Small business multifunction copier

Below is a question that was posted on CNET. I took the time to answer the post on CNET. Here's the link for the entire thread small business multifunctional copier.

We would like to purchase a color/b&w copier for under $1000. Estimating 2500 b&W, 1000 color copies/day. We don't need alot of whistles just volume. Any suggestions. Also where can I find cost/page info for comparisons?

Here's the real scoop, if you get a machine for under $1,000, here's what you can expect based on your volume.

1. Color per page cost at .20 cents per page based on 20% coverage of the page. That means you'll spend $200 per month for color supplies!
2. Black per page cost at .03 cents per page based on 5% coverage of the page. That means you'll spend $75 per month for black supplies!
3. Within two years or less the machine will be worthless and probably be down more often for consumable supplies and maintenance than its running.
4. If this device could last 5 years you would spend $16,500 for a $1,000 system.
5. You would probably replace the system every year, because systems under a $1,000 are not built for that capacity.

Now here's what you should do:

1. Lease a larger machine ie: Ricoh mp c2550 for under $120 per month
2. Black per page cost is .015 with on-site service, means you'll spend $37.50 per month for supplies and maintenance.
3. Color per page cost is .10 or under with on-site service, means you'll spend $100 per month or less for supplies and maintenance.
4. System will be faster, have better reliability, plus add additional features which may stream line your business process.

Summary: That $1,000 system will cost you $275 per month in supplies only and will not last the year. In 12 months you'll need another, here you must also amortize the cost of the $1,000 system over 12 months which equals $83.33 per month. So your TCO (Total Cost of operation) is $358.33 per month. Moving to a larger unit such as the Ricoh MP C2550 your total monthly cost with supplies, on-site service and lease is $257.50. That's more than $130 per month in savings. Keep in mind that if your volume increases so do your costs. If your volume increases at 10% per year for 5 years your savings could be well over $300 per month.

Don't let the small investment price fool you, you need a larger system to meet your needs. Please also keep in mind that the cost per page for the Ricoh device may vary from dealer to dealer and geographical location, the cost per page is only an average of what I have seen in the industry for this device.

Art

Google 411

My compliments to Google!

Just leave it up to Google to come up with something like this!!!

Here's a number worth putting in your cell phone, or your home phone speed dial: 1-800-goog411. This is an awesome service from Google, and it's free -- great when you are on the road. 1-800-466-4411

Don't waste your money on information calls and don't waste your time manually dialing the number. I am driving along in my car and I need to call the golf course and I don't know the number. I hit the speed dial for information that I have programmed.

The voice at the other end says, "City & State." I say, "Garland, Texas." He says, "Business Name or Type of Service." I say, "Firewheel Golf Course." He says, "Connecting" and Firewheel answers the phone. How great is that? This is nationwide and it is absolutely free!

Click on the link below and watch the short clip for a quick demonstration.

http://www.google.com/goog411/

The Cost of Documents

Okay, you just brought in a new client, great! It's smooth sailing from here. But stop for a moment and think, the proposal, the billing statements, the service records...those are all necessary and lord knows you need to keep records.
I have a question for you; have you ever thought of the cost of documents, and I just don't mean the cost to put the toner on the paper. Let's look at some statistics:

A recent study shows that it costs over $2,000 per year to maintain a single 5-drawer cabinet.
Source: Oregon State University

According to The Association of Information Professionals, a 4-drawer file cabinet:
Holds 15-20K pages
Costs $25,000 to fill
Costs $2,000 per year to maintain

The major costs in paper filing systems are:
15% is spent on equipment
10% is spent on space
75% is spent on salaries
Source: Price Waterhouse

Of all the document that are handled each day in the average office, 90% are merely shuffled. Currently, 90% of the corporate memory exist on paper.
There are over 4 trillion documents in the U.S. alone-growing at a rate of 22% a year
Source: Price Waterhouse

Professionals spend 5-15% of their time reading information but up to 50% looking for it.
Source: Price Waterhouse

Corporate paper-based documents are growing at a rate of 200% a year
Source: Price Waterhouse

