Specifications

FIRST LOOKS BUSINESS
XEROX PHASER 8560MFP/D
As Solid as Its Ink
Solid-ink printers are designed to compete with
color lasers, offering laser-like speed and output
quality. They’re pretty much exclusive to Xerox,
whose latest, the Phaser 8560MFP/D, is among the
more impressive laser-class all-in-ones I’ve seen.
Solid-ink printers are best for an offi ce that can
keep the printer running all night so that the ink
stays melted. The 8560MFP/D is a whiz at paper
handling, with a standard 625-sheet paper capacity
and a 1,675-sheet maximum with optional trays. It
also has a built-in duplexer.
The 8560MFP/D went through our business
applications suite in 10 minutes 31 seconds, faster
than the fastest color laser AIO I’ve tested. It also
prints photos quickly, averaging 23 seconds for
a 4-by-6 and 36 seconds for an 8-by-10.
The 8560MFP/D’s output quality is superb. Text
is a bit below ideal. Graphics were good enough for
any internal business need. Photos were superior
for a laser-class printer, good enough to pass as true
photo quality at arm’s length.
If you’re looking for a color laser AIO, don’t rule
out a solid-ink unit. The Xerox Phaser 8560MFP/D
offers an effective balance of speed, output quality,
and features for a small to midsize offi ce.—MDS
Xerox Phaser
8560MFP/D
$2,000 street
llllm
PROS Fast. Reason-
ably high quality. Prints,
scans, and faxes from
a PC. Standalone copier
and fax.
CONS Fax feature is
inconveniently hidden
in a driver.
For more:
go.pcmag.com/
xerox8560mfpd
HP OFFICEJET PRO K5400DTN
Laser-Class Ink Jet
HP Offi cejet Pro
K5400dtn Color Printer
$249.99 direct
llllm
PROS Laser-class speed
for business applications.
Network connector.
Built-in duplexer. Two
paper trays.
CONS Photo quality is far less
than ideal. Photos aren’t even
slightly water-resistant.
For more:
go.pcmag.com/hpk5400dtn
If you’re looking for a color printer for a small offi ce,
you might go with an inexpensive laser printer. Or
you might pick the HP Offi cejet Pro K5400dtn Color
Printer, an ink jet with many of the qualities of a
color laser, at a much lower price and running costs.
The K5400dtn has laser-like speed on text, fi n-
ishing our business suite in 8 minutes 49 seconds, a
record for standard ink jets. But photo speed was not
very good, averaging 2:25 (min:sec) for a 4-by-6 and
5:22 for an 8-by-10. Like a laser, the K5400dtn is opti-
mized for business printing, and that includes out-
Ink jet with
laser-class
speed
350-sheet and
250-sheet paper trays
put quality. Text and graphics were decent (though
not laser-quality), but photos fell short. Colors were
often too punchy, and prints prone to smudging.
Paper-handling capability is strong, thanks to
the two paper trays and duplexer. The K5400dtn
is priced inexpensively, and at 1.5 cents for a black-
and-white page and 6 cents for a color page, the
company’s claimed cost per page is relatively low.
When it comes to quality, the K5400dtn may not
be a match for a laser, but small offi ces may fi nd it
a good substitute.—M. David Stone
525-sheet and
100-sheet paper trays
NOVEMBER 6, 2007 PC MAGAZINE 53