The three high-end network printers we tested -- the Dataproducts Typhoon 30,
QMS 3225 Print System
, and Xerox 4230/MRP -- are all built for speed and durability. These workhorses are best suited for offices with high-volume-text and duplex print jobs. They range in price from approximately $17,000 to $30,000 and feature multiple paper-input trays and high-capacity loaders and stackers that help differentiate them from the 16- to 20-page-per-minute lasers.
With resolutions of 300 and 400 dpi, these printers produce output that's not as high-quality as that of the 16- to 20-ppm units, but they can produce acceptable charts, spreadsheets, and simple graphics for use in typical business reports.
Although it's seemingly a stretch to rate printers with resolutions of 300 and 400 dpi for qual
ity, remember that these printers are not designed to spit out presentation graphics, but rather to satisfy the needs of larger workgroups. We rated them on the same quality scale as their 16- to 20-ppm counterparts; as a result, their scores are low.
Although
the QMS 3225
received top honors in all categories in this group, the other two units in our test-bed also had strong performance scores. The Xerox 4230/MRP comes closest to
the QMS 3225
in speed, with an average rating of 11.5 ppm when its PostScript, PCL, and EtherTalk test scores are combined. The QMS 3225 zips through the tests at an average of 15.5 ppm, while the Typhoon 30 averages out at 9.8 ppm.
At $20,245 as tested, Xerox's 4230/MRP is the least expensive of the group. Its accompanying printer management software makes network configuration a breeze. The 4230/MRP has a 230,000-page monthly duty cycle and supports five paper-input trays, for up to 1800 sheets of paper, and a high-capacity out
put tray.
The 30-ppm Dataproducts Typhoon 30 is the most expensive printer in the group, sporting an as-tested price of $29,616. However, it offers some technological advances that set it apart from the others. A paper-feed mechanism enables you to refill one paper tray while the printer feeds from another tray, allowing continuous operation. The toner compartment can also be filled on the fly. In addition, the Typhoon 30 uses Dataproducts' Virtual Printer Technology (VPT), which adds network smarts to printers by acknowledging and receiving up to 64 different printer configurations concurrently.
The Typhoon 30 supports five paper-input trays and 3500 sheets of paper. The device offers a 200,000-page monthly duty cycle.
This 32-ppm printer is the only unit to achieve double-digit
performance in our PCL, PostScript, and EtherTalk tests (with scores
of 19.2, 14.6, and 12.8 ppm, respectively). It of
fers duplexing
capability, two regular input trays, and a high-capacity input tray.
The QMS 3225 also has two output trays, a hard drive, and a floppy
drive. This printer has good features and usability, but its
performance really puts it over the top in this category: It's 7 ppm
faster than the first runner-up, the Xerox 4230/MRP.
PRICE AS OVERALL CPU SPEED
TESTED SCORE (MHZ)
=====================================================================
BEST QMS 3225 Print System $17,149 9.0 33
RUNNER-UP Xerox 4230 MRP $20,245 7.3 20
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Typhoon 30 $29,616 6.8 33
PPM
PCL POSTSCRIPT ETHERTALK
=====================================================================
BEST QMS 3225 Print System 19.2 14.6
12.8
RUNNER-UP Xerox 4230 MRP 12.5 12.9 9.2
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Typhoon 30 11.1 10.5 7.9
SCORES
QUALITY FEATURES USABILITY
=========================================================================
BEST QMS 3225 Print System *** *** ****
RUNNER-UP Xerox 4230 MRP *** *** ****
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Typhoon 30 *** *** ****
KEY
Ratings from 1 to 4: * is the lowest; **** is the highest.
At 400 dpi, the QMS 3225 has the highest quality scores, which,
combined with its excellent performance, make it the best-quality
printer of these lower-resolution lasers. Its standard features
include auto-sensing between emulations, PostScript Levels 1
and 2,
and Hewlett-Packard LaserJet III (PCL 5) emulation. The first
runner-up, the Dataproducts Typhoon 30, also supports 400 dpi, and
its quality scores are similar to those of the QMS 3225.
PRICE AS OVERALL CPU SPEED
TESTED SCORE (MHZ)
======================================================================
BEST QMS 3225 Print System $17,149 8.0 33
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Typhoon 30 $29,616 7.5 33
RUNNER-UP Xerox 4230 MRP $20,245 7.3 20
PPM
PCL POSTSCRIPT ETHERTALK
======================================================================
BEST QMS 3225 Print System 19.2 14.6 12.8
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Typhoon 30 11.1 10.5 7.9
RUNNER-UP Xerox 4230 MRP 12.5 12.9 9.2
SCORES
QUALITY FEATURES USABILITY
=======================================================================
BEST QMS 3225 Print System *** *** ****
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Typhoon 30 *** *** ****
RUNNER-UP Xerox 4230 MRP *** *** ****
KEY
Ratings from 1 to 4: * is the lowest; **** is the highest.
With an EtherTalk rating of 12.8 ppm, the QMS 3225 easily
outperformed the other printers in all aspects of Mac printing,
except for the font test, for which the Typhoon 30 took top honors. A
9.2-ppm EtherTalk rating, combined with excellent features and
usability, made the Xerox 4230/MRP the first runner-up. The Typhoon
30 offered good EtherTalk performance, but it wasn't good enough to
beat the other p
rinters in the group.
PRICE AS OVERALL CPU SPEED
TESTED SCORE (MHZ)
=====================================================================
BEST QMS 3225 Print System $17,149 9.0 33
RUNNER-UP Xerox 4230 MRP $20,245 7.5 20
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Typhoon 30 $29,616 7.0 33
PPM
PCL POSTSCRIPT ETHERTALK
=====================================================================
BEST QMS 3225 Print System 19.2 14.6 12.8
RUNNER-UP Xerox 4230 MRP 12.5 12.9 9.2
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Typhoon 30 11.1 10.5 7.9
SCORES
QUALITY FEATURES USABILITY
========================
=============================================
BEST QMS 3225 Print System *** *** ****
RUNNER-UP Xerox 4230 MRP *** *** ****
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Typhoon 30 *** *** ****
KEY
Ratings from 1 to 4: * is the lowest; **** is the highest.
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20- To 32-PPM Printers
