and your volume is under 15K per month, you could save thousands of dollars on a "A4" MFP device.

Ask the rep how long he or she has been with the company, as stated before there's a lot more to these devices than speeds and feeds and the new reps do not have the knowledge of those reps that have tenure in the business.

If you'd like to know more pay a visit here www.mfpsolutions.blogspot.com

Art

MFP Wars "Rise of the A4's"

Not since Minolta incorporated the first zoom lens in a copier will there be a more sweeping change in the MFP landscape! I've been on this kick for over two years, when HP launched the first A4 MFP!

Whats Hot!!! A4 MFP devices, what is an A4 MFP? A4 actually represents the paper size that can be reproduced on the system. A4 devices will print, copy, fax and scan letter & legal size. A3 devices will print, copy, fax and scan letter, legal and ledger size.

Gartner predicts that A4 print centric devices will emerge as the preferred device for distributed print needs in a report dated December of 2007. Heck, I could have told then that back in 2006. Make no bones about it A4's are here to stay and A3's will be a niche market for some manufacturers, what I really can't figure out is why companies like Ricoh, Xerox, Canon, KonicaMinolta and a few others have ignored this tremendous opportunity to garner clicks?

So, who has A4 devices (35ppm and above) on the market now? As of right now there are only a handful. HP and Samsung have thier own devices, while Muratec, Xerox and Nashua have relabeled the Samsungs. Samsung recently introduced a 55ppm and a 40ppm color A4 MFP. Word on the street is that Muratec will be picking up both of these boxes.

In May of 2007, Sharp announced that they will bring to market an entire line of A4 devices code named Frontier. Kudos, they will be the first manufacturer to have a complete line. In talking to a friend at SBS, I was told that these devices are ready to go and just waiting for the initial launch.

So, whats not to like about A4, well its certainly not the price. An A4 45 ppm system that will copy, print, scan and fax can be purchased for under $5,000. Compare that to a traditional A4 device will run you twice that!

Some have asked where the sweet spot is for A4 vs A3 devices. As of right now, A3 devices have a much lower cost per page. The sweet spot depends on where your monthly volume falls, as of right now 10,000 or less a month will save you money over the traditional A3 (even with the lower cost per page).

Speaking about lower per page costs, I've said it before and will say it again. The first manufacturer that comes to market with and A4 with the cost per page of an A3 device will dominate the market. Savvy reps will instantly sell the TCO advantages, with that the HP and Samsung devices will be short lived. Typically, an A4 device will have a mono cost per page around .015 compared to current A3 devices that average .009. It's not uncommon to see A3's at even lower cost depending on the monthly volume. The higher the volume the lower the cost per page.

Here's an except from a brochure for a popular A4. "When compared to the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of a general A3 multifunctional TCO, at an average of 10,000 pages per month, can result in one of the lowest running costs in its class.

Infotrends reports, “We believe that the role of workgroup A4 MFPs will grow strongly, pulling A4/letter size pages away from A3 copiers and MFPs, thereby weakening the demand for these larger devices,” commented Bob Leahey, an Associate Director at InfoTrends. “A3 devices will remain vital in the U.S., but the push by major suppliers of workgroup A4 alternatives is having an effect on decision-making regarding office equipment purchases at U.S. companies. Because of this impact and other factors, A3-format technology will represent a declining share of the installed base of U.S. office equipment over the next several years.”

All hail the rise of the A4!

imageCLASS MF8450C MFP

Just like I've been saying the growth of MFP's are in the very low end and the very high end! Thus another system under $1,000 that will probably have a high per page cost.


LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Helping replace the cost and complexities of managing multiple office devices, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in document imaging and office solutions, today introduced the imageCLASS MF8450c laser multifunction printer, bringing duplex versatility with two-sided copying, printing, faxing and scanning in one machine to smaller offices.

The new imageCLASS MF8450c, which will be available through retailers nationwide, offers black-and-white and color laser printing at the same speed of up to 17 pages-per-minute (ppm) and copying output at 17 copies-per-minute (cpm)i. Users can capture finer details when they print or copy in black-and-white or color with remarkable tone-on-tone clarity where their image is true to the original. Canon’s Pure Black Technology ensures the richest blacks by utilizing only the black toner in comparison with the traditional methods of combining toners. Scans can also be achieved in color from either the platen glass or the Canon Duplex Automatic Document Feeder (DADF) with optical resolution of up to 600 dots-per-inch (dpi). The imageCLASS 8450c incorporates a 33.6 Kbps Super G3 faxii, with a strong list of fax features, including 200 speed-dial locations, up to 1,000-page memory capacity and one hour of memory back-up.

"Canon continues to bring big office innovation and technology into our line of small and home office MFPs, incorporating the functionality of four or more devices into a single tabletop unit,” said Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A. "The imageCLASS MF8450c incorporates many advanced technologies found in other Canon high-end commercial copiers, and delivers it affordably."

