BUYERS LABORATORY TEST REPORT

Imagistics 2500 MFP Multifunctional

 

 

TEST RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS continued

Ease of Operation

Documentation: Good. The unit comes with a printed owner’s manual and quick setup guide, as well as a CD-ROM that includes the owner’s manual, quick setup guide and a manual for PaperPort software. The optional AXIS print server 5400 includes a printed user’s guide and a CD-ROM that includes instructions for installing utilities for Windows 3.1, 95/98 and NT environments as well as Mac, OS2 and UNIX environments. However, there are no reference guides for Windows 2000, Me or XP installations.

Ease of use: Good. The control panel offers a two-line, 32-character text LCD display and has separate sections for fax, copy and scan functions. Users can automatically scroll through the programming functions by pressing the “Function” key on the control panel and program the selection by pressing the “Enter/Yes” key. Alternatively, the user can use the left and right arrow keys to scroll through the menu selections or simply select the number pertaining to the desired selection. The function numbers along with the function selections are displayed on the LCD. In addition, a list of the user-settable functions can be printed via the “Reports” key on the control panel. When configured with a parallel or USB interface, the device can also be programmed remotely from a PC using a bundled remote utility (not tested). Ease of use as a printer was also good.

Control panel status messages/job access: Messages regarding device status, such as “receiving data,” “dialing” and “printing,” appear on the control panel. There is no print queue listed, nor is there access to the job in progress.

Feedback to PC workstations: Poor. While utilities that provide feedback to a PC user are available in the unit’s standard configuration via a parallel/USB connection, the only information available in BLI’s tested configuration with the optional AXIS print server is a list of completed jobs accessible from the Web page.

Pop-up status/error messages: No.

Icon alerts: No.

Device status: No.

Print job status: Yes, via the Web page for completed jobs only.

Paper supply gauge from driver/utility/Web: No/No/No.

Paper size status from driver/utility/Web: No/No/No.

Always-on-top status information: No.

Ease of removing misfeeds: Good. Non-clamshell design with three misfeed locations, including one for the document feeder.

Ease of loading paper: Good.

Ease of adjusting paper drawers: Fair. The drawer must be removed from the machine and the rear and side guides adjusted. The correct paper size is then set using the machine’s control panel. See “Operator error.”

Auto paper size sensing: No.

Operator error: Since there is no paper size detection for the paper drawer, if the user does not set the correct paper size after changing paper size, documents may be printed onto the wrong size paper and misfeeding may occur. However, it should be noted that the bundled software allows users to make this change to either drawer from a PC, rather than from the control panel’s menu system, when the unit is connected to a PC via a parallel or USB connection (the unit was tested in a networked environment). The exit tray does not have a sensor to stop the device from printing/copy- ing; consequently, when the capacity is exceeded, a paper jam will occur.

Throughput Capabilities/Materials

Paper output: Paper is output face down in correct page order to an internal 150-sheet tray.

Ability to process labels: Avery #5351 labels performed satisfactorily in the tests. (Imagistics recommends that users feed labels through the bypass tray).

Ability to process transparencies: 3M-PP2500 clear transparencies performed satisfactorily in the tests. (Imagistics recommends that users feed labels through the bypass tray).

Ability to process envelopes: BLI technicians were able to successfully print onto single envelopes via the bypass.

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