19 copies are made from each paper document
22% of all documents are lost
7.5% of paper documents are lost completely, 3% of the remainder get misfiled
$20.00 is spent on labor to file a document
$75.00 is spent on labor to process a document(The Gartner Group)
$120.00 is spent on labor searching for the misfiled paper documents.
$250.00 is spent on labor to search for lost files.
Quoted reference: Coopers & Lybrand

Document processing includes labor and materials for the printing, storing, filling out, receiving approval and putting the information into the business system.
A simple form, such as a vacation time request, costs a company over $150 per form to process
(Microsoft study)

The Gartner Group has found that for every dollar spent on producing forms, between $30 and $60 is spent processing those forms, and estimates that $360 billion is spent annually on processing data from forms.

With increasing regulatory controls, this process will only get worse in government, insurance and financial industries as increasing amounts of information must be extracted and processed from increasingly varied sources.
Source: Digital Publishing Solutions March/April 2001

It is predicted that the sheer amount of information requiring processing will grow at a rate of 200% a year
Source: The Yankee Group


Gartner has indicated that between 5%-15% of a companies total annual revenues are spent for the producing and managing of documents, but that those companies who have implemented a document management strategy can save up to 40% of those costs.

The questions is: do you have a document management strategy?

Ricoh Hits Home Run with New Ricoh 2030 Color MFP

Ricoh's new MPC 2030 will give color copy, color scan and color print to masses! Priced at only $8.00 more a month than a conventional mono chrome device, small businesses will now have the opportunity to have an all in one device for less than 50 cents per day over the cost of a monochrome device.

Ricoh is pleased to announce the introduction of the new Ricoh Aficio MP C2030 Digital Imaging System. Built off of the Ricoh Aficio MP C2050/C2550 mainframe, the MP C2030 is competitively priced and is the perfect solution for first-time Color MFP buyers that require basic copy, print and scan capabilities. Out of the box, the device offers standard RPCS printing, G3 & LAN Faxing plus TWAIN Scanning capabilities for Windows only environments. For accounts that require PCL printing, the MP C2030 can be configured with the Printer Enhance option.

The introduction of the MP C2030 allows Ricoh to continue our successful B2C conversion strategy. Providing color into the lower segments has given us the ability to provide a full suite of products from entry-level to light production environments.


RICOH AFICIO MP C2030 SERIES HIGHLIGHTS;

Equal BW/FC speeds
Compact Design
Fast warm-up and first copy out times
Supports paper stocks up to 140 lb. Index
Reduce paper consumption & filing space with standard duplexing.
Standard RPCS Printing, Faxing & TWAIN Scanning capabilities

Multifunctional Copier Network Launched

While searching the web, I've seen many web sites/aka message boards that cater to technicians, along with many sites having information pertaining to multifunctional systems. But, there is not one site that is dedicated the industry as a whole, merging end users and industry support people. The Multifunctional Copier Network is focused on the end users ability to get immediate information on their multifunctional systems, printers, fax and scanners (technical or support).

So, in short, I've put together a community for end users, technical, sales and support people. Not only is this system designed to help diagnose problems for the end user, the system will also post the latest information from all industry related manufacturers.

Features:

Updated Press Releases
New Product News
Manufacturers Resource Links
Leasing Information
Third Party Software and Hardware Solutions
Support Forums
Where to Lease or Buy a System
Trade or Sell Items
Equipment Lease Calculator

As the site grows there will be more features added, the site is free for all to view. Click here for The Multifunctional Copier Network Community.

PrintShop Mail

For those companies looking for an ideal variable-data solution for personalized letters, brochures, order forms, direct-mail campaigns, serialized and one-to-one mailings that communicate more effectively Print Shop Mail might be the ticket.


PrintShop Mail can process variable data into any kind of print job, merging database information into your document layout to create customized mailings. Integrating quickly and easily with any major design package, PrintShop Mail is extremely simple to use.PrintShop Mail also allows you to create separate layout and database designs -- and by storing layout and images on your printer RAM, you can print at the full rated speed of any Konica Minolta PostScript printer/copier.


Efficiently customizes form letters, direct mail pieces, sales flyers and price lists for a consistent graphic feel on all your business communications and marketing materials.