The Canon imageCLASS MF8450c’s DADF can handle up to 50-page originals to allow two-sided copying, printing, scanning and faxing. The imageCLASS 8450c is equipped with a 250-sheet front-loading paper cassette, plus a 100-sheet multipurpose tray that accepts a variety of media. An optional 500-sheet cassette pedestal is available. The imageCLASS 8450c can copy up to 8.5 inches x 14 inches (legal) from both the DADF and platen glass.

For added flexibility and user convenience, the imageCLASS MF8450c helps to increase productivity with a built-in Ethernet port for networking, and a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interfaceiii, providing optimal speed when printing, scanningiv and faxing directly from a PC.

The imageCLASS MF8450c incorporates the Canon Single Cartridge System, which combines the toner, drum and development unit in one easy-to-replace cartridge, resulting in excellent image quality retention and eliminating the complication and warehousing of separate toner and drum consumables.

A further measure of Canon's commitment to small and home office customers is the inclusion of a one-year limited warranty with one year of on-site service.

The imageCLASS MF8450c laser multifunction printer meets the ENERGY STAR® guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE). Canon is a long-time ENERGY STAR partner, and is a strong advocate of consumer education of energy-efficient products through its product labeling and environmental programs. ENERGY STAR is the joint effort of the EPA and DOE designed to identify and promote energy efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The imageCLASS MF8450c is scheduled to begin shipping to retailers in November 2008, with an estimated street price of $999.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked third overall in the U.S. in 2007†, with global revenues of $39.3 billion, is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is on the 2007 BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/pressroom.

†IFI Patent Intelligence Press Release, January 2008
Specifications, availability and prices are subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary.
All referenced brands and products names are the trademarks of their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged.
i All ppm and cpm’s based on Letter-sized output unless otherwise noted.
ii Approximate 3-second-per-page fax transmission time based on ITU-T No. 1 Chart (MMR, Standard Mode) at 33.6 Kbps modem speed when transmitting to another V.34 machine. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) currently supports 28.8 Kbps modem speeds or lower, depending on telephone line conditions.
iii USB 2.0 Hi-Speed performance requires Windows Vista®, Server 2003, XP, 2000, Mac® OS x (print only), with pre-installed USB 2.0 port.
iv Scanning function is available via network or send features, but not available via the device’s USB interface.

CANON U.S.A. DELIVERS FOUR NEW HIGH-SPEED COLOR PRODUCTION LARGE FORMAT PRINTER MODELS

For the life of me, I can't figure out why Canon is not in the laser wide format business, it would be a no brainer for them. What are they thinking????


Lake Success, September 10, 2008 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leading provider of office imaging systems, inkjet technology and digital photography equipment, today introduced four new high-speed color production imagePROGRAF large format printer systems – the iPF810, iPF820, iPF810 PRO and the iPF820 PRO – designed for the Geographical Information System (GIS); Computer-Aided Design (CAD); Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC); Reprographics; and other Technical Document markets.

The new models address mid- to high-volume color technical document production needs of medium to large-sized corporations and reprographic establishments. All models are capable of printing two full-density D/A1-sized (23.4 inches × 33.1 inches) color plots in less than a minute, and finishes E/A0-sized (33.1 inches × 46.8 inches) plot in just 45 seconds including cutting time, and are capable of producing 117 D/A1-sized plots per hour2. The new printers can be paired with an optional inline 44-inch 300-sheet capacity plain paper stacker to neatly stack collated sets for unattended printing and easier distribution. The iPF810/iPF810 PRO have a single input roll configuration, supporting up to a 500-foot 20-lb. bond roll, whereas the iPF820/iPF820 PRO comes with an automatically switching dual roll feeder supporting up to two 500 foot rolls. The iPF820/iPF820 PRO can simultaneously accommodate two media rolls of different size and type.

Allowing maximum productivity with limited user intervention, all models can be equipped with 330ml or economical 700ml hot swappable ink cartridges (pigment-based Matte Black, and dye-based Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black), 80GB hard disk with secure erase (DOD compliant) and up to 29 password protected user-inboxes. In addition, all models also come with a high-capacity portable output media basket, self-driven dual rotary blade cutter for accurate and reliable media cutting, USB 2.0 High Speed interface, and 10/100 Base-T/TX connectivity.
All models deliver superb image quality even at the highest speed mode, offering true 1200 dpi high-resolution printing with 0.02 mm minimum line width3, precise ±0.1% line accuracy4, and a large printing area with only 3 mm (0.12”) of margins all around with roll feed paper. With select paper types (coated and glossy/semi-glossy paper types) four-sided borderless printing is possible up to 42 inches.

The completely redesigned HDI driver for the new models outputs AutoCAD data in a vector format resulting in quicker spooling times. The new in-printer processing feature offers auto-rotation to minimize paper waste, multiple job nesting, color emulation modes to match internal color palettes of current and legacy inkjet plotters from other manufacturers, as well as allows the hard disk to be used as virtual memory to prevent memory overflow commonly seen in other RAM-based standalone inkjet plotters.

