What's New in the world of computer printing as it affects Portland, Oregon.
The What's New Page gives an overview of the events and changes that occur in the computer printer marketplace, with an emphasis on how those changes affect our clients in Portland, Oregon.

10-01-09

We are now a Wasatch Software RIP Dealer. This is a large format (17" plus) inkjet printer  RIP software package. This software gives excellent controls for the Canon, Epson, HP and other large format printers. This also has the controls for color separations for screen printing. Our site will soon be updated with price sheets and details.

Tally Bankruptcy

The Tally Bankruptcy is pretty much complete. Their assets were aquired by Printronix. We are regularly updated with which products and supplies are being carried forward and which ones are being discontinued, and set for end of life. There are still some delays with current Tally product and supply deliveries. So if you're looking for equipment or supplies, Please give us some notice.

HP
3-2009 The perceived market erosion of the company that has been the dominant player in the printer market seems to continue on. We are getting requests for product alternatives from organizations that, in the past, would never have considered any brand but HP. Could this be partly because of the number of authorized servicers for HP under warranty has dwindled to less than a handful? (see below). Perhaps it is more attributable to the fact that the market has matured and there are now more players that produce high quality alternatives than there used to be. After all, it’s hard to stay on top with lots of competitors vying for the same goal.

2007/2008 It appears that HP has finally thrown in the towel when it comes to managing their large group of Authorized Service Providers. As of November 1st, 2007, HP is now enforcing revised authorization guidelines that effectively remove approximately 2,000 authorized service providers around the US.

Perhaps it is an effort to control costs; perhaps it is an effort to improve the warranty choices for their end users. In any case, as we look at the impact in our community, HP consumers have fewer choices for printer warranty service. We are one of the dealers removed from their list of authorized warranty service providers. The long term impact of this on the market and on HP remains to be seen. At this point it seems there are no longer any authorized warranty providers on the East Side of Portland.

Oki
3-2009 Oki’s new tabloid color multifunction, the MC860, sets a new bar for office productivity at an affordable price. The copy quality is 1st rate. Setting up scan to email can be done by end users that are computer savvy, where this process used to be in the domain of specialists only. Their affordable tabloid color laser product is now in its second generation with the launch of the 830 series of products. Ask us about closeout prices on C8800’s…you can buy tabloid color for what you used to have to pay for mono. The Oki color printer line continues to be one of the great values in office printing, with best in class paper handling, high reliability, as well as superb cost of ownership. Their mono product continues to represent a great value for many users that know the Oki reputation for quality and reliability. Their dot matrix printers continue to set the bar for usability, ease of programmability, and reliability.

2008 Okidata has launched its effort to enter into the market for “Managed Services”. This is a great service for an organization that is trying to get its arms around the costs associated with office printing. Oki has also launched a new series of thermal printers for label printing, and specialty projects.

Konica Minolta
3-2009 KM continues to refine its product offerings and its marketing into the dealer marketplace. Some of the technology that used to be associated only with their “business class” product, marketed exclusively through the copier dealer channel, has now crossed over to the printer channel. These are well engineered machines that provide great image quality and paper handling at competitive costs per page. They can be used by graphic designers as well as marketing departments.

2008 KM has been making a major effort to insert itself into the reseller market. Their products continue to show refinements in image quality, and good cost benefit numbers for their end user and dealer customers.

Lexmark
3-2009 Lexmark’s multifunction products show continued refinement. Lexmark’s ability to spot user trends, and manufacture a multifunction product that makes user efficiency its hallmark, is unsurpassed in today’s office market. We ask our customers the following question: “How much time do you want to spend in training your people how to use the MFP?” Of course the answer is none. The Lexmark MFP line is one of the only product lines that we feel comfortable deploying, knowing that the questions from end users will be minimal, and all the features of the MFP will be used by all sorts of users, sophisticated or otherwise, not just the copying or the printing.

The T65X Lexmark monochrome printers now set the standard for the industry. We believe they are now fighting for the top spot in reliability, cost of ownership, and overall value. Where most manufacturers have required each generation of printer to use new accessories such as trays and duplexers, over the years, Lexmark has done the best job of protecting capital budgets by allowing for tray utilization and other accessories by successive T series models. The T65X design continues to be modular with many accessories able to be added after the time of purchase, though it is a new chassis design, and will not share any of the preceding T series accessories or toners. Duplex printing has to be included with the printer at the time it is purchased. It is no longer an add-on.

2008 Lexmark continues to market its diverse and practical line of printers. Their multifunction products continue to set the standard for ease of use and simple user interface, with all the necessary built-ins to enable an office staff to be significantly more productive.

Ricoh

Ricoh

3-2009 Ricoh continues to increase its presence in the Portland marketplace through the acquisition of two major resellers, IKON, and Associated Business Systems. What effect that will have on the HP products that they have been selling over the years remains unclear. Will they continue to offer these products and support them, or will they push Ricoh technology as would seem logical? The jury is out at this point.

2008

Ricoh has launched a new product, HOT SPOT printers. There are two models, the SP 4100N-KP , and the SP C410DN-KP These devices are intended to provide printing services for locations where the general public has access to email and can use the “driverless” printing process to produce their documents. Additionally, in an effort to compete with the major ink printer producers, they have launched their GelSprinter products. The ink is retained as a sort of gel before it is ejected from the print head.

3-2009 As an early reseller of Brother technology in the US, we have seen numerous changes in the Brother product mix. They are a dominant player in labeling products. Their printers and multifunction products continue to represent great values for budget minded shoppers.

Tally/Genicom
3-2009 It’s now official. Another printer manufacturer has closed its doors. The announcement that Printronix has purchased many of the assets of the now defunct TG continues what has been a trend for some time…the slow but inexorable consolidation in the printer industry. Dot matrix printers continue to lose market share in spite of cost of print advantages, and very high levels of reliability. It seems the market perception of impact printing as outdated technology is becoming self-fulfilling.

2008 This diverse manufacturer of printers has recently launched a new thermal printer line, as well as a new dot matrix printer line.
Output Technology Corporation or OTC
Rumor has it that this long standing printer manufacturer out of Spokane, Washington has finally succumbed to market forces. OTC’s Trimatrix printers were a unique solution for businesses needing high throughput impact printing at a low cost. How long the supplies continue to be available for the printers that are still in use in the marketplace is uncertain. Start making plans today to prepare for replacement of these devices, as repair parts and supplies will almost certainly dry up.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------