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43ppm – Lexmark T642 47ppm – Lexmark T644

Issue #0539/3 - Two models just causes confusion but extensive paper handling options makes the T644 a contender despite slightly higher costs.

At the top end of the scale for A4 printers, the Lexmark T642 and T644 present 43ppm and 47ppm print speeds respectively. Considering that the two printers are essentially identical, why there is a need for two different printer models with such similar print speeds is not clear.

Lexmark T642 and T644Lexmark T642
and T644
Both T642 and T644 share the same engine as the T640, up-rated to run at the higher speeds, but are slower than the T640 to first page out – 8.5 seconds as opposed to 6 seconds. In fact, the T644 cannot produce a first page faster than the T642 even though it is equipped with a slightly faster processor and has more memory, 514MHz and 128MB as opposed to 457MHz and 64MB.
So, technically, the T644 has the highest spec of the three, with higher rated print speed, but in terms of performance it falls down fractionally on its ability to process pages rapidly.
Particularly surprising is the fact that there are so few printers that fall into the category occupied by these two Lexmark models. On the whole, manufacturers take the view that a printer with high level and high speed capabilities should be also be capable of printing in A3 format. Therefore, A4 printers at this level are few and far between.

Hewlett-Packard has two A4 models that compete but one of these, the LaserJet 4350, has a print speed of 52ppm, even higher than the others – and with a higher price tag to match (36% higher). It has not, therefore been included in the comparison.

Both of the top-end Lexmark printers have a slightly higher maximum paper capacity (4100 sheets) than the T640 thanks to their 500-sheet standard paper tray. They also have slightly higher maximum duty cycles – 225,000 pages per month for the T642 and 250,000 pages for the T644.

To a large degree, the only real difference between the two is that the T644 takes a toner cartridge that is higher even than the T642. The yield is an impressive 32,000 pages compared to 20,000 pages from Hewlett-Packard in its 45ppm LaserJet 4250.

Because this cartridge has such a high capacity, the CPP is rather lower than the CPP for the 21K cartridge – by 30%. By the time the minimal purchase price difference has been taken into account, the long-term CPP difference is still 24%.

UK - Mono
15K pages per month 		Purchase Print
Speed 		Maximum
mono yield 		Nominal
CPP 		Long-term CPP
over 3 years
Dell Workgroup
Laser W5300n 		£599 45 ppm 27,000 0.62 pence 0.76 pence
Hewlett-Packard
LaserJet 4250 		£940 45 ppm 20,000 0.74 pence 0.98 pence
Lexmark T642 £749 43 ppm 21,000 1.17 pence 1.36 pence
Lexmark T644 £819 47 ppm 32,000 0.83 pence 1.03 pence

Note that for this level of machine, the mixed mono/colour CPP over three years shown in the accompanying table is calculated on the basis of 15,000 pages per month using maximum capacity toners and takes into account any standard, or starter, toner cartridges shipped with the printer and includes the purchase price.

So, once again, we have a situation where a Lexmark printer should probably be avoided. There is so little difference between the two machines that anyone considering the 43ppm T642 should ignore that and buy the 37ppm T644, gaining extra engine speed and lower Cost of Printing.

Although the 32K cartridge gives the T644 a considerable edge over its T642 brother, Lexmark’s typically high pricing cannot place the CPP lower than Hewlett-Packard’s LaserJet 4250n and certainly nowhere near the CPP enjoyed by the Dell W5300n.

Configured Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4250Configured
Hewlett-Packard
LaserJet 4250
Hewlett-Packard’s CPP is only a fraction lower than the T644 (5%) but the Dell W5300n is 26% lower. As well as having a CPP that is the lowest in the group, the Dell is the only printer to come network-ready out of the box and has a purchase price that is lower than any of the other three printers – by as much as 36% below the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4250.
Dell does have one downfall though. The W5300n has no expansion options, just a duplex unit.
Lexmark’s T644 does make a fast and flexible high volume printer when fully configuredLexmark’s T644 does
make a fast and
flexible high volume
printer when fully configured

Fully configured, the T644 should actually be a very capable and flexible power plant for high volume A4 environments. It has paper handling options to cover a wide range of applications. Options include: additional 250-sheet and 400-sheet paper feeders; envelope feeder; 2,000-sheet paper feed; duplex unit; 1,850-sheet output stacker; 5-bin mailbox; 650-sheet output expander; and staple finisher.

Hewlett-Packard also provides a wide range of options, including: 500-sheet paper feeders; envelope feeder; 1,500-sheet paper feed; duplex unit; stacker; and stapler/stacker. However, the mailbox option is missing from the Hewlett-Packard accessory lineup.
So the Lexmark machine can actually be configured to a higher specification, for greater versatility, than the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4250 even though its long-term CPP is a little higher.

On this score, it would seem that Lexmark’s banner claim ‘Race to Productivity’ is true.
~End~

This entry was posted on Friday, December 9th, 2005 at 12:01 am and is filed under New Products, Supplies, Hardware, Pricing, Comparisons, Issues, News, Financials, Total Cost of Printing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.