XEROX WorkCentre 390 Multifunction system
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Features
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The
Drive
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- 10PPM Laser Printing
at 600x600dpi
- Holds up to 150
sheets in its paper tray
- 300x300dpi color
scanner
- 10PPM Copier
function with up to 4800dpi of resolution (interloaped)
- 6 seconds scanning
function
- 6 seconds faxing
function
- 80 Speed dials
for the fax
- 2MB of memory
- USB Interface
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Xerox has been in the document business for more
time that we can remember. Their business strategy is simple: provide solutions
that simplify your work and make it more productive. A few years ago, Xerox
decided to focus in manufacturing quality equipment for the home and small
businesses. Their contribution in this arena includes their Multifunction
Systems, which provide high quality printing,
copying, scanning and faxing compabilities all in one machine.
Combining all of these features in a single machine
will result in saving a reasonable amount of money over buying stand-alone
equipment doing the same or similar functions. In this review, we look at
Xerox’s brand new WorkCentre 390 Multifunction System. It’s an improved version
of its previous 385 brother, featuring an USB interface
and an improved control panel.
Technical View
The WorkCentre 390 features 10-PPM
laser printing with resolution up to 600x600dpi, the output quality was good:
pictures where sharp and clear. It ended being good enough to replace our
HP laserjet 1100 in the office. It can hold up to 150 sheets in its paper
tray, printing onto diverse stocks including card stock, envelopes and labels.
From our text print test, the 390 finished with some descent results, it averaged
at 8-PPM for text output and at 7.4-PPM for text combined with graphics.
The included color scanner features 300x300dpi
scanning, averaged at 6 seconds per page. The unit is TWAIN compatible for
windows based machines. After testing out the scanning features, I must say
that 6 seconds per page is virtually impossible, even for a simple text scan.
Scanning a text page took 36 seconds and over 4 minutes for a color flyer.
The tests were done on 256MB-based machine using the USB interface of the
WorkCentre. Even there, we could consider these numbers reasonable for a low-end
scanner. Anyhow, I don’t think anybody will consider a paper scanner for serious
work. After doing some research, the 6 second scanning claim is the speed
of the WorkCentre reading the source, the extra time to transmit it to the
computer will vary from PC to PC.
The fax machine of the WorkCentre 390 features
a 300x300dpi resolution. The fax it self is operating directly from the scanner,
in other words, both function are achieved from the same part of the unit.
It features 80 speed dials and can hold up to 150 pages in the memory. Again
here, it takes about 6 seconds per page to read the source (input).
The Copier function is claimed to reproduce 10-PPM,
from our test, we achieved a maximum of 7.5 PPM with text combined with graphics.
The copier can go up to 4800dpi (interpolated). You have an enlargement-reduction
option on it. You can go from 50-200% in 1-% increments. The maximum multicopy
amount is of 99 and the maximum output set is 100.
Installation
The installation process went without any hassle.
Xerox included two detailed guides. One focused on the installation process
covering the initial set-up process and the second covering the configuration
and main features. These covered how-to areas for making copies, faxing, printing
and even a detailed troubleshooting section. A beginner shouldn’t end up having
any problems with setup, as the included documentation covers absolutely everything
from A to Z.
The unit comes packed with three different trays.
A document Input tray with a flip out extension, a printer exit tray with
a pull out extension and a document exit tray with a flip out extension. Xerox
also included all the required cables needed to connect the unit with your
PC. First is the 6ft PC parallel cable (IEEE 1284) and a 6ft USB cable. You
of course get the AC power Cord and a telephone cord in the box. The laser
cartridge (113R462) is also included.
As already mentioned, the installation process
went very smoothly. The first step consists of inserting the document trays
in the slots. Then you will proceed by inserting the cartridge; this is done
by puling the cover release buttons toward you on each side. When opened,
the unit will begin out-putting beeping and a "DOOR OPEN OR NO TONER
CARTRIDGE" message will appear on the LCD display. To follow up, simply
unwrap the toner cartridge from it’s protection package, shake it from side
to side to distribute the toner evenly and then carefully remove the sealing
tape from it. When this preparation step has been completed, grasp the handle
of the cartridge down along the cartridge slot unit it clicks into place.
When done, simply close the cover of the unit and you are set.
The WorkCentre is now ready to work as a stand-alone
machine, to proceed connect the unit to your computer and choose which interface
you will be using. If USB, simply connect the 6ft USB cable from the unit
to your PC. Windows should instantly detect the unit as "WORKCENTRE 390
USB" and will proceed by asking for the required drivers. We recommend
ignoring the warning and continue by inserting the XEROX CD. The official
Set-up program will re-detect and configure everything. If you will be using
the Parallel interface, the installation will be the same. The only difference
will be that windows will ask to restart your computer after the installation
process.
When everything is installed and the unit is
operable, you can continue by installing the included programs for scanning
and faxing. Xerox included Woodcraft’s International LaserFax Lite 3.5 Software
for faxing and Pagis PRO 2.0 (Pagis, Pagis Copier and Text PRO 98 for OCR)
for scanning features.
Summation
Xerox has done a great job on its latest laser
WorkCentre system. We first want to congratulate them for improving the exterior
control-panel: it’s as easy as it gets, and second, for including a USB interface
for it’s easier installation and higher versatility. Customers will appreciate
these two features on the 390 model as most of today’s multifunction machines
in that price range won’t offer them. The WorkCentre 390 packs everything
a home or small business user will ever demand and the $450USD price tag won’t
disappoint.
Oleg Mitskaniouk
00/06/09
