Lexmark Pro5500 Review

Good use of a touchscreen with this business-focused printer.       
Unashamedly business-oriented, the Pro5500 is on the large side for an A4 inkjet, but it sports some worthwhile features.

Like a growing number of printers, the Pro5500 is web-enabled through a series of SmartSolutions that can be installed via the Lexmark web site. These provide PC-free access to a variety of online services ranging from RSS feeds through to MapQuest maps and photo services such as Photobucket. Depending on the function, content is displayed on the responsive 4.3in touchscreen or printed. Scanning directly to Box, Evernote and other services is also supported. We tried Scan to Box and while the file arrived in the right place, the SmartSolution consistently hung at the end of the process and the only way we found to recover was to put the Pro550 to sleep via the power button.

The other side of SmartSolutions condenses multi-step processes into one-touch operations, such as ‘Copy and Send to Computer’. Some involve emailing documents and if you make a mistake when setting up the account details, there are no diagnostic messages, just a failure notice. Lexmark told us it plans to address this in future models.

Copying gave good results with no banding and very narrow margins from full-bleed originals. We were also satisfied with the scan results. The one-pass duplex ADF is a plus and combines well with duplex output on heavier paper (like 100gsm). The downside is that copying one double-sided sheet takes just over a minute.

As inkjets go, the Pro5500 is subjectively on the noisy side and we wouldn’t want it right next to our desk. The first page out time for our business document was 14 seconds. Page two took another 7 seconds. As usual with inkjets, that’s well below the claimed ‘up to 14 ppm’ and duplexed output more than doubled the time to 45 seconds. The quality of text and graphics output was good, and the ink is water- and highlighter-resistant. Unusually, we had to clean the print head shortly after installing the printer, but Lexmark says this is sometimes necessary.

Special features:

  • Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB
  • Fax
  • Memory card support

Pros: Web connectivity, duplex scan and print.
Cons: Bulky, noisy.
Verdict: 7/10

Available from Lexmark, retailing for $499.

Toshiba introduces the new e-STUDIOTM2050c/2550c series and e-STUDIO2051c/2551c series

Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc., (http://business.toshiba.com), a leading managed document services (MDS) provider and MFP innovator, today introduces the new e-STUDIOTM2050c/2550c series and e-STUDIO2051c/2551c series of multifunction printers (MFPs). These entry-level series features color printing, the latest generation eBRIDGETM technology and up to 600 x 1,200 dots-per-inch resolution making it an ideal fit for small to mid-size businesses requiring the performance and image quality of other e-STUDIO Color series, but at a lower price point.
“This new e-STUDIO series represents affordable MFPs that finally bring full-featured performance capabilities to small businesses who, until now, found this kind of technology out of their price range,” said Joseph Contreras, director of product and solutions marketing for Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. “Traditionally, smaller workplaces have been relegated to single-duty color printers or AIOs, however Toshiba is now making its MFP technology, performance and quality available in the form of these more impressive, entry-level models.”
The four compact, light weight models allow for scanning ,and color printing and copying up to 25 pages-per-minute as well as optional faxing on the e-STUDIO2050c/2550c, while utilizing the advanced Toshiba technology and features included in MFPs that ordinarily are designed and priced for larger businesses.
“Along with incorporating the cutting-edge e-BRIDGE platform for solutions readiness, the new line features a tiltable, VGA color control panel with one-touch access keys, as well as improved serviceability, Toshiba’s new Universal Print Driver, and remote management capabilities.
e-STUDIO2050/2550c Series
  • Various finishing options
  • 9″ Color Control Panel
  • Print/Scan/Fax
  • Optional Self Encrypting Hard Drive
  • Secure PDF
e-STUDIO 2051c/2551c Series
  • Duplex Printing
  • Job Separator
  • 7″ Color Control Panel
  • Optional Fax
  • Role Based Access

The new series conforms to the latest ENERGY STAR® criteria,  helping to back up Toshiba’s commitment to the environment. The company continues offering customers free, zero waste to landfill recycling via their partnership with Close the Loop. Through CTL, Toshiba accepts all brands of spent toner cartridges.

