Okidata(R) C5100n Digital Color Printer

• Sharp 1,200 x 600 dpi print resolution
• Up to 20 ppm black, 12 ppm color print speed
• Built-in 10/100 Base-T internal Ethernet print server
• 32 MB memory standard, expandable to 288 MB
• Flexible paper handling, optional duplexing

Where I work (up to 30 users for these purchases), I was responsible for bringing two C5100N''s into the workplace. At the time I purchased them, September 2003, there was little information on them. The goals I had were merely to bring color to the workgroup at a slightly-moreaffordable-than-inkjet and definitely more affordable than outsourcing color.

My experience: I agree that the photos aren''t the best. They look GREAT (or, much better) on cardstock, and the finished-look of laser gives a more professional look than inkjet, to some extent. The price was right for us, and the results were acceptable for an organization that is used to using a mimeograph for volume color, one color at a time.

Since our emphasis isn''t on speed of first output (nobody is really near the printer), the time to first print is not really applicable. Duplex cardstock is an iffy proposition. IF the settings are correct, it should work, and does work.

Consumables are used pretty fast, to be sure. To maintain stock, I''ve been purchasing up to 4 each C,M,Y,K monthly, and have purchased three sets of imaging drums since September. (I''m supposed to: 21000 images on one printer, and 32000 on the other). The web interface is *great*, and tells anyone who wants to know, what they need to know. I''ve recently purchased a third unit for another department. Understand that the toners are rated for 5% coverage, so printing ''coated'' paper is going to reduce your output significantly.

In all, we have increased our color visibility in ways that we wouldn''t have touched either in inkjet or outsourcing. The costs are only of consumables, so we don''t have to worry about leasing a color copier. When our user''s needs start becoming more toward photo-ready artwork, we''ll consider moving to a more advanced model. But when it comes to an Excel Chart or just getting the printout in color, we''re pretty happy.

Pro: Workgroup color at a decent print speed, and for what was needed, a good price. Images are fixed on paper. Networkable out of box. Rather decent technical support.

Con: Color is put in distinct points on paper, so no smearing or mixing allowed like inkjet. Slow-ish first page to print, but afterwards makes up for it.

Conclusion: If photos matter, this probably isn''t for you. But, if you primarily need clipart, graph, chart, and text color, and want to do some volume of it, this may be a great addition to a workgroup or department.

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I''ve been using this little guy for about a year, super fast and excellent quality. Uses about any kind of paper but doesn''t especially like recycled. It''s a wonderful addition to our family of printers. I can''t believe the price on this one. I paid $600. for mine.

Ink sits up on the paper but doesn''t smear. Has some kind of chemical process unlike any other toners.

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I have had my oki printer for more than two years now, and am thrilled with the performance it''s demonstrated. I work with very expensive color and black and white copiers on a day-to-day basis, and quite frankly, I''m more impressed with my C5100. Toner is expensive, but you can buy the high yield cartridges for a little more, and they''ll print up to 4500 pages at 5% coverage. I have another color laser printer that i use much more frequently, but for quality, time to print, and overall satisfaction, the C5100 is an easy winner.

I even recommend Color laser printers to most home users, because as much as $170 per cartridge scares people, Think of how many $50 ink jet cartridges it would take to get the same result.

Pros: Fast, Quality Graphics (not photos), with high yield cartridges very low cpp. and accepts a very wide range of media, everything from envelopes to card stock to transparencies.

Cons: Poor Photos

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Please do not buy this printer. You will spend so much money on toner cartridges. Not just because the toner cartridges are expensive, but because the printer needs a new toner cartridge every 400-500 pages. It is terrible. The printer constantly says "Order "K" toner" , then Order "C" toner, then "Order Y Toner", then Order M toner. One day it will show you have 95% toner left, the next day it will say you have only 8% left, "Order Y toner" and you haven''t printed a thing. Tech support will tell you to "shake the toner cartridge", well you can "shake it like a polaroid picture" and it won''t do any good. Once this printer needs toner, it will not forget about it. The red light will stay on and the display will say "Order Toner". Also, once it determines it needs more toner, that''s it, the printer won''t print anything. Not even black. Please, take my word for it, stay away from this toner eating machine. You will be sorry at around 400 pages, and you''ll get to 400 pages before you know it.