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My how the mighty has fallen. With the introduction of the 240W, it was one of the hottest systems on the market. Ricoh had taken on the likes of Xerox (XES), OCE, and KIP, and had prevailed with a super box.

The key word in the last sentence is the word "had" it's now six years later and the Ricoh Wide Format line is in shambles. There's been no upgrade to the W2400 or W3600 in three years and the promise of an upgrade has now been pushed to the last quarter of this year. I'm thinking the current AEC market may have something to do with this because from what I've heard on the streets is that the new system will have color scanning, along with a USB support, and the ability to use a java card, however there will not be a reduction in the overall MSRP! Again this is what I've heard on the street and may or may not be the case. If someone has heard otherwise please post here.

Now, I had the chance to speak to several people at Ricoh in reference to my thoughts on a new wide format system. I was asking for a 2ppm or 3ppm LED system, with USB print support, optional color scanning, and of course the embedded print & scan controller. I also stated that an MSRP of $13,995 would be a great price point for the entire system with Roll feeder, print, and scan. Alas, we are not going to get something like this. Instead Ricoh gave us the BEAST from the EAST (Epson 7700 and 9700), along with that they told us that Ricoh would be the sole source for this product. Well, a few days ago I was researching ink plotters and guess what I found.......? Xerox is now selling the same Epson box. If I find the link I'll come back an insert it for everyone.........enought for tonight I'll have more on another product that will be the next 240W, however it's not from Ricoh.

Here's the link for the Epson/Ricoh/Xerox 9700http://www.office.xerox.com/latest/EPSBR-01E.pdf

Yesterday I stated I tell you about what I think will be the hottest wide format to hit the market since the Ricoh 240W.

The Kip 700M, according to preliminary reports will be offered in two models with or without color scanning. $12,995 without color scan and $13,595 with color scan.

Print speed is 2.9ppm for "d" size. Print width is 36 inches.

Reports have this system with a single roll feeder only, however it seems there is an optional paper feed cassette. Printer and Scanner Controller is included!

I've probably sold about 100 wide format systems in my career, most have been down the street sales to commerial accounts. Now, I don't have specific data to back up this claim, however if I was asked to quess how many users were maxing out on the recommended volume of the Ricohs's, I probably quess about 10%. Users that were over using the Ricoh's, probably about 5%, users at 50% of recommended volume, about 60%.

Over the past year or so, I've had many 240w's come back with less than 30k linear feet for 5 years!

The success of the 240W is that is was the first low priced\low volume wide format system of it's kind. These systems were leased and purchased due to the fact that the clients were either outsourcing thier copies, scans or prints, and there was a tremdous savings to the end user. Others just wanted the convience of having a system where they could print 4 times faster than a plotter and could easily scan thier leagacy documents.

Point is, at least with the systems I had in the field is that most were under used. Hearing from other P4P members over the year, I would tend to think that this is true for most of us who placed these units.

In my area there were also many customers I couldn't sell, because I could not justify the price of the 240W or the W2400 for some low volume users who just had plotters.

We've also had some other challenges over the last few years such as increased lease rates, tight credit for lease applications, along with an escalation of prices for hardware.

Well, at a list price of $13,595 with color scanning and a print speed of almost 3ppm, I can see alot of placements especailly with downgrades and low volume users.

Now, I'm only seeing premlim information on this product, however after speak with a dealer owner/friend of mine, he is extremely excited about this product and feels that this will be a real winner with many placements. It's unfortunate that I won't have this system to sell and I'm expected that the likes of KonicaMinolta, Toshiba, and Kycoera will also have the Kip 700M in a short time.

With no foreseeable low end wide format from Ricoh I'm expecting HEAVY pressure on my accounts in the near future.

Anyone else care to add anything?
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Spot on Art. Ricoh captured a lot of market share with the 240W, but had nothing to follow it up with. They need color scanning at the low end, real color scanning not a seperate add on color scanner. I think they also made a mistake moving away from the Ratio conrtoller. This controller gave added capabilities, printing and scanning, to more demanding users.
Jrlz

Yup, the move away from the Ratio controller is not a good one. What Ricoh probably saw was that most of the W2400's were being sold with the embedded controller, thus the reasoning for not renewing with Ratio, however on the other end I had heard that Ratio was in horrible financial condition, that may have made theie decision also.

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