For more information about Toshiba products, or to locate an authorized Toshiba dealer in your area, visit www.business.toshiba.com.
About Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc.
Irvine, Calif.-based Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc., (TABS) is an independent operating company of Toshiba Corporation, the world’s eighth-largest electronics/electrical equipment company. TABS is a leading managed document services (MDS) provider with experts that help organizations take control of document security, workflow and print environments. With the award-winning EncompassTM managed print services (MPS) program, e-STUDIOTM line of multifunction printers (MFPs), toner products and retail information systems, TABS is leading the way for businesses to print smarter, work safer and conserve resources. For more information on Toshiba solutions and services available in the United States and Latin America, please visit www.business.toshiba.com.

HP Expands All-in-One PC Portfolio

Offering Businesses and Consumers Performance, Reliability and Security

 


HP today expanded its all-in-one desktop PC portfolio with business and
consumer designs that deliver multimedia-rich performance, trusted reliability
and enhanced security in a small footprint.

The new all-in-ones are designed as cost-, space- and energy-efficient
alternatives to a traditional desktop and monitor combination for consumers and
businesses, including government, healthcare, education and retail customers.
The new lineup also includes touch-enabled solutions for businesses, building on
30 years of touch-technology innovation for convenient and intuitive
computing.

“Customers have been asking for all-in-one PC designs that do not compromise
on performance, reliability or security,” said Emilio Ghilardi, vice president,
PC Division, Americas, HP. “With these sleek, elegant designs and powerful
options, HP continues to innovate to meet the needs of a growing
marketplace.”

 

Products announced today are:

 

  • HP Compaq Elite 8300 All-in-One, HP’s highest-quality all-in-one business
    PC, featuring security and management features with optional touch capability
  • HP Compaq Pro 6300 All-in-One, offering the optimal combination of
    productivity, performance and serviceability needed to satisfy most everyday
    business and public sector computing requirements
  • HP ENVY 23 All-in-One, an ideal PC for consumers who demand a sleek design
    and enhanced performance
  • HP Pavilion 23 All-in-One, offering essential features and processing power
    for everyday computing tasks

 

“All-in-one PCs are expected to grow in popularity, accounting for 27
percent(1) of worldwide desktop PC sales by 2016,” said Danielle
Levitas, group vice president, IDC. “In a recent commercial PC buyer study in
the United States, IDC found that the purchase intent for all-in-ones was up
across the range of small to large businesses. This trend puts vendors with a
broad offering of all-in-one products and options—like HP—in a very good
position to meet that growing commercial demand.”

 

Smart designs for accelerated business efficiency

 

The HP
Compaq Elite 8300 All-in-One Business PC
, HP’s most powerful and
multimedia-rich all-in-one PC, provides demanding enterprise users with proven
performance and the option for intuitive touch experiences. An attractive,
space-efficient solution ideal for customer-facing work areas, kiosks and more,
the PC features a 23-inch diagonal, full high-definition (HD)(2)
display with an optional built-in 2-megapixel (MP) webcam and dual microphone
array. SRS Premium Sound PRO™ also comes standard for high-frequency definition
in a variety of listening environments.

 

Powered by third- and second-generation Intel® Core™ vPro™
processors(3,4) that provide outstanding performance, the HP Compaq
Elite 8300 All-in-One offers Intel HD Graphics or a choice of discrete graphics
to enhance imagery and multimedia capabilities. Intel Smart Response Technology
disk cache solution(5) also delivers a level of performance normally
associated with solid state drives, while retaining the data-storage capacity of
today’s large hard disk drives.

 

With its added touch functionality, the HP Compaq Elite 8300 Touch All-in-One
employs multitouch, optical technology for interactive healthcare, retail and
other applications. The multitouch technology recognizes simultaneous input from
two fingers to enable the use of gestures, and the onboard suite of HP
touch-enabled software provides interaction with files, media and productivity
applications.

 

The HP Compaq Elite 8300 Touch All-in-One provides a solution for healthcare
patients to conveniently enter personal data and for students to stay engaged.
Both of the space-saving HP Compaq Elite 8300 models also feature
VESA-compatible mounting,(6) which allows retail business to save
valuable floor space and lets manufacturing facilities deploy systems in easily
accessible areas without cluttering work space.

 

The HP
Compaq Pro 6300 All-in-One Business PC
is a mainstream business-class
all-in-one designed for reliable and consistent computing. The non-touch PC
sports third- and second-generation Intel Core processors(3) with
optional discrete graphics for solid performance and simple manageability for
growing business environments, including government organizations. It offers a
21.5-inch diagonal, full HD,(2) LED-backlit display, internal stereo
speakers and optional 2MP webcam.

