Issue #0529/1 - Priced competitively in typical Dell fashion, the new AiOs are well specified but are unconvincing as ‘compact’ devices and are impossible for users to compare for running costs.
Dell has announced the latest iteration of its inkjet All-in-One devices, based on Lexmark hardware and ink systems.
As Print/Copy/Scan machines, both the Photo All-in-One Printer 924 and 944 are photo capable but the tri-colour photo cartridge that turns the device into a true photo printer is an optional extra. Despite being billed as ‘photo’ machines with six-ink capability, each machine ships as a four-ink system just with standard capacity black and tricolour cartridges.
High capacity cartridges (that are claimed to yield more than twice the number of pages) are also available on the aftermarket, as is a twin cartridge multi-pack containing one high capacity black and one high capacity tri-colour cartridge (cost saving 5%).
In the US, users are offered additional multi-packs, comprising: high capacity black x3; four-pack consisting of two black cartridges and two tri-colour cartridges; photo cartridge and tri-colour cartridge; black cartridge, tri-colour cartridge and photo cartridge; and a media bundle with photo cartridge and tri-colour cartridge. Dell has announced that the media bundle will be available in Europe in due course.
Dell Photo AiO 944Both Photo AiO 924 and 944 produce print speeds of 20ppm in mono and 16ppm in colour. This speed compares closely with the AiOs highlighted in last week’s issue of TCPglobal but, of course, the purchase price of the 924 is rather lower than the competitors, at £59 / €74 / $79 (special offer).
Dell Photo AiO 924By the time the 944 has its PictBridge and USB 2.0 interfaces, together with memory card slots and auto paper sensor, the price moves up to £93 / €125 / $149. But, this is still lower than Canon’s PIXMA MP170, which has no LCD.
Another feature of the 944 is that it is enabled for PC fax functionality when used with Microsoft fax (though this is not a unique function – any AiO or scanner can be used in this way).
One of Dell’s major claims is that these devices are ‘space-saving’. Unfortunately, this adjective cannot be applied to any printer that has a paper feed from the rear.
Although Dell has followed Hewlett-Packard’s box design in its attempt to achieve efficient use of desk space – these devices cannot be placed on shelving because the paper feed is from the rear. Whereas Hewlett-Packard’s PSC12xx/13xx/14xx box designs can fit on a shelf that is only 260mm deep, Dell’s 924 and 944 designs require approximately 445mm of shelf depth to allow room for the rear paper tray.
As an aside, out of interest, almost all of the shelving units marketed by ubiquitous retailer Ikea have shelf depths between 260mm and 380mm.
In terms of height, even if the device were placed on a shelf that was deep enough, adequate height needs to be allowed for the paper (at least 300mm) and, in order to open the lid fully, a total height of about 520mm is required – 21% more than the Hewlett-Packard PSC box design.
Even comparing the new Dell models with the Hewlett-Packard PSC1610 used in last week’s comparisons, it is true that the Dell is 4mm narrower but it is 39mm deeper and a massive 118mm (69%) taller – specifically because of the rear paper feed.
Note that Dell’s brochure contains Width/Depth/Height labelling errors in the dimensions section.
Also, there is no doubt that accessing any printer to replenish paper at the rear, in any type of environment is awkward enough. But, if the desired location for the device is on a shelf, paper replenishment would be extremely awkward. It has to be reckoned that the Dell 924 and 944 are strictly desktop designs.
Dell’s new design does however, compare favourably with competition from Canon and Epson. Epson’s DX4800, although a fraction narrower, is very much the same size as the Dell, to the point where its maximum height is just 15mm higher. Canon’s PIXMA MP170, the biggest of all, is a fraction wider still and stands a further 27mm higher even than the Epson.
Also on the subject of product styling, Dell has moved away from its traditional dark silver and black design to make the new products ‘blend with any environment’. The new design is arctic white and alpine silver – or is it arctic white and heron grey? Depends where you go for information!! Or is it different colours for the different models!
Dell has certainly gone for the ultimate in scanning resolution for these machines, at 2400dpi.
However, sadly Dell isn’t at all clear over the exact nature of the scanner it is using. It is a CIS scanner (Contact Image Sensor) that Dell refers to as a ‘Compact Image Sensor’. While it is understandable that Dell might wish to emphasise the compact nature of the device, the name given is not accurate and thus fails to get the message over that the scanner relies on the original to be scanned being in direct contact with the platen.
Hewlett-Packard PSC 1410 Dell Photo AiO 944 CIS scanners are used in compact and portable devices precisely because they are very slim, taking up less space, are cheaper to produce and are more durable. However, they do suffer from two drawbacks. Firstly, image quality is not as good as the alternative and, secondly, they have a very shallow field of view meaning that they can realistically only be used to copy or scan documents.
While this may not be a problem to most users in most applications, CCD (Charged-Couple Device) scanners have the advantage of a deep depth of field (as well as higher image quality) meaning that they can be used for scanning three-dimensional objects as well as documents, such as making images of jewellery items for insurance purposes, for instance.
In conjunction with the launch of these new AiO models, Dell has launched an optional external wireless interface that allows a device to sit and operate in a network environment for both printing and scanning across the network.
Dell’s Ink Management System is, of course, a standard feature but OCR software is optional. Dell Picture Studio (meaning Paint Shop and Photo Album with a trial version of Paint Shop Pro 8 ) is also included.
Note that Dell provides Apple compatibility only on its two upper range colour laser printers (3100cn and 5100cn). None of the mono laser or inkjet printers are compatible with Apple’s Macintosh operating system although Linux is supported for mono laser printers. In point of fact, Dell does not even support Windows 98.
As far as Total Cost of Printing is concerned, we have already seen that the cost of purchasing these devices is typically low by comparison to the competition. Furthermore, Dell makes reference to ‘Low cost of printing’ in its product presentation materials but makes no attempt to demonstrate this.
On the Dell web site, the information about the high capacity cartridges makes reference to ‘Yields more than twice the number of pages than a standard capacity cartridge’. Yet nowhere does Dell indicate how many pages the user should expect to achieve from either cartridge.
Indeed, an official response from Dell says, “Dell currently do not quote ink yields in the absence of any ISO standard” but indicates that as soon as the forthcoming ISO standard is agreed, Dell will publish yields.
This means that we cannot present a comparison of running costs at this stage.
I certainly look forward to the day when the standard means that manufacturers cannot hide on this issue. As every other manufacturer (apart from Lexmark, of course) currently does publish yield information, I can see no reason for these two companies not to provide potential buyers with every piece of information possible that might persuade them to buy Dell.
After all, if the products really do have a ‘Low cost of printing’, industry standard or no industry standard, surely Dell would want everyone to know about it!
~End~
