AR-651 DIGITAL IMAGER

Versus

KM-6330
Industry Analysts, Inc. Client Report September 2003
This bulletin is intended solely for the use and information of Sharp Electronics, its designated agents and their employees. The information in this guide was obtained by Industry Analysts, Inc. from several different sources that are deemed reliable by all industry standards. To the best of our knowledge, the information is accurate in all respects. However, neither Sharp Electronics, Industry Analysts, Inc., nor any of their agents or employees shall be responsible for any inaccuracies contained herein.
2003 INDUSTRY ANALYSTS, INC.

TEST DATA SUMMARY

Sharp AR-651 Digital Imager Versus Kyocera Mita KM-6330
In an effort to determine the competitive performance of the Sharp AR-651 Digital Imager versus that of the Kyocera Mita KM-6330, Industry Analysts, Inc.s Technical Services Division (IATSD), an independent testing organization, ran a battery of tests. The tests were designed to objectively evaluate the respective performance of the Sharp AR-651 Digital Imager versus that of the Kyocera Mita KM-6330. Both systems were fully configured and installed on local area networks running Novell Inc.s IntranetWare 4.11 and Microsoft Windows 2000 network operating systems in confidential connectivity test suites in IATSDs facility located in Fairfield, New Jersey.
In terms of performance, the Sharp AR-651s high-quality printer controller facilitates a very
productive network printer with a variety of printer-management capabilities. The Sharp AR651 also features above-average image density, extensive document-finishing options and versatile paper-handling. These capabilities make the Sharp AR-651 a real workhorse that is most suitable for demanding higher-volume copy and print applications.
Terry Wirth, Director, Industry Analysts, Inc.

industryanalysts.com

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PRICING AND CONFIGURATION
In testing, the Sharp AR-651 Digital Imager and Kyocera Mita KM-6330 were configured as follows:
Sharp AR-651 Digital Imager
List Price Sharp AR-651.. $21,350* Finisher..$2,795 AR-P15 (Fiery X3e) Print Controller..$3,595 TOTAL $27,740
*Features standard paper capacity of 3,100 sheets (versus the Kyocera Mita KM-6330, which has a standard capacity of 4,100 sheets).

Kyocera Mita KM-6330

List Price KM-6330..$20,710 Print Controller..$2,000 Finisher..$3,160 Network Scanning..$800 TOTAL $26,670

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Copier Productivity: Copies per minute (cpm) when copying a 10-page document. Jobs were timed from the press of the Start button until the complete exit of the copy using the document feeder and default automatic settings. Sharp AR-651 Rated Black Copy Speed Paper Source Paper Feed Simplex First Copy Out Time 1 Set Simplex 3 Sets Simplex 5 Sets Simplex 10 Sets Simplex Duplex First Copy Out Time 1 Set Simplex to Duplex 3 Sets Simplex to Duplex 5 Sets Simplex to Duplex 10 Sets Simplex to Duplex Simplex Ranking* Duplex Ranking*
*Ranked 1 or 2, with 1 being the best.
Kyocera Mita KM-ppm Tray 3 Long-edge Advantage 8.1 seconds 35.7 ppm 48.5 ppm 53.7 ppm 58.3 ppm 22.0 seconds 22.5 ppm 39.6 ppm 46.1 ppm 52.5 ppm 2 2
65 ppm LCT Long-edge 5.6 seconds 40.7 ppm 51.2 ppm 56.0 ppm 60.2 ppm 11.4 seconds 29.6 ppm 46.3 ppm 52.8 ppm 58.3 ppm 1 1
IATSD On the Sharp AR-651s Copier Productivity: In testing, the Sharp AR-651 was significantly more productive than the Kyocera Mita KM-6330 in both simplex and duplex copier modes (up to 6 ppm faster). Additionally, the Sharp AR-651 had faster FCOT times in both simplex and duplex modes.

