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PAGE 1F:\TKO\Canon\Canon C5185i\Canon UK iRC5185i vs Konica Minolta bizhub C550Page

Canon iRC5185i versus Konica Minolta bizhub C550[INSERT PHOTOS OF UNITS]Competitive Model: Konica Minolta bizhub C550The Konica Minolta bizhub C550 has a rated engine speed of 45 ppm in colour and 55 ppm in black. The units base price includes copy, network print, Internet fax and network scan functionality, with 1 GB of RAM which is not upgradeable, a 100-sheet reversing automatic document feeder, a 60-GB hard drive, and a 150-sheet bypass tray included standard. Walk-up and PC fax capability is optional. Paper supplies can be upgraded to a maximum of 6,650 sheets from six paper sources. Standard print is via the included Emperon print controller; an EFI Fiery print controller is available as an optional upgrade. Unenhanced print resolution is 600 x 600 dpi, enhanced to 1800 x 600 dpi.Highlights of the Canon iRC5185iThe iRC5185i has a rated engine speed of 51 ppm in both colour and in black, and comes standard with network print, network scan, Internet fax and copy capability, with walk-up fax, network fax and PC fax functionality optional. The device includes network printing via Canons UFR II/PCL Printer Kit. PostScript 3 is optional. Standard Colour Universal Send capability supports scan to e-mail, Internet fax, FTP, SMB, IPX and user inboxes. Colour Universal Sends Security Feature Set includes PDF encryption, which offers two levels of encryption (40-bit or 128-bit); digital device signature security; PDF OCR mode, which allows users to edit PDF files and search files for text or phrases; Trace & Smooth PDF, which keeps compressed PDF images sharp; and PDF High Compression mode, which dramatically reduces the file size of PDFs, allowing them to be sent across networks more efficiently. Standard paper capacity is 1,100 sheets, upgradeable to a maximum of 5,000 sheets from six paper sources. A 100-sheet duplexing single-pass document feeder (DSPF) and 100-sheet bypass tray are standard. Print resolution is 600 x 600 dpi, enhanced to 1200 x 1200 dpi.Sidebar:

Key Strengths of the iRC5185i

Standard Colour Universal Send Searchable PDF Creation, PDF Encryption capability

Higher maximum RAM Duplexing single pass document feeder (DSPF)

Award-winning optional Web Access functionality New Workflow Composer and Workflow Composer Editor allow users unprecedented personalization capabilities

Award-winning scan routing solution MEAP enabled Dual Processor Architecture Optional Secure Watermark Capability

Robust Feature SetThe iRC5185i offers an excellent feature set that offers numerous advantages over the bizhub C550, including: New Workflow Composer allows users to customize their own workflows: The iRC5185 offers Canons newest option, the new Workflow Composer, which allows users an unprecedented level of customisation capabilities, allowing them to automate their own tasks and even name their own menu buttons via the included Windows-based Workflow Composer Editor. Using Workflow Composer, users can configure a single button to perform tasks they usually do (for example, to scan a copy of a legal document to the clients account, the lawyers account and the backup account); users can create or edit these custom workflows from their desktops. Users of the irC5185 can also select from a library of pre-established Workflow Composer buttons that streamline tasks common to general office environments as well as specific industries. The bizhub C550 does not offer any comparable, easy-to-use customization capabilities.