“These new imagePROGRAF models will give the high volume technical document user the opportunity to print quality and precise large sized prints easily and efficiently,” said Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A.
The iPF810 PRO and iPF820 PRO models come bundled with CADSTATION PS+, an Adobe® PostScript® workflow software solution developed by RATIO, that is essential for those in the technical documents and color reprographic production market. The software is a server-based application supporting printing of not only PostScript and PDF files, but also popular technical drawing formats such as JPEG, TIFF, TIFF Multipage, HPGL, HPGL-2, HP/RTL, and DWF, just to name a few.

Since printing sets of drawings is an important element to creating an efficient workflow, CADSTATION PS+ makes this process seamless by providing batch printing and nesting capabilities, options for Web-based job submission, as well as job and print queue management abilities. The software also has the capability to track usage information for cost and account management so business owners are able to specifically target where costs are being incurred. The added features and functionality enabled by the addition of CADSTATION PS+ makes a truly effective solution for end users looking to streamline their workflow.
All models come with a full set of five 330ml ink cartridges (one cartridge each for Matte Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black), Windows and Macintosh printer driver, a stand, and a portable media basket.
The new Canon imagePROGRAF models are scheduled to be available in October 2008, and will have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $5,795 for the iPF810, $7,795 for the iPF810 PRO, $7,495 for the iPF820, $9,495 for the iPF820 PRO, and $2,295 for optional inline 44-inch 300-sheet plain paper stacker.

About RATIO
RATIO is a developer of wide format plotting software and solutions. Recognized world wide for their expertise and experience, there are over 50,000 AEC industry users of RATIO’s products in addition to OEM partnerships with most wide format industry leaders. Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, RATIO’s subsidiary company; RATIO America, Inc. provides sales and technical support services for the America’s to both OEM partners and authorized resellers of RATIO’s solutions. By distributing its products through an authorized and trained reseller channel, RATIO is re-defining how Architects, Engineers, Reprographic Service Firms and other users integrate and track the use of their wide format printing equipment for improved workflow, efficiency and cost recovery. For more information about RATIO’s products, solutions and technical services, please email us-support@ratio.de, visit http://www.ratio.us or call RATIO America at 262-884-6898

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked third overall in the U.S. in 2007†, with global revenues of $39.3 billion, is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is on the 2007 BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/pressroom.

Samsung Deals another Blow to MFP Giants (Ricoh, Canon, KonicaMinolta)

You here it from me over and over, A4 devices are the way to go!

Samsung has launched their 6555N Multifunctional System, a 55 page per minute device that incorporates a 7" LCD display, 1200x1200 dpi, max paper capacity of 3,240 sheets. The system will color scan out of the box along with an FCOT of 5 seconds, a FPOT of 8 seconds and a max monthly volume rating of 250,000 pages per month. Optional sorter/stapler, fax module and three additional paper trays are available. Get this, the MSRP is $3,995!!



First glimpse tells me that this system is based on the 6354n (45ppm) device, Samsung has changed from older the mono 7" screen to a color 7" screen and beefed the speed from 45 pages per minute to 55 pages per minute. From the picture it seems like the document feeder may have been changed also, not sure, I'll have to wait until I see one of these bad boys.


No 11x17 capability, but who the heck needs 11x17 anymore! Personally, I think the MSRP is two low. It should be more like $6,995, thus allowing dealers and salespeople the opportunity to upgrade older A3 devices to SCX-6555N. I have a few 6345N's in the field generating an average of 8,000 pages per month and no reported problems.


What's next for Sammy a 75ppm device, maybe 85ppm, are all of the A3 devices made by the likes of Ricoh, Canon, Fuji Xerox, KonicaMinolta overpriced? It all depends on if you need 11x17 to print copy or scan. Fact is, Sammy has plans on 75, 90 & 110 ppm systems!


Realizing, that the cost per page of the SCX-6555N is twice that of a 55ppm A3 device. The SCX-6555N still has a home in the SMB market place especially if the user is average 10,000 pages per month. At a cost per page of .016 the SCX-6555N will have a total cost of ownership of $13,995 with out any options. Take a similar A3 device that has an MSRP of $20,000 and a consumable cost (based on 600,000 pages) of $5,100, thsu we have a TCO of $25,100. That's a HUGE difference. Some will argue that the 55ppm A3 devices will last longer and have a larger paper supply, and I might agree, however I could buy three of the SCX-6555N's and still be under the $25,100.


What I'd really like to see is the likes of Ricoh, Canon, KonicaMinolta, Fuji Xerox to wake up and smell the coffee! We don't have to bring to market A4 devices with a very low MSRP, we can bring them in higher and we can sell the reliability, quality and a lower cost per page. Currently we are producing 55ppm A3 devices with cost per pages under a penny, why o why can't we do this with an A4 device!! Come on people Wake UP!!