Faster Canon Multifunction Printers Help Cut Costs

Canon U.S.A. announced March 3 four new black-and-white multifunction laser copiers in its imageClass line, intended for use in small and home offices: the MF6540 ($599), MF6590 ($699), MF6595 ($999) and MF6595cx ($1,145). All four models are scheduled to begin shipping to retailers in April.

By replacing separate single-function machines with a higher-speed MFD (multifunction device), smaller offices or branches can reduce the cost and complexity of managing several devices, according to Canon. Commonly cited benefits of consolidating and replacing slower, single-function devices with MFDs include reducing the amount of table or floor space required; service costs and labor; the number of types of consumables such as paper and other supplies that need to be stored; and the per-page cost of consumables.

The new imageClass MF6500 Series models can print, copy, and do monochrome scanning up to 24 ppm (pages per minute). The devices can also do color scanning and include a network interface. Print resolution of up to 1200-by-600 dpi (dots per inch) is available. The models include platen glass and a duplex 50-page automatic document feeder for copying and scanning, and can copy documents up to 8.5-by-14 inches (legal size).

"These new products offer more value for the low end of the market," said Jonathan Bees, an analyst at InfoTrends. "They're designed for small workgroups, versus Canon's imageRunner products, which are for SMBs and larger workgroups. These have the speed of a Segment 2 device, with the pricing of a Segment 1 or lower one."

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