Award-winning Web Access feature: Canons optional Web Access capability, which earned a Fall 2005 BLI Outstanding Achievement Award for innovation, is available for the iRC5185i, and there is nothing comparable for the bizhub C550. With this feature, a Web browser is embedded within the iRC5185i and allows users to access the Internet or a corporate intranet directly from the control panel, without the need for a PC. This means it can be used to access and print forms from a corporate intranet, for example, which can be very useful in environments without PCs. (As a security measure, the Web Access capability can be restricted only to certain users.) The newest features of Web Access include the ability to store PDF files directly to a user mail box, and the ability to open multiple windows from the MFP. Faster rated black engine speed: The iRC5185i rated engine speed is 51 ppm in both colour and black, while the bizhub C550s black engine speed is rated lower at only 45 ppm. Because the majority of typical office documents are printed in black, this speed advantage means that most offices will find the iRC5185 more productive overall than the bizhub C550. Standard DSPF: The bizhub C550 includes a reversing automatic document feeder, which has to scan one side of a duplex document, then feed it back through the machine in order to scan the other side. This increases wear and tear on the original, as well as on the device itself, and can result in increased duplex document feeding and scan times. The iRC5185is standard duplexing single-pass feeder (DSPF) scans both sides of a two-sided document at once, saving time and reducing wear and tear on the original and on the device. Higher maximum RAM: The iRC5185is RAM can be expanded to a maximum of 1.5 GB, while maximum RAM for the bizhub C550 cannot be expanded beyond 1 GB. This means that users of the iRC5185i have more processing power available when they need it, even for complex color jobs. Higher hard disk drive capacity: The capacity of the iRC5185is standard hard disk drive is 80 GB, while in contrast the bizhub C550s hard drive capacity is only 60 MB. This means that users of the iRC5185i have more space to store often-used documents on the hard drive, where they can be retrieved easily as needed. Dual processors: Unlike with the bizhub C550, the iRC5185is print controller incorporates dual processors for exceptional multi-tasking and efficient image processing. Job Definition Format (JDF) support: enables the device to interpret print jobs in both PDF and JDF format, which enables support for job settings typically used in CRD environments. For example, JDF capability allows users to manage multiple queued jobs within the interface or from the device itself and configure Job Tickets that specify output settings. When configured with its standard Emperon print controller, the bizhub C550 does not support JDF.

Airtight security: The iRC5185i comes standard with a wide range of security features that can help protect sensitive data. For example, capabilities include Department ID for up to 1,000 departments, Single Sign On (SSO) and Simple Device Log-In (SDL) authentication, IP and MAC address filtering and network port management. Standard document security is via the Universal Send PDF Security Feature Set, which offers Encrypted PDF (allows password-protecting of documents to restrict access, editing and printing) and Digital Device Signature (enables verification of a devices identity to recipients by adding the digital certificate to documents). Users can also embed optional Secure Watermarks that appear when copies are made, which can protect against security leaks of confidential information. Finally, password protection for the devices 100 user mail boxes is also available. The optional security kit available for the iRC5185i protects scanned, printed and stored data with 168-bit encryption, overwriting of the hard drive up to three times (encrypting image data before the overwrite for an extra layer of security), and job logs concealing. Users can also create encrypted secured prints (which is a capability not available for the bizhub C550), as well as add a digital user signature. Optional secure watermark feature: Users of the iRC5185i can add optional secure watermarking functionality, which helps protect sensitive information by embedding a hidden watermark within documents. This watermark only becomes visible when the document is copied, and deters the reproduction of confidential or sensitive documents. The watermark will not only appear on documents copied on Canon MFPs, but will also appear when these documents are copied on other vendors machines as well. This capability is not available for the bizhub C550. Higher print resolution: On the iRC5185i, print resolution is enhanced to 1200 x 1200 dpi, while on the bizhub C550 print resolution is enhanced to only 1800 x 600 dpi. Superior Scan Functionality

