DocuCrunch.com » 2009 » November

FBI: Cyber-criminals targeting SMBs


November 30, 2009 by Valerie Helmbreck

FBI investigators recently issued a warning to small and medium-sized organizations: Cyberthieves have you in their cross-hairs. More…

Can a server be too cold?


November 27, 2009 by Valerie Helmbreck

Keeping servers from overheating means a lot to IT, but a recent study offers some counter-intuitive advice. More…

Success stories: Firms find it pays to negotiate


November 25, 2009 by Steve Hannaford

Municipal governments and school districts are among the hardest hit in the current recession. And some are finding that one of the smartest ways to save money is through astute bargaining on copier contracts. More…

Would your employees steal data? 41% already have


November 25, 2009 by Sam Narisi

Quick — what’s the biggest threat to your company’s sensitive data? Hint: It’s not foreign hackers. More…

Windows 7 upgrades marred with continual reboot error


November 25, 2009 by Sam Narisi

Looks like Microsoft’s new operating system isn’t exactly getting off on the right foot with early adopters. More…

Windows 7: My #@$%* printer won’t work


November 25, 2009 by Sam Narisi

Users of several printer brands have run into problems after updating to the new version of Windows. Help is on the way — but only for some. More…

Apple releases new printer drivers


November 24, 2009 by Sam Narisi

Users of Apple’s Snow Leopard should check this list if they’ve been having trouble getting an old printer to work properly on the new OS. More…

Dell breaks speed record for laser printers


November 23, 2009 by Steve Hannaford

Dell is calling the 5130cdn “the World’s Fastest Single-Function Letter Format Color Laser Printer.” That’s an accurate description, at least at the present moment. More…

One way to control the costs of color


November 20, 2009 by Sam Narisi

Let’s face it: Businesses can’t completely eliminate expensive color printing. But there is a strategy that can make sure it’s only used when it’s good for the company: More…

Experts: Don’t trust Web-based e-mail


November 19, 2009 by Sam Narisi

In this economy, Web-based e-mail isn’t just popular with consumers — some small businesses are taking advantage of those resources as well. More…

Merger fever: Hewlett-Packard to buy 3Com


November 18, 2009 by Steve Hannaford

Hewlett-Packard has announced that it will buy networking equipment company 3Com. This comes on the heels of a recent announcement by Cisco Systems, the leader in the networking industry, that it would enter the server market to compete directly against HP. More…

Company releases first USB 3.0 flash drives


November 18, 2009 by Sam Narisi

Devices using the next generation of USB are starting to appear, and their performance looks impressive. More…

Lawyers can now grab your metadata


November 17, 2009 by Steve Hannaford

Most companies now understand that all sorts of data on their servers is vulnerable to be dragged into court in the event of a lawsuit. But now it’s their metadata that’s under attack, and the change may mean more trouble yet. More…

News flash: Canon to buy Océ


November 16, 2009 by Steve Hannaford

Japanese copier-maker Canon announced that it intends to buy Océ NV, the Dutch-based printer and copier company. More…

HP plays the green card


November 16, 2009 by Steve Hannaford

Hewlett-Packard recently announced two new laser printers for the office — something the company does every few months. But the marketing hook on the new models:  More…

If you can’t bring a guard dog to your cubicle …


November 13, 2009 by Steve Hannaford

Those lucky enough to work in offices with walls and doors can close out the world and limit interruptions simply by shutting the door. But for 50 million US workers (the Dilberts among us) there’s no door to shut. More…

Avoiding 7 Common Mistakes of IT Security Compliance


November 12, 2009 by Luke Marchie

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Currently, there is no single standard framework that explicitly defines what your organization must do for compliance. A big challenge for IT security professionals is navigating this ambiguity and achieving the organization’s compliance goals effectively and on budget.

This guide covers seven typical IT security compliance errors and outlines the best practices you can immediately apply to your environment to help your company achieve compliance.

guide

Download the Guide for free here!