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Network-Printer Productivity (PCL): Pages Per Minute (ppm) using PCL and a black, 10page Microsoft Word text document on a Windows 2000 local area network. Tests were performed under controlled conditions using a workstation running Windows 2000 Professional client. Jobs were printed from the application using the latest print drivers and sent over the network to a port installed on a Windows 2000 server. Jobs were timed from the click of the mouse until the complete exit of the print. Sharp AR-651 Rated Print Speed Paper Feed Simplex First Page Out Time 1 Set Simplex 3 Sets Simplex 5 Sets Simplex 10 Sets Simplex Duplex First Page Out Time 1 Set Simplex to Duplex 3 Sets Simplex to Duplex 5 Sets Simplex to Duplex 10 Sets Simplex to Duplex Simplex Ranking* Duplex Ranking*

Kyocera Mita KM-ppm Long-edge Advantage 11.0 seconds 30.0 ppm 44.1 ppm 48.6 ppm 52.7 ppm 16.0 seconds 23.1 ppm 38.4 ppm 44.3 ppm 50.0 ppm 2 2
65 ppm Long-edge 8.8 seconds 33.2 ppm 48.3 ppm 54.4 ppm 59.5 ppm 12.2 seconds 27.8 ppm 45.3 ppm 52.1 ppm 57.9 ppm 1 1

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Network-Printer Productivity (PostScript): Pages Per Minute (ppm) using PostScript and a black, 10-page Microsoft Word text document on a Windows 2000 local area network. Tests were performed under controlled conditions using a workstation running Windows 2000 Professional client. Jobs were printed from the application using the latest print drivers and sent over the network to a port installed on a Windows 2000 server. Jobs were timed from the click of the mouse until the complete exit of the print. Sharp AR-651 Rated Print Speed Paper Feed Simplex First Page Out Time 1 Set Simplex 3 Sets Simplex 5 Sets Simplex 10 Sets Simplex Duplex First Page Out Time 1 Set Simplex to Duplex 3 Sets Simplex to Duplex 5 Sets Simplex to Duplex 10 Sets Simplex to Duplex Simplex Ranking* Duplex Ranking*
Kyocera Mita KM-ppm Long-edge Advantage 12.1 seconds 28.4 ppm 42.9 ppm 47.8 ppm 52.2 ppm 17.1 seconds 23.0 ppm 38.3 ppm 44.2 ppm 50.0 ppm 2 2
65 ppm Long-edge 7.8 seconds 35.1 ppm 50.4 ppm 55.3 ppm 60.1 ppm 12.0 seconds 29.7 ppm 46.5 ppm 53.1 ppm 58.7 ppm 1 1
IATSD On The Sharp AR-651s Network Print Speed: In testing, the Sharp AR-651 was significantly more productive than the Kyocera Mita KM-6330 in all modes - PCL, PostScript, simplex and duplex (the AR-651 was up to 8 ppm faster in some instances). The AR-651 also had faster First Page Out Times in both simplex and duplex modes, as well as faster First Page Out Times in both PCL and PostScript modes.

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Software: Performance of the administration utilities, print drivers and client software. The software provided with the Sharp AR-651 is equivalent to that provided with the Kyocera Mita KM-6330. (Note that in the table below, a denotes that the device has the advantage. In some cases, neither device has the advantage.) Additionally, the Sharp unit provides several utilities that the Kyocera Mita does not provide. Software Document Management Sharp AR-651 Sharpdesk Fiery WebTools; Fiery Command WorkStation Fiery Link; Fiery Command WorkStation Sharp Composer Fiery WebSetup Fiery WebTools ----Advantage

Kyocera Mita KM6330 DocuFlow;Paperport 8.0 KM-NET VIEWER

Network Monitoring

Device/Job Status Combine Print Jobs Network Setup Web Browser-Based Client/Administrator Tool Device-Resident Document Storage for Print-On-Demand Access scanned documents stored in controller memory via Web browser Ranking*
KM-NET VIEWER None Quick Setup Wizard, KM-NET Viewer WebPage

Electronic Mailboxes

Fiery WebTools (Remote Scan) 1

Web Page 2

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SOFTWARE

Figure 1 The Sharp AR-651s optional Fiery X3e controller provides Fiery WebTools shown above. Fiery WebTools is a Web-browser based service that is accessed by entering the controllers IP address in the address field of a standard Web browser (above is the first tab).
Figure 2 Fiery WebTools Fiery Command Workstation software provides many different options, including a print-job queue (above). Fiery Command Workstation is an executable utility that must be installed (it is not accessible via Web browser), and offers similar functionality to Fiery WebTools.