 

The new business all-in-ones include multilayered client security features
that safeguard data, devices and user identities. Simple, centralized deployment
through HP ProtectTools(7) delivers defense features, such as
hard-drive encryption, HP Face Recognition, HP Disk Sanitizer and HP File
Sanitizer.(8) HP BIOS Protection(9) offers hardware-level
defense against virus attacks and other security threats.

 

Each of the announced desktops is preinstalled with Microsoft® Windows®.
Microsoft also recognized HP as the 2012 Communications Market Acceleration
Partner of the Year, in celebration of the company’s advanced sales and
deployment of Microsoft Lync, which provides instant access to applications for
collaboration.(10)

 

The business desktops also offer a choice of available tools with HP Client
Management and include the new HP Premier Image,(11) which features a
full suite of business software and antivirus protection, while eliminating
trial-ware and other distractions. Globally consistent SKUs further simplify
enterprise deployment and management, while a multitiered testing process of
more than 115,000 hours helps ensure a lasting investment.

 

Stylish, affordable all-in-one PCs for every consumer

 

The HP ENVY 23 and HP Pavilion 23 All-in-One PCs combine elegant design with
robust performance. Both offer full 1080p HD(2) 23-inch diagonal
displays, multicore processors, advanced graphics and up to 2 terabytes (TB) of
storage to accommodate the demands of any user.

 

The HP ENVY 23 All-in-One PC offers an elegant, free-standing display with
edge-to-edge glass that can be wall-mounted.(6) Engineered for an
enriched entertainment experience, the HP ENVY 23 comes standard with Beats
Audio
™ and offers optional HDMI-in port, Blu-ray disc drive and TV
tuner.(12, 13)

 

The HP Pavilion 23 All-in-One PC features a slim and elegant easel design and
provides a choice of Intel or AMD processors that deliver exceptional
performance at an affordable price.

 

Both PCs offer wireless capabilities and exclusive features such as the HP
TrueVision HD Webcam, HP
Magic Canvas
and HP LinkUp for the latest
in connected entertainment and convenience.  HP Magic Canvas software enables
users to expand the desktop horizontally to accommodate photos, videos and
applications. Microsoft Windows desktop shortcuts, task bar and start menu can
all be accessed through the HP Magic Canvas, so users can use entertainment and
work applications in the same place.

 

Pricing and availability(14)

 

  • The HP Compaq Elite 8300 All-in-One Business PC starts at $879 and is
    expected to be available on Sept. 10. The HP Compaq Elite 8300 Touch All-in-One
    starts at $929 and is expected to be available on Sept. 10.
  • The HP Compaq Pro 6300 All-in-One Business PC starts at $799 and is expected
    to be available on Sept. 3.
  • The HP ENVY 23 All-in-One starts at $949.99 and is expected to be available
    at HP
    Home & Home Office
    on Aug. 2 and select retailers nationwide on Aug. 5.
  • The HP Pavilion 23 All-in-One starts at $649.99 and is expected to be
    available at HP
    Home & Home Office
    on Aug. 2 and select retailers nationwide on Aug. 5.

HP Empowers Small and Medium-size Businesses to Thrive in a Mobile World

New solutions, services and programs simplify, secure and optimize IT to support a growing mobile workforce

 

PALO ALTO, Calif., –
HP today announced new offerings to help small and medium-size businesses (SMBs)
prepare their technology infrastructures for a growing mobile workforce.  With more than 1.1
billion mobile appliances in use worldwide,(1) organizations of all sizes are challenged by the need

to access, manage and secure mobile devices and the data generated by them. HP Converged
Infrastructure
provides the ideal platform for secure continuous access to
data and applications. With partner solutions from Citrix, Microsoft and VMware,
HP also delivers improved employee accessibility and productivity as the
requirements for mobility continue to grow.

New offerings from HP include technology solutions and services, as well as financing and training
programs that enable resource-challenged SMBs to simplify IT while enhancing
collaboration in an increasingly mobile world.

Predefined solutions secure, simplify mobile access
According to Gartner research, by 2016, at least 50 percent of business email users will rely
primarily on a tablet or mobile client instead of a traditional desktop.(2) The trend to use devices to access email and other
business data requires SMBs to prepare their infrastructures to support increased mobility.

