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General discussion

Xerox color laser printer advice and print speeds question

Feb 9, 2006 2:58AM PST

Hi,

I'm looking into purchasing either a Xerox Phaser 6120 or a Phaser 6300. I'm leaning towards the 6300 because of faster print speeds. First of all, does anyone have any first-hand experience with either of these?

Secondly, the print speed is fairly important, in particular black and white speed. Since the ppm rating for B&W printing (36) is much higher than the ppm for color printing (26), I'm wondering how those speeds play out for something that's mostly black and white. Say something as simple as an Excel spreadsheet with a row that's highlighted in yellow. Will the print speed automatically dip to 26 ppm simply because it's using color? Or do those estimates assume a certain percentage of color being printed?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Mike

Discussion is locked

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Just what I experienced.
Feb 9, 2006 3:03AM PST

The 36 PPM only happens when you go for multiple copies of the same content (takes time to load the buffer for the next page.) In fact many PCs can't product content at 36 PPM.

Our old phaser would slow down even if the page had one spot of color.

My bet? You'll get about 1/2 those speeds in reality.

Bob

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Need to specify B&W?
Feb 9, 2006 5:34AM PST

Thanks for the info. This feels like a silly question, but someone asked me and I wasn't 100 percent sure of the answer. When I'm setting print properties for a Word document that doesn't use any color, do I need to specify black and white printing in order for it to print faster?

I'm 99 percent certain that the answer is no, but I don't want to get the printer and find out I'm wrong.

Thanks again.

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(NT) (NT) I never noticed a diff.
Feb 9, 2006 6:57AM PST
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Some insight
Feb 9, 2006 4:58AM PST

The speed outputs most makers offer are more for "ideal" printing of text/graphic content of 55-65% of page. Since, in the real world each page can vary the output the speed will vary and yes color does make a difference as it takes that into work account. The simpler the input the faster the output. So take those specs with a grain salt thinking. As for Xerox printers, if these models use the paper hamper feed at rear and on an angle instead of "stacked" top to bottom ttray, expect some feed problem sooner or later.

tada -----Willy Happy