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Figure 3 Fiery Command Workstation provides a Job Log that indicates when jobs were submitted and when they were completed.
Figure 4-5 On the left Fiery Link is indicating device status (misfed paper must be removed), and on the right is indicating current paper levels. Both pictures show Fiery Link monitoring a Fiery X3e controller.

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Figures 6-7 On the left, Fiery Link is showing current toner levels. On the right are various devicemonitoring options. For instance, users may specify whether Fiery Link should monitor their print jobs, indicate when print jobs are completed, etc.
Figure 8 Above is one of the Kyocera Mita KM-6330s KM-NET VIEWER utilities, Remote Operation Panel. Remote Operation Panel displays the message currently displayed on the units control panel (such as Ready).

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Figure 9 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s Remote Operation Panel displays the units name, serial number, available memory, and the total number of pages printed so far (256,589 pages).
Figure 10 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s Remote Operation Panel also provides additional information, such as the amount of paper in each paper source.

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Figures 11-12 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s Remote Operation Panel utility. Above are options for automatic alerts indicating printer status conditions (such as printer error, paper-drawer is open, etc.). For instance, as may be seen in the picture on the right, the administrator may specify whether or not the automatic alert will be accompanied by an audio alert.
Figure 13 One of the Kyocera Mita KM-6330s KM-NET VIEWER utilities, Job Manager, which is used for monitoring the progress of print jobs.

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Figure 14 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s printer Web page, among other things, indicates device status, network configuration, and currently installed paper sizes, types and levels. Above is the home page, which is indicating that the device is ready to print.
IATSD on the Sharp AR-651s Software - When equipped with the optional Fiery controller for network printing, the Sharp AR-651 provides extensive printer management via high-quality Fiery software utilities that provide administrators with extensive management of the printer, printer network configuration, and users print jobs. These Fiery utilities also provide end-users with an extensive feedback on the status of the printer and their printer jobs, and administrators may specify how much access users should have to this information.

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PRINT DRIVERS
The Sharp AR-651s optional print controller includes PCL 6 and Adobe PostScript Level 3 print drivers. The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s optional printer controller includes Adobe PostScript Level 3 and PCL 5e print drivers.
Figure 15 The Sharp AR-651s PCL 6 print driver (first tab). Note that the most frequently used features, such as paper size, source, number of copies and duplexing are conveniently located on this first tab.
Figure 16 The Sharp AR-651s PostScript Level 3 print driver (first tab). Note that the user interface is the same for both print drivers. industryanalysts.com

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The Kyocera Mita KM-6330 employs a unique print-driver system. There is only a single print driver and user interface for PCL 5e, PCL XL (PCL 5e with an expanded feature set) and PostScript (Kyocera Mitas KPDL PostScript emulation). The administrator or authorized user specifies which print driver they wish to use via an option in the Windows Printer Folder.
Figure 17 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s print driver. Using the printers Properties option, and the User Settings option, the user is choosing the KPDL (Kyocera Mitas PostScript emulation).
Figure 18 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s print driver (first tab). Because there is a single print-driver user interface, all tabs are the same for PCL, PCL XL and PostScript.

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Figure 19 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s print driver. Here the user may specify job-layout options such as duplexing and booklet printing.
Figure 20 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s print driver. Here the user may specify various output options including mailbox-bin selection.