Lets you create separate layout and database designs before they are integrated into your print document output.

Saves time and cost by maximizing throughput -- eliminating the need to RIP each graphic and layout for every page you print.

Compatible with both PC and Mac computers as well as all color and B&W PostScript printers.

Provides drag-and-drop functionality, instant preview of completed documents before printing, allows fast reprinting and remote printing

Oki Announces Price Busting Color 11x17 System

Below is the Press Release from Oki. I had heard about this system coming to market, and considering price point and features this should be an awesome system for the AEC market place.

Oki Data Americas Tuesday unveiled the MC860 A3 color MFP series, a new set of A3 color multifunction printers Oki Data says are comparable in capability and price to many competitors' A4 printers.

"What we heard most was 'costs,' " said Mike Garofola, senior marketing manager for color products at Oki Data Americas, in a ChannelWeb briefing. "The size is a nice point as well, but people are looking for an affordable solution that allows them to bring an A3-type of device into their [infrastructure] and the consolidation that comes with not having multiple devices."

Oki Data's new MC860 A3 color MFP series is targeted at businesses seeking a color MFP that can provide both A3 and A4 capabilities. Among many features, the MC860 harnesses HD color technology (including 48-inch banner support); allows full print, copy, scan and fax capabilities; offers print/copy speeds of 26 ppm in color and 33 in monochrome; can scan to USB Flash Memory, PC, fax, FTP, folder and e-mail; and has a duty cycle of 75,000 pages.

The MC860 series comes in three models, including a desktop standing model starting at $3,999 (400-sheet paper capacity); a floor standing model with one tray and cabinet, starting at $4,459 (930-sheet paper capacity)' and a floor standing model with two trays and a cabinet, starting at $4,739 (1,460-sheet paper capacity).

"We do have other A3 color MFP series," Garofola said, "but before they were only sold exclusively through our BTA [business technology alliance] channel and are more of a copier-based product that competes with other copier-based MFPs. This is the first tabloid A3 color MFP we've really designed for the 'Comdex' channel."

The MC860 series MFPs will be made available at the end of January through all of Oki Data's North American channels. Oki Data is targeting the MFPs especially at medium workgroup users and space-reliant, cost-dependent verticals such as education, manufacturing, retail, finance and life sciences.

"Print has surpassed copying in terms of functionality, but people are also looking to have more affordable output," Garofola said. "They're doing a lot more scanning, for document management. And while faxing is the function that's used least, when you do need it you have to have it. From a legal standpoint, a fax is still a legal document as opposed to a scan, and still very viable."

Garofola said to expect additional MFP announcements from Oki Data later in the year.

Ricoh MP9000 Demo Sale

This MP 9000 system has only 2,000 pages on meter, includes print, scan, document feeder, and booklet finisher/stapler. System print and copy speed is 90PPM. Contact art@p4photel.com

90 day parts & labor warranty

$17,995 (plus tax & shipping)

Optional Services:
On-Site Training for Hardware and Software $150 per hour
Network Install for Printing and Scanning $150 per hour
Additional Maintenance Agreement can be purchased (Call for price)
Lease Financing for up to 60 months (Based on credit approval from third party leasing company) Call for lease quote
On-Site Setup (remove packaging, install finisher, test, and check operations) $375


General Features:

Dual toner bottles allow change-on-the-fly, uninterrupted output

Dual tray Interposer option provides ability to insert color or preprinted sheets

Dual 160GB hard disk drives (320GB)

Large, user friendly, dual language color touch panel display for simple access to all functions

Large standard memory of 256MB RAM

Desktop control of an extensive list of advanced capabilities

Connect Copy option allows the linking of two Aficio MP9000's to double your output to 180 ppm

Print speed of 90 ppm

True 1200 dpi resolution

Network Scan-to-Email and Scan-to-File with printer and scanner kit options

Copier Features

Seven paper trays with total paper capacity of up to 8,050 sheets

Enhanced Document Server allows you to easily retrieve/merge and edit files in thumbnail format for enhanced productivity

Full finishing capabilities including covers, chapters, tab extension copying, printing, stapling and user selectable 2 and 3 hole punching