More…

Simplify the Complexity of your Data Center


November 10, 2009 by Luke Marchie

Your data center is ground zero of your business infrastructure – make it a competitive differentiator! Decreasing bottom line costs, improving network performance, investing in leading edge technologies and maximizing infrastructure resources all support the core objectives of your CIO. While these promises sound easy to achieve, the reality is that a truly optimized data center is a complex and sometimes daunting undertaking.

Download the free guide here More…

Company sued for firing obscene Web browser


November 10, 2009 by Sam Narisi

internet-computer-usage

When an employee’s caught looking at offensive Web sites, the person’s usually fired. But it’s not always that simple. Take this recent case, for example: More…

Printer driver woes with Windows 7 and Snow Leopard


November 10, 2009 by Steve Hannaford

Two ballyhooed new versions of the leading operating systems from Microsoft and Apple have led to one inevitable peril of upgrading — broken printer drivers. More…

New Lexmark ledger-sized monochrome MFPs


November 9, 2009 by Melissa Pardo

The Lexmark X860 family of black-and-white MFPs is part of the overhaul of Lexmark’s entire multifunctional line, and they incorporate a new design and a number of innovative features. More…

New InfoPrint monochrome production printers


November 9, 2009 by Melissa Pardo

The new InfoPrint Pro 907 family is the fruit of InfoPrint’s close relationship with Ricoh. Both InfoPrint and Ricoh sell these models as printer-copier versions. All are upgrades to Ricoh’s previous generation of Pro models. More…

Lexmark’s new color MFP for small workgroup


November 9, 2009 by Melissa Pardo

The network-ready $999 Lexmark X546dtn prints at 25ppm in both color and black-and-white. PostScript and PCL support are standard, along with direct imaging of PDF and XPS files. More…

Lexmark C734 and C736


November 9, 2009 by Luke Marchie

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These new models, the Lexmark C730 Series, are part of an overall upgrade in Lexmark’s whole printer and printer-multifunctional line with a comprehensive new design that offers both obvious and subtle improvements.

The C734 models run at 30ppm in both black-and-white and color, while the C736 models run at 35ppm in both. These are far faster than most comparably priced color printers. And they add some very nice new features that go beyond earlier generations of Lexmark machines.

The members of the C734 family are:

  • The C734n, which offers standard Ethernet ($699).
  • The C734dn, which adds automatic duplexing ($899).
  • The C734dw, which adds Wi-Fi connectivity ($999).
  • The C734dtn, which adds a 550-sheet paper drawer to the C734dn configuration ($1,149).

The C736 family consists of:

  • The C736n, which offers standard Ethernet ($899).
  • The C736dn, which adds automatic duplexing ($1,149).
  • The C736dtn, which adds a 550-sheet paper drawer ($1,399).

All of these models are network-ready out of the box. USB connectivity is also standard for all models, and Wi-Fi is optional on all of the C734 and C736 models but the C734dw, where it is standard. Lexmark also offers serial, parallel, IPDS, and gigabit Ethernet options. There are options for barcoding and forms storage as well.

All models print at true resolutions up to 1,200 dpi. Likewise, all models start with 256MB of memory that you can upgrade to 1,280MB, and all have an optional 80GB hard disk drive. There’s a standard USB port for flash drives, so you can print directly from the flash drive. There’s also a PictBridge port. PostScript and PCL are standard. PDF, TIFF, JPEG, and XPS files can also be output.

The C734 models are powered by a 600MHz processor. First-page-out time is under 9.5 seconds, and under 12 second when in Power Saver mode. The monthly duty cycle is 85,000 pages, with a recommended range between 1,500 and 9,200 pages.

The C736 models come with a 900MHz processor. First-page-out time is a bit faster at 9 seconds, and has the same under 12 seconds speed in Power Saver mode. The monthly duty cycle is also 85,000 pages, but with a recommended range between 2,500 and 10,000 pages.

Paper handling is also solid. For all models (except the dtn ones), you start with a 550-sheet drawer and a 100-sheet bypass. The dtn models have two 550-sheet drawers. But you have the option of adding far more. With the C734 models you can add up to three more 550-sheet drawers. You can also add a 2,000-sheet stacker (which replaces one of the drawers). The C736 family is the same, but you can add one additional 550-sheet drawer beyond the C734 family. You can place the whole printer stack on a roll-away caster.