New HP solutions and services enable organizations to:

  • Improve security with HP Client
    Virtualization SMB
    virtual desktop solution. The solution includes reference
    architectures—such as HP ProLiant Generation 8 (Gen8) servers and client
    virtualization software from Citrix, Microsoft or VMware—that protects company
    data by storing user profiles and data on a centralized server. This enables
    SMBs to provide secure access to applications from thin clients, laptops,
    tablets and smartphones. Information remains protected on the server even if the
    device is lost.
  • Reduce risk and complexity of client virtualization projects with HP
    Client Virtualization, Analysis and Modeling
    , a prepackaged service that
    analyzes the existing IT environment to simplify and speed deployment of
    virtualization for medium-size organizations and help them embrace mobile
    technology.
  • Simplify adoption of mobile technology with HP
    Transformation Experience Workshop for Mobility
    , a service that aligns
    business and IT stakeholders to ensure employees have access to data while
    upholding security requirements.
  • Increase uptime for a growing mobile workforce with HP
    Business Protection Solutions
    , preconfigured reference architectures based
    on HP
    Converged Infrastructure
    and best practices in data protection, network
    security and disaster recovery. These customized solutions guide SMBs in the
    design of a risk-mitigation program to ensure continued accessibility to company
    data from a mobile device .

 

Collaboration tools improve productivity for mobile workforce
To support the acceleration of mobile devices, HP and its partners are helping SMBs improve
employee productivity and drive business efficiency.

  • Improves collaboration with HP
    Unified Communications & Collaboration (UC&C) Solutions with Microsoft
    Lync
    , an integrated hardware and software solution that enables SMBs to
    securely video conference, share information on desktops and collaborate to
    improve productivity. The comprehensive UC&C solution includes Microsoft
    Lync software, HP Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones, HP networking and
    HP ProLiant Gen8 servers, storage and services.

 

Simplified infrastructure for SMBs embracing mobility
Small and medium-size organizations need simple, reliable and economical computing to support growing
data and new applications across wired and wireless environments. New solutions
based on HP Converged Infrastructure help companies to:

  • Simplify network management with the expanded HP
    Multi-Service Router (MSR) Series
    , an all-in-one, customizable platform that
    allows clients to streamline deployment of networks by integrating security and
    wired and wireless networking features into one device.
  • Reduce power costs with the HP
    1910 8G Switch Series
    , which features energy-saving Power over Internet
    (PoE) technology to deliver simple, reliable and cost-effective network access
    for rich-media applications, such as voice and video.
  • Address the explosion of unstructured data from a growing mobile workforce
    with increased capacity and simplified management featured with HP X5000 Storage. This highly available
    clustered network attached storage (NAS) platform reduces IT administration time
    for SMBs by ensuring users have access to file data from their mobile
    devices.

Increased support for SMBs and channel partners
HP provides SMBs and channel
partners with a broad range of programs to drive growth, create new revenue
streams and ensure collaboration. Enhanced programs provide:

  • Favorable financing options with the HP
    Even Better Than Zero
    program, which allows companies to lease HP equipment
    at a less-than-zero implicit lease rate while offering a fair-market-value
    purchase option, available through HP Financial
    Services
    .
  • Improved business skills for small-business owners through HP Learning
    Initiative for Entrepreneurs (HP LIFE)
    e-Learning. The new cloud-based
    platform, hosted on HP
    Converged Cloud
    infrastructure, offers free information and courses to help
    SMBs establish or grow their businesses. HP LIFE has helped establish or expand
    more than 19,700 businesses and helped create 43,000 jobs worldwide since
    2007.(3)

Availability
The HP Client Virtualization SMB Reference Architecture for Microsoft VDI is
scheduled to be available in September. All other solutions and services are
available now through HP and worldwide channel partners.

UF’s longest-serving staffer marks 60 years of service

Congratulations Miss Betty!

Published: June 12th, 2012

Betty Jones

When Elizabeth Jones started to work at the University of Florida, gasoline was 25 cents a gallon, Harry S. Truman was in the White House and one of the most popular shows on TV was “I Love Lucy.”

Here’s one more thing to put things in perspective: Construction on Century Tower wouldn’t begin until the following year.

Known affectionately as “Miss Betty,” Jones became a UF employee in September 1952, and she’s still on the job, now as a receptionist at the UF Information Technology office in Turlington Hall.

No one has worked at UF longer.

Jones has seen plenty of change in the past six decades, but her devotion to students and to UF hasn’t wavered.

“I love the young people and I love my university,” she said, adding that she has no plans to step down any time soon.

Jones celebrates her 60th anniversary at UF; Queen Elizabeth celebrates 60 years on the British throne. Coincidence? You decide.

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