Scan black & white or color images at 80 ppm

Scan Once, Print Many with fast, clear output at 90 ppm with 1200 dpi resolution

Printer Features

Perfect for local or network printing with either PC or Mac

PCL6 enables it to work with all popular applications

Works with Windows ME/2000/NT 4.0/XP/Server 2003 and Macintosh 8.6 or higher

Print Resolution PCL5e 300/600 dpi, PCL6 600/1200 dpi, RPCS 200/300/600/1200 dpi, PS3 600/1200 dpi

Optional Accessories:

RT Large Paper Deck

Dimensions 21.2” x 28.7” x 38.5”

Power Source From Mainframe

Supported Paper Sizes All Trays: 5.5” x 8.5” to 8.5” x 11”

Supported Paper Weights 4th Tray: 16 lb. Bond - 80 lb. Cover, 5th Tray: 16 lb. Bond - 80 lb. Cover, 6th Tray: 16 lb. Bond - 90 lb. Index

Total Capacity 3 Trays / 4,550 sheets

Tray Capacity 4th Tray: 1,000 sheets, 5th Tray: 1,000 sheets, 6th Tray: 2,550 sheets

Weight 194 lb.

BY5000 Multi Bypass Tray

Dimensions (WxDxH) 26.7” x 22” x 7.1”

Paper Capacity 500 sheets (based on 20 lb Bond)

Paper Size 5.5” x 8.5” - 13” x 18” (with RT5010 DLT/Large Capacity Tray)

Paper Volume Sensors 100%, 50%, 10%, Near-end

Paper Weight 16 lb. Bond - 80 lb. Cover

Power Source From LCT via Mainframe

Weight 39.6 lb.

ZF4000 Z-fold Unit

Dimensions (W x D x H) 6.9" x 24.4" x 37.8"

Weight 121 lbs.

With Proof Tray Sizes: 8.5” x 11”, 8.5” x 14”, 11” x 17” SEF Paper Weight: 17 – 20 lb. Bond

With Shift Tray Paper Size: 8.5” x 11”, 8.5” x 14”, 11” x 17” SEF
Paper Weight: 17 – 20 lb. Bond

With Staple Tray Paper Size: 11" x 17"
Paper Weight: 17 – 20 lb. Bond

GBC StreamPunch III

Available Die Sets GBC 3-hole Die Set, Ring Binder, GBC 11-hole Die Set, VeloBind, GBC 19-hole Die Set, CombBind/GBC Type, GBC 21-hole Die Set, WireBind 2:1, GBC 32-hole Die Set, WireBind 3:1, GBC 44-hole Die Set, GBC 32-hole ProClick

Dimensions (WxDxH) 12” x 28.5” x 38.5”

Power Consumption 340W

Power Supply 115V AC, 60 Hz, Single Phase, 3.0 A

Punch Capacity Single Sheet

Punch Edge 11” edge of 8.5” x 11”

Punch Stock Weights 20 lb. Bond - 80 lb. Cover

Sheet Size 8.5” x 11” (no tabs)

Speed 90 sheets per minute

Weight 154 lb.

RT5010 (DLT/LCT) Ledger Sized Large Capacity Tray

Dimensions (WxDxH) 34.7” × 28.8” × 38.6”

Power Source From Mainframe

Supported Paper Sizes All Trays: 5.5” x 8.5” to 13” x 18”

Supported Paper Weights All Trays: 16 lb. Bond - 80 lb. Cover

Total Capacity 3 Trays / 4,000 sheets

Tray Capacity 4th Tray: 1,000 sheets
5th Tray: 2,000 sheets
6th Tray: 1,000 sheets

Weight 363.8 lb.

