Ricoh - Aficio GX7000 - A3
Inkjet printers are generally much cheaper than the color lasers. However, because of time needed for them to dry ink, some inkjets are able to match lasers when it comes to speed.
Ricoh GelSprinter employs technology special high-viscosity, gel-based inks that dry more quickly, thus eliminating the wearing of traditional paintings and bleeding more frequent with conventional approaches. Indeed, it allows Ricoh to claim a speed of up to 29 pages per minute for the Aficio GX7000, and the ability to produce quality results priced inkjet.
Capable of printing in color up to 1200 dpi, the GX7000 can handle both A4 and A3 documents and comes with an integrated 250-sheet tray and a duplex for double-sided printing. A second paper tray can be added below, plus there is a 100-sheet multi-purpose power for things such as envelopes and labels, but on a printer like this, it is hardly likely to see a great value.
It is not small, but the GX7000 does not take up an enormous amount of room and its gray plastic box is clearly designed to appeal to the buyer company, which makes it look very smart. PC is written by a USB port, with an Ethernet interface and a network print server option.
A small but clear LCD panel is on the front and the associated controls and a door below, behind which lie cartridges. These we found quick and easy to change without fingers in disarray, our only real concern is the speed at which the ink has been consumed.
Standard cartridges are expected to last until 1000 A4 pages (1500 for black), while high-yield cartridges are ordered for the double. A complete set, however, will cost around £ 190 + VAT, which makes the Aficio far from being cheap to run. Less expensive than color laser, perhaps, but not as cheap as some other inkjets.
The print quality is fairly good, although we have seen better and we have made “bands on large blocks of color and photographs, requiring a few settings for the driver settings to eliminate. The text, however, was sharp and well defined and commercial documents for the GX7000 certainly delivered on its promise of laser like results.
The double-sided printing has been slow but has worked well, but even without it, we did not get the claimed 29ppm; reach, on average, around 16ppm for mixed A4 colour business documents. Currently A3, naturally, took much more time and there were some paper where a loop much ink is involved.
The Aficio GX7000 is far from cheap, and something of a specialist to buy companies seeking capacity colour A3. However, less expensive A4 models based on the same technology GelSprinter are available, offering the same speed and quality as little as £ 99 + VAT.
Ricoh - Aficio GX7000 features - Verdict
A A3 colour inkjet printing duplex integrated, Ricoh Aficio GX7000 uses GelSprinter technology to deliver what is claimed to be quality laser and inkjet speed prices. In terms of speed, it appears to be delivered and, although not up to standards, professional graphics, quality is acceptable. Cartridge yields and prices, however, cast doubt on the statements of costs.