When evaluating more than one product, it is crucial that you make a fair comparison between products.

•Print from identical computer systems to ensure speed variations are not due to differences in processing power.

•Print the same files on all devices, using the same paper type and the same or equivalent settings. Print modes need to be tested separately for each device and compared respectively.

•Use the same operating system and software application and test comparable print drivers. (Each of these components interacts with the printing process and can affect performance.)

What to measure

Using the samples that you created, perform the following tests to gauge device performance.

First-page-out

The time from when the print command is issued to a device that is in PowerSave mode until the

 

completion of the first page. This test measures the effect of Instant-on Technology and shows a device’s

 

true speed.

Click-to-drop

The time from when the print command is issued until the completion of the job.

Pick-to-drop

The time from when the first piece of media is picked up by the device until the completion of the print job.

Return-to-application

The time from when the print command is issued until the time when the computer is available for other

 

tasks.

 

 

Running the tests

Follow the guidelines below when measuring printing performance:

•Be sure to measure the amount of time it takes to print a complete document. (For example, you might print an eight-page, two-sided document with company letterhead on the first page.)

Note A professional printing product is designed to print multiple-page documents. We suggest that you print either multiple-page documents or multiple copies of a single page.

•Record any error messages.

•Perform each test three times to obtain an average. If the variances in the three tests are too much, discard the result, check the system, and redo the test.

•If the device offers more than one I/O port, perform tests using each port.

•Look at each page to make sure all text and graphics printed correctly. Files that print significantly faster on one device might not be printing correctly. Some devices drop complex graphics and images when they are unable to process the whole job. Examine output to ensure that the entire document printed and that it printed correctly.

•When comparing device performance, look beyond the speed trial data and consider the acceptability of the output. There are definitely tradeoffs in print quality, but as you review your results, look at the samples and consider whether the quality meets your standards. Also, make sure that toner adheres to the paper properly.

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Evaluating laser all-in-one products