Replacing 8000N, need printer w/ 8 output trays for users, don't see much around...

[skypilot]

Our office has been using an HP 8000N for some time now, and really likes the 8 "mailbins", which are output trays for print jobs, based on originating user or IP address.

The printer's getting a little long in the tooth, but I can't seem to find a reasonably priced alternative which has this feature. The HP 9040N and 9050N have the option, but the total price with "mailbins" is approaching $5000, which is about twice as much as I have to spend.

I'm not tied to HP as a vendor, AT ALL. Does anyone have any recommendations? I don't care too much about speed (25ppm+ would be fine), don't need a duplexer, and I'd like per-page costs as low as possible.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mpilchfamily]

Your looking at a buisness class machien. So its not going to be cheap. You'll be luck if you can find one under $2k.

 

[skypilot]

Your looking at a buisness class machien. So its not going to be cheap. You'll be luck if you can find one under $2k.

Hrm, that's helpful.

A business class machine is fine. $2k would be fine. $3k would be fine. Anything above that is pushing it!

 

[Zoomer]

Wouldn't eight printers work, provide redundancy and be cheaper?

 

[Agamar]

8 printers would probably be very had to fit in the required space. When looking for printers, especially large printers, go with the one that will give you the longest term support. HP is great for this. You may spend more up front (in this case, probably $500 premium over a competitor), but you will be able to find a technician to replace parts on it 5 years from now, vs some of the others that are pretty much "throw away". I have a great example. We had a "proof" printer (an IBM solid ink printer). Fairly high end. Cost us over $4k new. 3 years later, it is going south. I call a few guys that work on printers, and nobody will touch it. They can't get the parts, or it is too complicated to fix, or they didn't have any experience with that model.

Ended up with a Canon ($8k) and a hefty support contract. Never skimp on the printers. You don't know how much time you spend working on them until you buy the lemon!

 

[skypilot]

Hope this is of some use to folks - we went with Lexmark. Their T6xx line has 5-bin mailboxes, with stackability to 10 total bins (possibly more).

Also much cheaper than the HP 9040, with similar cost per page and reliability records.