Multitalented multifunctions: 5 MFDs tested

How We Tested

 Multifunction devices
  Canon IR C3100
  Fuji-Xerox C240
  Ricoh Aficio 2432
  HP LaserJet 4100 MFP
  Kyocera KM-3035

 How We Tested
 Colour Specifications
 Monochrome Specifications
 Sample Scenarios
 Editor's choice
 About RMIT
Interoperability
Which interfaces and protocols does the device support? Are drivers available for all major OSes?

Futureproofing
Can the memory, hard disk, and paper capacity be expanded? What finishing options are available?

ROI
What is the initial cost and what is the long-term running cost fo the device?

Service
What warranties and service contracts are available? Can you get prompt service at a reasonable price?


We tested all the MFDs from a desktop PC equipped with an Intel Pentium 4 2.6GHz processor and 256MB of RAM running Windows 2000. The printers were tested one at a time and were connected to RMIT's network through a D-Link 10/100 Fast Ethernet Switch.

We ran a series of print speed and quality tests designed to assess the printers' ability to handle different types of content, including:

  • Thirty pages with a single font used to evaluate the printer's maximum real-world throughput (this is the figure you see in the chart below).
  • Twenty pages of complex word processing including 18 different fonts, images, and multiple column styles.
  • Multiple font sizes from 4-point up to 48-point in two font styles: Times New Roman and Gaudy Handtooled.
  • Smooth greyscale gradients, smooth straight, oblique, and radial fine lines, and smooth solid black fills.
  • Smooth colour gradations, ink mixing, fine yellow grid lines on a solid green background, and a photographic JPEG image.
  • Ten double-sided pages.
  • A very large graphic image, to evaluate abilities such as skin tones, sky colour fidelity, accuracy with fine white on colour details, accuracy of dithering (particularly in areas of low contrast), handling of low contrast shadows, and overall colour or greyscale accuracy.
Printer output was assessed for quality by the Test Lab staff, both with the naked eye and also an 8x magnifier. Purity was also judged with the naked eye, assessing how close the output was to the actual screen image. While we acknowledge this is a largely subjective process, especially given the different technologies, we feel that most users would use similar purity criteria.

Fonts were assessed for accuracy of formation, smoothing of radial and oblique edges, and any evidence of toner "spatter", particularly in the white-on-black font test. Smoothness of colour/greyscale gradations and dithering was assessed, as was the accuracy of fine radial and oblique lines.

A full-colour A4 page was used to scan from the MFD to a shared folder on a desktop PC. We also scanned a document from the desktop PC using the TWAIN drivers that were supplied. No scores were recorded here however we noted the overall ease of setup and use.

We recorded the time it took to copy a standard A4 page with plain text and timed this from when we pressed "Start". We also timed how long it took to copy a full-colour A4 photo page at 600dpi.

There were no formal tests undertaken for the faxing component other than having a preview of the software supplied to do faxing.

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Talkback 2 comments

    hi there good info sofar, mfd' ...Anonymous -- 20/08/04

    hi there
    good info sofar, mfd's could also have answering phone/machine etc or will ansa machine work seperately to mfds? sometimes ansa machines answer on faxes, how to avoid this?

    Answering Machines Jon Hillis -- 27/11/08 (in reply to #120107406)

    Hi Anon,

    To my knowledge no MFD has answering machine capabilities. These are limited to small retail faxes or small commercial faxes with optional capabilities.

    Visit www.jonhillis.com.au

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