BLIs Lab Test Reports on Canon iRC devices consistently rate the Canon scan solution as Excellent, which is the highest possible rating by BLI. In contrast, the BLI Lab Test Report on the bizhub C550 rated its scan functionality lower (Very Good). Among the reasons Canons scan solution is rated so highly by BLI: Standard Colour Universal Send functionality lets users preview scanned files before sending: Unlike the bizhub C550, which requires an additional purchase for PageScope Workware scan document management software, the iRC5185i comes standard with Colour Universal Send, which according to BLIs Lab Test Reports, offers very easy-to-use and feature-rich scan functionality. Colour Universal Send is a powerful document creation, distribution and archiving utility. It supports network authentication (whereby users can be required to enter their network user name and password to access the device), as well as LDAP searches from its control panel. It also supports scan to e-mail, FTP sites, WebDAV, document management applications, desktops of users running eCopy Desktop (optional software allowing users to work with OCR scanned documents), Internet fax destinations and user mail boxes. The newest features of Colour Universal Send include Trace & Smooth PDF Outline Graphics (converts graphics to outlines in scanned documents); 128-bit (AES) for Encrypted PDF, and a Destination Restriction Feature, which allows administrators to restrict new address entry by destination type, which can help prevent unauthorized use of the scanner. Additionally, BLI Lab Test Reports have noted that Unlike other scan solutions BLI has tested, Colour Universal Send displays a preview of the scanned image that users can check before sending the file. This feature, which potentially saves time and wasted effort, is not available for the bizhub C550s scan function. PDF High Compression Mode: Another highly useful feature of Colour Universal Send is Canons proprietary PDF High Compression Mode (which significantly reduces the size of PDF files). It offers a function called Trace & Smooth PDF, which can convert text and line art in scanned documents to scalable artwork that can be manipulated in Adobe Illustrator). There is no file compression utility available for black documents scanned on the bizhub C550. Optional eCopy ShareScan OP 4.0: Users of the iRC5185i can leverage a buyers existing investment in document management applications by adding optional eCopy ShareScan, the scan solution that earned a Fall, 2005 BLI Pick award for Outstanding Scan Routing Solution. The eCopy solution is an external client/server that consists of a PC provided by eCopy, an ergonomically designed integrated keyboard, and a simple-to-use touchscreen user interface. It allows users to customize their workflow by easily creating customized buttons that automatically route the scanned document to the correct place. For example, a personnel department might have buttons for Regulatory compliance, Employee handbook and Personnel files among others. BLIs Solutions Test Report on the eCopy solution rated it Five Stars (the highest possible rating) and wrote that BLI was extremely impressed with both its outstanding ease of use and functionality, and its close integration with Microsoft Exchange. Although Konica Minolta offers an external eCopy connector, this solution adds to the devices footprint, while the internal Canon eCopy MEAP connector does not. Standard User Mail Box functionality: Users of the iRC5185i can scan or print documents directly to a User Mail box, located within a dedicated portion of the machines hard drive, for storage. The stored documents can be manipulated right from the control panel, merged with other files via the Merge and Save function, moved to other mail boxes and even sent to other destinations using the Send function. Up to 100 User Mail Boxes can be set up, with the number of documents that can be stored limited only by memory. According to BLIs Field Test Reports on iRC devices, text-based information and a Display more detailed settings touch key provide users with easy steps for sending faxes, sending documents and using the units mail boxes. Although the bizhub C550 has the capability to scan documents to user mail boxes, some users find the menu system for programming destinations, scanning to a mail box and retrieving documents from a mail box to be unintuitive. Better Tested Copier and Printer Efficiency Rates

When BLI conducted identical print productivity tests on both the Bizhub C550 and the iRC5185i, the iRC5185i emerged the winner in many important categories. The devices advantages over the bizhub C550 include: Faster simplex copying (10 sets; auto-colour mode): BLI laboratory testing found that when making 10 sets of a simplex document in auto-colour mode, the iRC5185i ran at a tested speed of 46.2 cpm while the bizhub C550 was slower in the identical test with a speed of only 41.3 cpm. (See Chart 1.)

Higher tested overall simplex copier efficiency (black mode): Similarly, BLI testing showed a distinct advantage in overall copier efficiency when both devices copied simplex documents in black mode, with the iRC5185i performing at an overall efficiency rate of 77.5% (versus 72.8% on the bizhub C550).

Faster tested simplex print speed (5 sets; auto-colour mode): In BLI lab testing, the iRC5185i also proved faster than the bizhub C550 when asked to print five sets of a simplex document in auto-colour mode, with a tested speed of 41.0 ppm versus a speed of only 34.1 ppm for the bizhub C550 in the identical test. Faster tested duplex print speed (5 sets; auto-colour mode): The iRC5185i also produced duplex prints faster than the bizhub C550, printing five sets of the duplex BLI test document in auto-colour mode at a tested speed of 33.2 ppm (versus 29.0 ppm on the bizhub C550).

