I was at the "Print On Demand Show" today, got a chance to see the Aficio 2131 which is the relaled Toshiba 210C.
I like to make a few points that came to mind.
A. Document Feeder is the old belt driven technology.
B. Duplex Tray is a stack system.
C. There is a side paper bank that holds 1500 sheets of paper.
D. Copy Quality is acceptable and so is print.
My opinion ( and I stress that ) this Toshiba system reeks of "old technology", from the stack duplex to the belt document feeder, to the overall asthestics of the system. Luckily most of my 6513 customers have already upgraded to another manufacturers system.
The rumor is Ricoh will never make another high end graphics color system, however they will buy and relable someone elses product.
I have read reports on this Toshiba about copy quality that is poor to good. I have yet heard a report from a graphic user that this is an outstanding unit!
Another nagging rumor is that Ricoh has allowed Toshiba to relable our 90 and 105 in lieu of us receiving the 2131 and the 50ppm in 2005.
If this is true, all Ricoh Japan wants is clicks, toner clicks to be exact. We will know have to compete against Lanier, Lanier Dealer, RBS, Ricoh Dealers, Savin, Savin Dealers, Gestetner, IBM and Toshiba Dealers and Toshiba Business Solutions.
I for one will continue to focus on B2C color, scanning, indexing and archiving and leave the graphics color business for those who have the were with all (is that one word or three?) to learn yet another color system.
I am not knocking the unit, just the decesion to go back to well and then give up all the water.
Art
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