Product Profiles: Hardware Definitions and Calculations

The following information describes how The Imaging Channel obtains the information contained in hardware product profiles. In general, specifications are obtained directly from the OEM, and cost-per-page figures are calculated by The Imaging Channel. If information is not available from the OEM, it may be obtained from other sources.

Product Overview

The product overview area of a hardware profile contains the fields described below. If information is not available for a particular field, it will not be listed.

Device type

The device type describes each of the following device characteristics:

  • Device class (personal, workgroup, departmental, enterprise, wide format, production)
  • Color or monochrome capability
  • Multifunction or single-function capability
  • Print technology (laser, inkjet, etc.)

A device is considered multifunction if it performs more than one of the following functions: print, copy, scan, or fax.

Functions

The functions field defines the capabilities that a device has from the following list: print, copy, scan, and fax.

Introductory list price (USD)

The introductory list price is the OEM’s list price for the hardware, on its release date, in USD.

Announced date

The announced date is the month and year that the device was first announced.

Print speed, Print speed (b&w / color)

The print speed field is the draft speeds for black-and-white and color prints, unless otherwise stated. For monochrome devices, the field displays as "Print speed," and for color devices, the field is displayed as "Print speed (b&w / color)" and is written in the format "black-and-white pages per minute / color pages per minute." The shortform ppm is used for "pages per minute."

Monthly duty cycle

The monthly duty cycle as rated by the hardware manufacturer.

Cost per page (b&w, toner only)

The black-and-white, toner-only cost per page is calculated by dividing the cost of the black cartridge by the stated yield for the cartridge. Unless otherwise stated, the calculation uses the highest-yield OEM cartridge and the lowest OEM list price for that cartridge at the time of publication. The calculation will always only use the information shown in the consumables area of The Imaging Channel product profile for the device. If complete information cannot be obtained, the cost per page will not be calculated.

Cost per page (b&w)

The black-and-white cost per page is calculated by adding the black-and-white, toner-only cost per page (see above) to the per-page costs of other consumable items for the device (fusers, drums, etc.). In general, the per-page cost for each individual consumable is calculated by dividing the cost of the consumable by the stated yield. Unless otherwise stated, the calculation uses the highest-yield OEM option for each consumable and the lowest OEM list price for that option at the time of publication. The calculation will always only include the consumables listed in the consumables area of The Imaging Channel product profile for the device; this means that some parts may be excluded from the calculation, particularly high-yield, low-cost parts that would not change the stated cost per page. If complete information cannot be obtained, the cost per page will not be calculated.

Cost per page (color, toner only)

The color, toner-only cost per page is calculated by dividing the cost of a single color cartridge by the stated yield for the cartridge, multiplying the result by three (for CMYK devices) and adding the black-and-white, toner only cost per page (see "Cost per page (b&w, toner only)"). Unless otherwise stated, the calculation uses the highest-yield OEM cartridges available and the lowest OEM list price for those cartridges. The calculation will always use only the information shown in the consumables area of The Imaging Channel product profile for the device. If complete information cannot be obtained, the cost per page will not be calculated.

Cost per page (color)

The color cost per page is calculated by adding the color, toner-only cost per page (see above) to the per-page costs of other consumable items for the device (fusers, drums, etc.). In general, the per-page cost for each individual consumable is calculated by dividing the cost of the consumable by the stated yield. Unless otherwise stated, the calculation uses the highest-yield OEM option for each consumable and the lowest OEM list price for that option at the time of publication. The calculation will always only include the consumables listed in the consumables area of The Imaging Channel product profile for the device; this means that some parts may be excluded from the calculation, particularly high-yield, low-cost parts that would not change the stated cost per page. If complete information cannot be obtained, the cost per page will not be calculated.

Software Utilities

The software utilities section lists the manufacturer’s software that can be shipped with the device. It is indicated whether the software is standard or optional. Depending on the availability of information at the time of publishing, it is possible that not all available software packages will be listed.

Consumables

The consumables section lists the consumables for the device that are regularly replaceable. Both standard-yield and high-yield options will be listed if available. Some parts with a negligible cost per page may not be listed. Unless otherwise stated, list prices and yields are from the OEM at the time of publishing. If prices are not available from the OEM, they may be averaged from a variety of retail locations.

Additional Hardware Specifications

In general, hardware specifications are obtained from the OEM. If the information is not available from the OEM, it may be obtained from other sources. Both standard and optional features are listed.

Warranty

The warranty section provides available details on the manufacturer's warranty for the device.