SR5000 3,000 Sheet Finisher w/100-sheet Stapler

Dimensions (WxDxH) 31.5” x 28.7” x 38.5”

Output Jogger Standard

Power Consumption Less than 120W

Power Source From Mainframe

Proof Tray Stack Capacity: 500 sheets (8.5" x 11" or smaller), 250 sheets (8.5" x 14" or larger)
Paper Size: 5.5" x 8.5" – 13" x 18"
Paper Weight: 14 lb. Bond – 80 lb. Cover

Shift Tray Stack Capacity: 3,000 sheets (8.5" x 11"); 1,500 sheets (8.5" x 14" – 11" x 17") 1,000 sheets (13” x 18”) 500 sheets (5.5" x 8.5" LEF) 100 sheets (5.5" x 8.5" SEF) 30 sheets when Z-folding
Paper Size: 5.5" x 8.5" – 13" x 18" Paper Weight: 16 lb. Bond – 80 lb. Cover

Staple Capacity per Set 100 sheets (Letter) 50 sheets (11" x 17", 8.5" x 14", 8.5" x 11" SEF) 10 sheets when Z-folding

Staple Positions Top, Bottom, 2 staples, Top Slant

Weight 165 lb.

BK5010 Production Level Booklet Maker

Dimensions (WxDxH) 55.9” x 27.6” x 35.4”

Finishing Speed Maintains rated engine speed of 90-ppm

Maximum Booklet Capacity 30 sheets (120 pages based on 20 lb. Bond)

Power Consumption Less than 200W

Power Source 100/100/115/127/220/230V 50-60Hz

Supported Paper Sizes Width: 8.1" to 12.6" Length: 10.8" to 18"

Supported Paper Weights 16 lb. Bond – 172 lb. Index*

Weight 286.6 lb.

*BK5010 supports up to 172 lb. Index in Off-line mode only. The Pro 906EX/1106EX/1356EX support up to 80 lb. Cover (120 lb. Index) On-line when combined with the BK5010.


Optional BK5010 Production Booklet Maker Accessories

BF5010 Book Folder Creates a square fold from a saddle stitched book

BK5010 Rail Unit Eases finisher docking/undocking

CF5010 Cover Feeder Inserts preprinted/color sheets as covers

TR5010 Trimmer Unit Trims edge of the booklet for a professional finish


PU5000 Hole Punch Option for the SR5000 Finisher

Hole Positions 2 or 3 holes, switchable

Punch Paper Size 5.5" x 8.5" – 13" x 18"

Punch Paper Weight 16 lb. Bond – 90 lb. Index

TK5000 11" x 17" Tray Kit

Function Converts Tandem Tray to an additional short edge feed (SEF) tray

EB-135 Print Controller (Optional)

CPU Intel Celeron

Hard Disk Drive 80GB

Memory (Std./Max.) 512mb

Network Protocols TCP/IP, Novell IPX?SPX,SMB, AppleTalk with auto-switching

Printer Languages PCL6/PCL5e

Standard Interface 10/100/1000BaseTX

Utilities Command WorkStation 4.5, Fiery Web Tools, Fiery Scan (TWAIN plug-in, Remote Scan), Fiery FreeForm 2, Fiery WebTools, Fiery Mail Port, & Fiery Printer Delete Utility

Ricoh Introduces DocuClass Document Management Solution

RiSVP Member Software to Streamline Business Processes

WEST CALDWELL, N.J., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Ricoh Americas Corporation, a leading provider of digital office equipment, today announced the release of DocuClass document management software - one of the first solutions to become available to the Ricoh Channel through its recently introduced Ricoh Independent Solutions Vendor Program (RiSVP).

DocuClass, a product of Cima Software Corporation, Inc., is a complete process-oriented, document management software solution that enables organizations to streamline their internal operations by dynamically controlling and organizing the capture, management, access, and distribution of documents and information within their business process. Enhanced for Ricoh, the DocuClass MFP Link ties the software directly to most Ricoh multifunction products (MFPs), offering a simplified method of document indexing, archiving, document processing, workflow routing and full version control directly from the MFP control panel.

"We are delighted to partner with Ricoh in delivering world-class document management solutions to the marketplace," said Nelson Cano, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Cima Software Corporation, Inc. "Going forward we will continue to develop innovative solutions for Ricoh customers."

One of three Ricoh Alliance programs, RiSVP, developed in cooperation with Ricoh solution partners and Ricoh's direct and dealer channels, focuses on two key areas: expansion of channel marketing opportunities for RiSVP members and simplifying solution access for Ricoh sales channels. By providing RiSVP member products directly from Ricoh, the direct and dealer channels have more opportunities for new revenue growth combined and simplified sales operations. In turn, RiSVP members enjoy faster and greater financial return on the investments they have made in developing solutions that when combined with Ricoh's award-winning product portfolio address customers' key concerns. Cima Software is a Platinum Plus member of RiSVP.