More efficient job stream processing (auto-colour mode): The BLI Job Stream test is crucial in understanding how a device will perform under real-world conditions. In this test, a series of different types of files is sent to the device in rapid succession, simulating the kinds of demands that might be placed on it in a busy office environment. When BLI printed its job stream test on the iRC5185i, the unit completed the job stream in auto-detect mode at a tested overall speed of 34.5 ppm, while it took the bizhub C550 much longer to complete the same test, with an overall tested job stream speed of only 11.9 ppm. This translates to an overall job stream efficiency rate of 67.6% on the iRC5185i in this mode, while the bizhub C550s efficiency rate was only 26.4% in the identical test. (See Chart 2.) More efficient job stream processing (black mode): The iRC5185i also demonstrated a job stream efficiency advantage over the bizhub C550 when printing BLIs job stream test in black mode, with an overall efficiency rate of 71.4% in this test (versus a rate of only 66.5% for the bizhub C550). (See Chart 3.)

Productivity-Enhancing Features

Productivity is a key factor when choosing any multifunctional device, and the iRC5185i delivers more of the features businesses need to keep their workflow moving easily and without interruption, including: Advanced copy modes: Among the advanced copy features standard on the iRC5185i and not available for the bizhub C550 are Editing, Image Overlay and Timer capabilities. Higher colour toner yield: The iRC5185is colour toner yields are rated at 36,000 impressions each for cyan, magenta and yellow. In contrast, the colour toner yields on the bizhub C550 are only 27,000 impressions per colour. This means that in colour-intensive environments, users of the iRC5185i spend less time replacing colour toner supplies than users of the bizhub C550. (See Chart 4.) Excellent accessibility options: The iRC5185i offers a wide range of options that make it easier for workers with disabilities to use the device. Among the available options are remote access software, a Voice Guidance Kit, an ADF Access Handle, and Braille Labels. While Konica Minolta does offer a remote desktop application which can aid wheelchair users and an accessibility handle, it lacks as many walk-up accessibility features as are offered by the iRC5185, such as the Braille Label kit, Voice Guidance Kit and Voice Operation capability. Better Interrupt capability: In BLI lab testing, the iRC5185i automatically and immediately returned to non-interrupted copy or print mode and restarted the job that was interrupted without user intervention. In contrast, BLIs Lab Test Report on the bizhub C550 noted it took the unit approximately one minute to resume the interrupted job without user intervention. Superior Ease of Use

Not only does the iRC5185i offer a scalable feature set, but it was designed to be exceptionally user-friendly, offering features such as: Award-winning control panel: BLI awarded Canon a Spring 2005 Pick Award for Outstanding Achievement in Control Panel Design, citing the fact that it offers users a choice of two outstanding control panel designs on its iRC devices. User-friendly, customisable workflow: With the introduction of the iRC5185i, Canon has taken its award-winning ease of use even farther. The iRC5185is new, optional Workflow Composer software allows users to create their own workflows, enabling them to automate repetitive tasks that they have to do so they can perform these tasks at the touch of a button. Even better, users can name their own menu buttons, making the interfaces completely personal and simple to use. There is nothing comparable available for the bizhub C550, which enables only two features to be added to the copy screen as shortcut keys (users select from a list of 40 features to select the two shortcut keys). Consistency with other Canon iRC devices: The iRC5185is control panel looks and behaves like other iRC series control panels, reducing the learning curve for users who switch from one iRC series device to another. Easy-to-use UFR II print driver: In addition to providing PCL printing, the iRC5185is Multi-PDL print controller includes UFR II (Ultra Fast Rendering II), which is Canons proprietary print driver. UFR II is easy to use, and utilizes the power of a users PC along with the iRC5185i itself to process data, basically splitting the job load. There is no UFR II equivalent available for the bizhub C550.

