TCPglobal - news, views and issues on total cost of printing

Issue 0930/1 – Lexmark has also introduced a large number of new inkjet models to market in recent weeks and, like Hewlett-Packard, is attempting to inject a degree of inventive naming into the mix. With all products built on the same print engine and offering exactly the same print speed, all models are built for business use of some sort, whether home office or professional business, indicating a major departure from tradition for Lexmark on several fronts. High-end specifications are high and functionality is extensive.

Issue #0929/1 – IBM has provided conclusive proof that, in a harsh economic environment, it is those that have a sold services offering that stand the best chance of surviving and even flourishing. IBM posted net profit for the 3rd quarter of 2009 to the tune of $3.2bn, up 14% on Q3 of last year, while all indications so far are that IT hardware sales, and even sales of printer supplies are still flagging badly.

Issue 0927/1 – Epson has settled out of court in a class action, brought by customers in Canada, alleging that Epson was guilty of “depriving the Class Members from fully benefiting from the Epson Inkjet Cartridges they purchased”. Perhaps a grey area, Epson has taken the swift, but costly, exit route by offering all Epson inkjet customers a compensation package, while not admitting any liability. But, was the class action justified? What was Epson actually guilty of?

Issue #0924/1 – As Xerox’s revolutionary, yes revolutionary, solid inkjet A3 MFP arrives in Europe, Xerox is keen to get the message across that the ColorQube 9200 series will save customers money, save the environment and be good business for its channel. We take a look at why it is revolutionary and why it is set to invade organisations that have never previously embraced Xerox hardware.

Issue #0920/2 – A massive 47% price increase on the Ricoh SP C232SF, as units bought (by the supplier used as the price source in last week’s article) under a special purchase came to an end, demonstrates more clearly than ever before that the purchase price is almost entirely irrelevant to the long-term Total Cost of Printing of a printer, AiO or MFP.