"Together with Cima Software, we will continue to provide customers with real enhanced value by delivering a broad set of capabilities designed to improve business processes and reduce operational costs," said Hede Nonaka, executive vice president, Ricoh Americas Corporation. "Both organizations are committed to developing solutions driven by customer need and not industry hype."

For more information on RiSVP, please visit www.ricohalliances.com.

About Cima Software Corporation

Cima Software Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, is an information management organization, specializing in creating and delivering innovative and process oriented document management solutions. Information about Cima's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.docuclass.com.

About Ricoh Americas Corporation

Ricoh Americas Corporation, headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J., is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd., the 72-year-old leading supplier of office automation equipment and electronics, with fiscal year 2007 sales in excess of $22 billion, a 7.3 percent increase over the previous year.

Ricoh Americas Corporation is a leading provider of document solutions. Ricoh's fully integrated hardware and software products help businesses share information efficiently and effectively by enabling customers to control the input, management and output of documents.

Ricoh Americas Corporation directly or through its network of authorized dealers markets and distributes products in North, Central and South America.

Information about Ricoh's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.ricoh-usa.com.

All referenced product names are the trademarks of their respective companies

Equitrac Announces Latest Version of Equitrac Professional

PLANTATION, FL, Dec 18, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Equitrac Corporation announced today the latest version of its Equitrac Professional print management and cost recovery solution for professional services organizations. The new release includes enhancements to increase productivity, speed scanning processes and expands support for major vendor partners. Equitrac Professional expands revenue, lowers network print operation costs and reduces print supply waste at professional services organizations by automatically capturing, easily importing and accurately billing for every client-related printing expense, matching equipment to specific business requirements and simplifying IT support of print operations.

Equitrac Professional 5.2.3 is the next version of Equitrac's market-leading enterprise print management and cost recovery solution for law firms, architecture and engineering companies, consultants and other professional services providers. In addition to expediting and increasing recovery of client billable expenses, the highly scalable software allows businesses to capture, allocate and accurately bill for any client expense generated anywhere in a professional service firm. Accessible through Equitrac's TouchPoint Console(R) or Equitrac Embedded(TM) software for leading multifunction devices, Equitrac Professional supports the networked printers and copiers from every major equipment manufacturer -- as well as leading document management systems and professional time and billing software.

Equitrac Professional 5.2.3

Equitrac Professional 5.2.3 builds upon the success of Equitrac Professional 5 by adding several key features to enhance print management, scan and document capture, workflow and integration with partners.

HP Invented e-paper

This caught my eye today when skimming my google alerts. I had remembered that I saw this technology somewhere, I remembered it was on a scifi movie.

Can't remember the name, however these three or four astronauts were stuck on Mars, with no food, no water, no air and a robot that went bonkers on them. The one scene in the movie shows one astronaut unrolling a scroll with two ends and in the middle was a plastic film that held and image and you could change the image.

Scifi stuff always comes true, right.

This snippet is from mobilewack:

How will the future touchscreen look like? What about the future paper? HP has an idea about that and more than that, it has a prototype. The e-paper display is said to use less power than the displays available today and, even better, it’s unbreakable. We don’t know when this screen will arrive but we’re sure anxious about using one. HP will surely continue its work with the Arizona State Flexible Display Center to improve the existing prototype.

Then I read this from SFGATE:

Nowadays, many of us read or listen to the news on computers. But there are still some things one simply cannot do with a laptop or a PC -- like stuffing it into your bag or spreading it out on the breakfast table.

That may soon change as companies close in on one of technology's holy grails: a highly flexible computer display that one can roll up the way one would a newspaper or a magazine.
A team of Hewlett-Packard scientists showed off their version of that future one recent morning at HP Labs in Palo Alto, as they stood next to a machine about the size of a large refrigerator. Ironically, it looks very much like a scaled-down version of a typical web press used to print daily newspapers.