Summing Up Offering unprecedented customization capabilities that can be easily set up by any user, a top-rated scanning solution, award-winning ease of use, standard JDF format support and better tested job stream efficiency in both black and auto-colour modes, the iRC5185i is an excellent fit in a wide range of office, graphics and production environments and offers a lot of strong points that the bizhub C550 cannot match. [SIDE BAR]

Shortcomings of the bizhub C550:BLIs Field and Lab Test Reports on the bizhub C550 noted the following shortcomings of the device:

By default copying takes precedence over all functions. A particular function can be established as having priority over the others, but unlike with other competitive devices this can be accomplished but only via a service call. The full complement of utilities, which are on a CD by themselves, must be installed separately from the drivers and individually. Furthermore, several utilities must be downloaded via Konica Minoltas Web site. An example of this is PageScope NetCare, which is a large file that took BLI technicians more than 30 minutes to install.

BLI technicians believe that the bizhub C550s administrative utilities should be integrated into a more cohesive package rather than supplied individually, thus making the installation process easier.

As tested using XP workstations, pop-up print job completion notification failed to work during the evaluation. Similarly, the icon for Print Status Notifier, which must e enabled by users via the driver if not done by the administrator when the driver is loaded on to the server, failed to change colours throughout testing, and the audible alerts also didnt function; this means that users must be proactive in checking status of jobs and errors.

The print drivers dont have two of the more commonly used features duplex and finishing on the main tab. The drivers dont offer a point-and-click interface for selecting paper source and output destination.

If a scanned document is e-mailed and its successfully received by the other party, the sender will receive an e-mail informing him that the transmission was okay; however, no status information will be sent if an error occurs. While the bizhub C550 was able to produce a wide range of shades, BLI technicians noticed some evidence of graininess.

The bizhub C550s efficiency using the PostScript driver to print BLIs job stream, which replicates typical office usage, is well below average compared to business colour models in this speed range tested to date.

By default, some of the most commonly used features for a copy job multiple sets, duplex, finishing arent programmable from the main screen. Instead, users must select duplexing, for example, and then select the specific duplex mode desired from a subsequent screen.

Although theres a graphic on the unit showing users where misfed paper is located, no instructions are provided as to how to remove it. Once the misfeed is cleared the graphic clears. The units standard, non-upgradeable 60-GB hard drive is well below average for the group.From BLIs Field and Lab Test Reports.Specifications at a Glance

Canon iRC5185iKonica Minolta bizhub C550

Domestic Intro DateJuly 07March 07

Rated Engine Speed (Colour)51 ppm45 ppm

Rated Engine Speed (Black)51 ppm55 ppm

Scan Management SoftwareStandard Colour Universal SendOptional PageScope Workware

Max. Paper Capacity5,000 sheets6,650 sheets

Interface TypeStandard 10/100BaseTX Ethernet, Standard USBStandard 10/100/BaseTX Ethernet, Standard USB

Copier Memory (std/max)1 GB/1.5 GB1 GB/1 GB

Copier Hard DriveStandard 80 GBStandard 60 GB

Document FeederStandard DSPFStandard RADF

Scanning Speed (colour)70 ipm70 ipm

Scanning speed (black)70 ipm70 ipm

ControllerPDLs/PCLs SupportedStandard UFR II, PCL 5c, optional PostScript 3 Standard PCL 5c/6, PostScript 3

Chart 1:

Tested simplex copying speed (10 sets; auto-colour mode)iRC5185i

46.2 cpmbizhub C550

41.2 cpmChart 2:

Job stream efficiency rate (auto-colour mode)

iRC5185i

67.6%

bizhub C550

26.4%

Chart 3:

Job stream efficiency rate (black mode)

iRC5185i

71.4%

bizhub C550

66.5%

Chart 4:

Rated colour toner yieldiRC5185i

36,000 impressions

bizhub C550

27,000 impressions