Axis Communications 2500 MFP Connectivity, General Appraisal continued, BUYERS LABORATORY TEST REPORT, Imagistics 2500 MFP Multifunctional, sheets, as well as a

BUYERS LABORATORY TEST REPORT Imagistics 2500 MFP Multifunctional

General Appraisal continued

can also be programmed remotely from a PC when configured with the standard parallel or USB interface and using the bundled remote utility (this utility was not tested by BLI since the tested unit was configured with a network connection). Ease of use as a printer was also good. Further contributing to the unit’s good ease of use are its procedures for loading paper, removing misfeeds and replacing the toner cartridge and drum unit. Moreover, unlike most units tested, the Imagistics Model 2500 MFP received BLI’s highest rating in both copy and print mode for all types of output evaluated (text, line art, solids and halftones). Testing also revealed that the unit’s multitasking capabilities are typical of other units in this range tested to date by BLI, with the user able to program a copy job while a print job is in progress, but not while another copy job is in progress.

As a fax machine, the Imagistics Model 2500 MFP offers a 33.6-Kbps modem, JBIG com- pression, an 8-MB standard memory that can be upgraded to 40 MB, the highest maximum memory capacity for current mid-volume units, a 30-sheet automatic document feeder, a 250- sheet paper capacity that can be increased to

500sheets, as well as a single-sheet bypass tray, and multi-access. Other fax features of this unit, which has a 3.56-second-per-page BLI- tested scan speed, include batch transmission,

50timers for delayed operations, 132 autodial destinations, 168-hour battery backup (the longest battery backup time available for cur- rent units), broadcasting to 182 destinations, distinctive-ring detection, error-correction mode, an automatic cover sheet feature and remote diagnostics. Furthermore, the Imagistics Model 2500 MFP dials the destina-

tion and begins transmitting while pages are scanned to memory.

As a convenience copier, the unit can output up to 99 copies in a single run at 600-dpi resolution and provides an auto reduction mode and pre-set (50%, 78%, 94%, 100%, 104%, 150% and 200%) and zoom (50% to 200% in 1% in- crements) reduction/enlargement modes. Other copying features include the ability to sort multiple copies and to copy two or four pages onto one page as well as a fax and copy feature that allows users to make a copy of their fax document at the same time they send the fax. Fur- thermore, the unit’s first-copy time, at 12.78 seconds, is faster than the large majority of fax- centric multifunctional units tested to date.

Connectivity

The Imagistics Model 2500 MFP was tested as a network printer using the optional external AXIS print server network interface, which was easy to install. The bundled PCL 5e (emu- lation) print driver for Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT 4.0 and Me was also easy to use and includes such noteworthy features as toner-save mode, brightness/contrast, manual duplexing with margins (Windows 98 only), the ability to print the date and time, and N-up printing with or without borders. Also noteworthy is that the driver allows users to click on a graphical image to select the paper source. The Imagistics 2500 MFP, which output at its rated speed of 15 ppm, prints at 600-dpi resolution.

The Imagistics 2500 MFP also offers LAN faxing as well as PC scanning to a PC directly connected via the unit’s standard parallel or USB interface (PC scanning was not tested by BLI as the unit was tested in a network envi- ronment).

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