The C730 Series also allows for printing banner paper, up to 36″ on the C734 models and up to 48″ on the C736 models. In a nice design touch, automatic duplexing (standard on all but the n models) is built into the machine and adds no extra height to the stack.

Standard output is 300 sheets. That is the one weak point in these models: with an enormous wealth of input capacity, you’ll still have to empty the output tray frequently.

In terms of ergonomic features, Lexmark has upgraded the handles on the paper drawers, making them easier to manipulate. The 4-line backlit LCD panel is tiltable for easier access and features an animated help display. Lexmark has also reduced noise levels and offers a (somewhat slower) Quiet Mode with low decibel levels along with an already quiet idle mode. Firmware can be upgraded by a service tech using the USB flash interface.

Lexmark has reduced energy consumption on these models, in part due to the Instant Warm Up fuser that allows for fast recovery from Power Saver mode. Lexmark also notes that it has reduced excess packaging, has a comprehensive Return Program, and offers longer-life supplies than comparable competitive models.

Supplies for the C734 models consist of a set of four photoconductors and four toner cartridges. The black cartridge is rated for 8,000 pages, while the color cartridges are rated at 6,000 pages. The cost per page is 2.3¢ for black, which is very good in this market segment, and 12.9¢ in color, a bit on the high side. For the C736 family, you have the option of high-capacity toner cartridges: 12,000 pages for black and 10,000 pages for color. That ends up costing 2.2¢ in black and 12.1¢ in color.

Given all the features, it’s hard to imagine that these printers are just in the middle of the Lexmark color printer lineup and that most of the models cost under $1,000. The inclusion of PostScript is significant in this market segment, their speed is impressive, and the inclusion of duplexing on most of the models is notable. All of this earns them our Editor’s Choice Award.

Sum-up: Lexmark’s feature-laden color printers, aimed at small-to-midsize workgroups.

Video: The ultimate in hard drive security


November 9, 2009 by Sam Narisi

Yeah, yeah! Paper shredders are very important. But what about a hard disk shredder? More…

Survey: Push to dump paper is just ahead


November 6, 2009 by Sam Narisi

Need some help getting your business to go paperless? Here’s a fact that should turn higher-ups’ heads: More…

Print out your dinner


November 5, 2009 by Sam Narisi

Of all the things printers have been used for, here’s one you may not have considered: More…

Copier industry rocked by sales slump


November 4, 2009 by Sam Narisi

Third quarter results are out for a number of copier vendors, and things look pretty bleak — not to anyone’s  surprise. Look at these numbers: More…

Top 5 IT Budget killers (and how you can fight back) eBook


November 3, 2009 by Luke Marchie

You’ve heard it a million times: Do more with less. It may be good business, but as budgets shrink and IT demands grow, you may start to wonder if the people who are saying “do more with less” think that it’s a magical incantation. Run the servers without electricity! You’ve already taken basic cost-cutting steps and saved the easy money. You know that you need to dig deeper. But where should you start? This e-book, provided by IBM, will introduce you to the five big IT budget killers – and some of the best ways to knock them out. Click here to download! More…

Email Archiving – Understanding the Reasons, Risks & Rewards


November 3, 2009 by Luke Marchie

Statistics show that as much as 60 percent of business-critical data now resides in email, making it the most important repository of data your company may own. This huge amount of data translates into a significant burden on corporate storage resources. These facts – combined with a recent onslaught of regulatory compliance rules – are forcing organizations to take a deeper look at email storage, retention, and archiving practices. Click here to download now! More…


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Here is a sample of the newest office productivity machines that have earned the Better Buys for Business Editor's Choice Award.

Xerox Phaser 8560/8580

Solid ink printers with good speed and acceptable consumables costs.

Sharp's Frontier series

Letter/legal copier-multifunctionals with high-end software features

Panasonic KV-S7075C

- one of the fastest flatbed scanners in the industry




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