REVIEW

The Phaser 8400 can print colour graphics faster than monochrome text. That's because solid-ink technology uses fewer moving parts than traditional colour laser technology..

It's Crayon-tastic

Wax On, Wax Off

"..As a solid-ink (also known as wax-jet or phase-change) printer, the Phaser 8400 works something like an offset printing press, or a cross between an ink-jet and a laser. Its yellow, cyan, magenta, and black ink come not in liquid or powdered (toner) form, but in waxy chunks or small cubes -- actually, not cubes but four slightly different, drop-in shapes, carved toddler-toy-fashion to fit into the proper slots underneath the hood of the printer.."

"..Accustomed to conventional ink and toner cartridges, we were slightly unnerved that the Phaser's front-panel LCD and software driver don't offer an ink-remaining gauge (though the former does display a low-ink warning); instead, you simply lift the hood and look. You can top off or add ink anytime -- such as before starting a big print job, with no more wondering whether an installed cartridge will go the distance. And compared to the usual rigmarole of throwing away or recycling consumable cartridges and waste tanks, the 8400 is a friend to the environment, with one small, plug-in "maintenance kit" or imaging-drum lubricator to replace every 10,000 pages.."

"..The result is output that almost looks damp when it's dry -- solid-color areas appear practically painted on, with rich, glossy hues and absolutely none of the banding that plagues inkjets and, to a lesser extent, laser printers. Text is sharp as a tack for anything from 6-point size up.."

[Review] (Note non-network model and $US in this review)

FAQ's

Is solid ink a new technology?
Why haven’t I heard about solid ink printers before?

Solid ink is one of the most successful workgroup color printing technologies ever. When we announced our first solid ink printer in 1991, its groundbreaking capabilities immediately won Editors' Choice Awards from PC Magazine, MacUser and MacWorld.

Successive solid ink printers have won over 50 major awards. Now more than ever, businesses, schools, and other organizations are taking advantage of solid ink's unique color quality, speed, reliability, ease of use, and low cost.

Is solid ink print quality as good as color laser?

Yes. In some cases, it's even better. Solid ink technology has advantages over laser in that it produces an entire color image in a single pass - eliminating the possibility of misregistration. Also, unlike laser and liquid ink-jet printers, solid ink printers produce consistently high color quality page-to-page and job-to-job on almost any kind of media - including everything from office paper to special letterhead, coated stock, and transparencies.

Xerox 8500 Consumables

Does solid ink print slower the more color you add to the page?

No, it's full-color at full speed thanks to the single-pass design of the latest solid ink printers. Unlike even the fastest inkjet printers, filling the page with color from top to bottom won't slow a solid ink printer down at all. And our solid ink printers are twice as fast as the typical color laser - up to 16 color pages per minute.

Can solid ink print on both sides of the page?

Yes. Automatic two-sided printing is especially fast and reliable on Xerox solid ink printers because the duplex paper path is already built into every printer. The memory and software required to turn on the duplex function comes standard on the Phaser 8400DP.

Can I print transparencies with solid ink?

Xerox solid ink printers are legendary for their bright colors, smooth gradients, and fast, easy, reliable transparency printing. In fact, a recent review of Xerox solid ink in Presentations Magazine put it this way: "...probably the best printer for color transparencies I have seen, due to the rich and even color afforded by its unique ink system." And unlike some color lasers, there's no chance of having a sheet of transparency film melt onto a hot fuser roller because, with solid ink, there is no fuser.

How reliable is solid ink technology?

The elegantly simple design of a single-pass solid ink printer allows it to have 60% fewer parts than the typical four-pass color laser. The secret is in the printhead, which is precisely engineered and calibrated to deliver full-page full-color prints in one pass through the printer. The simpler, more color-oriented design of solid ink printers allows a shorter paper path and avoids all the cartridges, drums, belts, and rollers that make color lasers so complex. The best way to sum up solid ink reliability is to look at the stated maximum monthly color page volume: At 85,000 pages per month, it's over twice that of typical color lasers and up to 65 times that of color inkjets.

How many pages can I print with each ink stick?

A package of three solid ink sticks (cyan, magenta, or yellow) produces up to 3,400 pages with typical ink coverage. That's well over 1,000 pages for each ink stick. Also, unlike laser and inkjet printers, which must be allowed to run out of toner or ink, the solid ink design lets you drop an ink stick in the printer any time. Simply top off the solid ink sticks at your convenience and you will never have to worry about running out of ink in the middle of an important job again.

Are the ink sticks safe to handle? Are they messy?

The resin-based solid ink sticks are clean and do not rub off on hands or clothing. Unlike liquid ink jet or laser toner, solid ink cannot leak or spill in the process of replenishing the ink supply. And with no cartridges to dispose of, and only one other consumable, solid ink is the most earth-friendly network color printer available today.

Can I match the color output to my screen or to other color devices?

Matching what you see on your monitor or what you expect from your final production printer can be tricky. But solid ink is especially good at it for three reasons: (1) Since solid ink printers can print a wider range of colors than most color lasers, it is more likely to accurately render the target color. (2) Solid ink prints the same color consistently, page-to-page and job-to-job. (3) Extensive color management is built into every Xerox solid ink printer and includes TekColor Automatic Color Correction, which intelligently optimizes the color of every element on the page.

[Review] See this PDF
Specifications are subject to change without notice. E. & O.E.

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Review
XEROX Phaser 8500 Vs. HP Colour LaserJet 3800

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