"That kind of electric paper is something we have argued about," he said. "There is a question as to what the market is for that kind of reusable paper. We know that people are spending hundreds of dollars for laptop displays or tablet-type computers. We know that people are buying very large displays to hang on their walls or to stand up in their homes. ...

"But the electronic paper is a totally new thing. It has to compete against the economy of real paper, which is quite inexpensive. The question is how much do people need that, versus how much are they going to look at things on their tablet PCs or their laptop or their home 60-inch screen."

Maybe, just maybe, we'll have no more paper! Everyone will have a fancy scroll and be able to write, doodle, draw download and upload images from anywhere.

-=Good Selling-=

RICOH LAUNCHES THE AFICIO MP C2050/MP C2550 COLOR

New Series Offer High Quality Color at a Low Total Cost of Ownership

West Caldwell, NJ, December 3, 2008 – Ricoh Americas Corporation, the leading provider of digital office equipment, today announced the launch of the Aficio MP C2050/MP C2550 color multifunction products (MFPs). Designed for small and medium sized businesses, the MP C2050/MP C2550 Series provides the features typically reserved for more expensive MFPs at an affordable price.

Furthermore, the MP C2550 has gone through extensive testing at Buyers Laboratory and it was recently awarded the company’s “Highly Recommended” rating and Certificate of Reliability.

In today’s fast paced business environment, color documents are vital in obtaining a competitive advantage. The Aficio MP C2050/MP C2550 delivers 20 pages-per-minute (ppm) and 25 ppm for full-color and black & white output respectively, and offers resolution of up to 1200 dpi, giving organizations the boost they need in the marketplace. In addition, color documents look more professional with vibrant images due to Ricoh’s new PXP™ toner. Businesses can enhance productivity and reduce costs simultaneously with the Aficio MP C2050/MP C2550 Series as it saves paper by printing two-sided documents at nearly 100% of the simplex speed.

Smaller organizations and workgroups can reduce the costs associated with maintaining four separate devices by consolidating to these MFPs, which offer several document management functions and high-quality color output in one device. The Aficio MP C2050/MP C2550 Series also allows organizations to develop finished documents in-house, streamlining production expenses. An optional Internal Finisher with Hole-Punch capabilities enables users to tailor the Aficio MP C2050/MP C2550 to their specific needs without utilizing extra floor space.

“In today’s economic climate, businesses do not want to sacrifice quality for price, and with the Aficio MP C2050/MP C2550, they don’t have to,” said Michael Hunter, director, Product Marketing, Ricoh Americas Corporation. “The MP C2050/MP C2550 Series offers companies a secure way to produce high-quality color documents at a low total cost of ownership, all of which our customers have come to expect from Ricoh products.”

Organizations of all sizes must meet security standards and compliance regulations. Providing numerous levels of authentication that allow administrators to confirm user identity and control access to color printing, scanning and other functions, the Aficio MP C2050/MP C2550 helps businesses meet or exceed these requirements. Among the beneficial security features are Locked Print, which prevents confidential documents from unauthorized viewing, and the DataOverwriteSecurity System (DOSS) option that automatically overwrites the hard drive. Another option, HDD encryption, enables businesses to protect valuable data in the event that the hard drive is stolen.

The MP C2050/MP C2550 Series expedites important document communications with customers, colleagues and other business partners efficiently with several Scan-to functions, including Scan-to-Email, Scan-to-FTP and Scan-to-Folder. A new feature, the Scan-to-Media function, allows users to store scanned documents directly to a USB memory device or SD memory card, for instant portability.

The Aficio MP C2050/MP C2550 Series is equipped with an 8.5” full-color W-VGA display for easy navigation. In addition, the Series supports a number of third party
solutions, including GlobalScan NX and the Card Authentication Package, which enables users to efficiently and effortlessly complete tasks.

The suggested retail price for the Aficio MP C2050 and MP C2550 is $5,800 and $7,500 respectively. The Aficio MP C2030 will join this series in mid-January, offering a basic feature set that includes TWAIN Scanning, Faxing and Printing in Windows environments. To learn more about Ricoh’s full line of products, please visit www.ricoh-usa.com.