Best Mac OSX drivers - Canon? Konica? Richoh?

[Guest]

Were all Macintosh here and are curious what machines will suit us best solely from the Mac OSX 10.6 driver side. Network printing and finishing settings are key.

Here in Portland, were not getting a clear answer from any salespeople, so I hope y'all can chime in. Who's the best (driver-wise)...better yet...who's the worst?

Thoughts?

Nancy

[cadkins]

Well I don't have any experience with Canon but between Konica and Ricoh, as far as the Mac drivers, there really isn't a whole lot of difference between the look and feel. Apple puts things where they want to go and that's just the way that Apple works from my experience. Nothing wrong with that, just what it is.

But I think as far as a customer could be more focused is output. Since you are "all Macintosh" I am guessing you have a lot to do with graphics? If so, then I would certainly hope that you sales person has introduced you to Fiery. Fiery on a Ricoh is the same as it is on a Konica as it is on a Canon. Fiery is owned by EFI so that is not going to change.

Fiery will allow you to get a better color quality output and be able to manage these prints far greater than a native PostScript printer can. Color profiles and like are able to be managed. The only draw back is, is that any option outside of "printing" with a Fiery is that it is a purchased item. Meaning that if you want a full blown graphics package that you can totally manipulate color, then that is a purchased item. And it is not cheap. But it is wonderful!

On the upside, Konica does offer on the larger color machines, something called Creo. This is Fiery's competition. When you get a Creo, you get everything. It's a lot like Fiery in that you get a managed station to control printing as well as any graphic options (manipulation of color and so forth).

So instead of really worrying about the print driver, I would have the sales rep get you some info on either Fiery or Creo or both.

That's just my 2 cents ;-)

[KenB]

Just what "size" machine are you looking at?

Are you going to run 100 or 100,000 prints per month?

What kind of color expectations do you have? Will you be happy if the grass is green and the sky is blue, or will you pull out a spectrophotometer and loupe to qualify the output from each?

You truly will need a Fiery or Creo for higher end color.

BTW... The Ricoh C901 now offers a Creo as a print controller, as well as a Fiery.

[waitingallday]

Thanks for replying…

When I posted the message last night, I *knew* if should have had more details. Doh.

Even though we're all Mac, we're not a design house and don't have huge or complex print jobs. We know we need a lower speed and lower volume (25ish PPM; 25kish prints) multifunction unit hope we can pull off a color unit with our sub-$5k (unless we go used, which is OK).

The fear is that Macintosh print drivers are usually a second thought for most manufacturers and we don't want to hear the "Windows can do that, but not the Mac."

Required:
* Network printing & scanning via 10/100BaseT interface (thus the decent Mac drivers)
* 600 dpi
* Ability to later add on an Inner Staple Finisher (thus ruling out desktop units)
* Ability to later add on Saddle Stitch unit

Unknown:
* Is emulated Postscript needed? Does the Mac require that? (no need for Adobe Postscript)
* Are there Network Fax drivers for the Mac?

Not important:
* High end Fiery or Creo controllers
* Large hard drive

[waitingallday]

I should have also mentioned that we are not adverse to other brands if they fit the bill.

[KenB]

Almost all MFPs require PostScript to print from Macs, either "true" Adobe or emulated. (Keep in mind that Macs can't use PCL.) Emulated PostScript keeps the cost down, as no royalties need to be paid to Adobe. One exception would be Canon's UFRII (Ultra Fast Rendering) machines, which have Mac drivers. This language is neither PCL or PostScript.(BTW... Run the other way from anyone telling you that you can print PCL to their machine from your Mac by using Gutenprint - or the like - drivers; it's a baaaaad idea from the word go.)

It's going to be a challenge finding a machine that is capable of using a saddle finisher in the $5k range, at least new. In addition, saddle finishing directly implies that you need a machine that will do 11x17.

Lastly, VERY few machines offer fax drivers for Macintosh.

Just a hint that may help with your shopping...Most manufacturers allow you to download their drivers free of charge. If you find a model you like, download the driver and install it. You can point it at an existing network printer, or even just a local port. That way you can check out the user interface for yourself.

I hope that at least some of this helps!

[D_L_P]

I've had many accounts using Mac's and Canon over the years and there are very few (if any) issues. On one install I couldn't get the Canon UFRII driver working with 10.6, but the 10.6 PS driver worked fine. I haven't had another install on 10.6 so I can't say it was UFRII, could have just been me or their Mac.

I don't know Konica's but I just looked on their site and they actually break down the 10.6 drivers for Intel or regular Mac 10.6.

Ricoh doesn't list separate drivers for 10.6, just 10.5. But the few Ricoh's I've setup with other Mac's have worked fine.
GL

[waitingallday]

Thanks for the thoughts. As I'm wrapping up this evening, it looks like I'm be doing further examinations into:
* Konica bizhub C220
** minus RADF to keep initial costs down
** eventual internal finisher or finisher + saddle stitch)

* Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE C2020
** eventual internal finisher & forgo saddle stitch)
** No need for Postscript with UFRII (did not know that!)

* Ricoh AFICIO MP C2050
** Needs PostScript3 Unit Type C2550
** eventual internal finisher & forgo saddle stitch

[cadkins]

If you do go with the C2550 with the internal finisher, be sure to get the side tray. If the finisher goes out and you do not have this tray, it will be a nice statue until the unit is fixed.

I have experience with the KM C220 and Ricoh 2050 and both units are nice and have what you need as far as I can see. The KM come standard with emulated PS which works very well IMO. Ricoh you have to purchase the PS option which is a bit pricey to me.

[waitingallday]

BTW, thanks all for the feedback. This is helping guide me down the path. Too bad the salespeople seem to be "yes people" to all my questions. Ah…all in the name of the sale and the contracts. LOL.

* I see a number of posts here that may indicate the Ricoh C2050 with internal finisher is a dog. I wonder if that is why the Ricoh C2051 is on the market. Any thoughts?

* I'm amazed at the low Canon C2020 pricing (at least online, no quote from dealer yet). Why is that?

* I can't find anything "bad" about the KM C220. It has the highest price (again, online), but it seems like it'll be a great long-term solution.

Ahh…now to reconnect with the sales staff.

[mmru4real]

I currently service the C360 which is in the same family as the c220 and these machines are great, the run with very little problems, except the consumables having to be changed at their designated times.

[bauer]

You may wish to check out Toshiba's newest offerings for color machines, available from 20 PPM to65 PPM

[waitingallday]

[vigour]

If you are going used, get a Canon iRC 3220, or 3200.
They are bulletproof,

[mmru4real]

Yes they will be able to upgrade the firmwarewhich I believe is now R6 for this model and I would be more concerned with imaging units and transfer belt then fusing unit they have a combined cost of around 1800 replaced, if they are near end of life. This machine is also fiery compatible it can utilize an internal or external fiery.