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Figure 21 With the Prologue/Epilogue option above (available only with KM-6330s PCL XL print driver), the user may add files before or after the print job, or place them only on odd or even pages.
IATSD on the Sharp AR-651s Printer Drivers - The Sharp AR-651s print drivers feature an identical user interface (UI), which is an advantage, as users need not learn how to use a different user interface. Both print drivers also feature bi-directional-communication capability and indicate current device status (Online or Offline) current paper levels, and currently installed paper sizes and types. The user may obtain the most-up-to-date information by clicking on the Update option in the lower right corner, refreshing the information displayed. This offers a distinct advantage over the Kyocera Mita KM-6330 print driver, as users must use the Kyocera Mita KM-6330 Remote Operation Panel software in order to see if the device is ready, and to view current paper levels, sizes and types.

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USER INTERFACE
Figure 22 The Sharp AR-651s control panel.
Figure 23 The Sharp AR-651s touch screen (main screen).
Figure 24 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s control panel.

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Figure 25 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s main touch screen. IATSD On The Sharp AR-651s Touch-Screen Display: As may be seen in the photos above, the Sharp AR-651s control panel has a layout that easier is to navigate and use than the Kyocera Mita KM6330s control panel. The Kyocera Mita KM-6330 control panel utilizes a combination of hard function keys (located in a row above the touch screen) plus the touch screen. Additionally, the Sharp touch screen is clearer, much easier to read and much more attractive in appearance making it easier to use. Sharp has also done an excellent job with the layout of the Sharp AR-651s touch-screen, preferring to keep the basic screen simple, unlike with the Kyocera Mita touch screen, which is somewhat cluttered.

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MAINTENANCE

Adding Toner

Sharp customers need not worry about emptying the toner bottles content. They simply remove the old bottle and replace it with the new one, which remains attached inside the device until it is empty.
Figure 26 Changing the Sharp AR-651s toner cartridge.
Figure 27 Adding toner to the Kyocera Mita KM-6330.

Adding Paper

Figure 28 Adjusting one of the Sharp AR-651s paper trays. Note that the rear guide is not captured and must be removed and reinserted.
Figure 29 - One of the Kyocera Mita KM-6330s paper trays. Note that the rear guide is captured and the user moves it into position within its track.

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Figure 30 The Sharp AR-651s large capacity tray.
Figure 31 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s tandem large capacity tray.

Removing Misfeeds

Figures 32-33 The Sharp AR-651s finisher, fuser and duplex misfeed-location areas.
Figures 34-35 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s finisher, fuser and duplex misfeed-location areas.

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Figure 36 The Sharp AR-651s paper transport misfeed-location area.
Figure 37 The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s paper transport misfeed-location areas.
IATSD On Maintaining the Sharp AR-651: In testing, IATSD found the Sharp AR-651s control panel and touch screen easy to use, as both are uncluttered and simply laid-out. When it came to removing misfeeds and replenishing supplies, IATSD technicians had no difficulty in the tests.

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IMAGE QUALITY
Black Image Quality: The quality of black images produced by the Sharp AR-651 and Kyocera Mita KM-6330 as evaluated by Industry Analysts, Inc. All images were produced under controlled conditions using automatic or default settings. (Note that a denotes that the device has the advantage. In some cases, neither device has the advantage.)

Sharp AR-651

Copier Optical Density Copy Resolution (Minimum line pair reproduced per millimeter [lp/mm]) Printer Resolution (Horizontal/vertical point lines produced) Copier Halftone Reproduction (Moir effect noted in auto mode expressed as line screen/halftone) Minimum Copier Halftone Reproduced (Before White) Maximum Copier Halftone Reproduced (Before Black) Printer Halftone Reproduction (Halftones ranging from 10% to 100% coverage in 10% gradations) Positive/Negative Line Reproduction (Differences in horizontal and vertical line widths when printing 1-6 pt. lines) Positive/Negative Dot Reproduction (Percent of correctly printed 1 and 2 pt. positive/negative dots) Ranking* *Ranked 1 or 2, with 1 being the best.

Advantage

Kyocera Mita KM-6330 1.421 3.5 lp/mm

1.lp/mm

4 pt. 150/20, 30, 50% 133/10, 20, 30% 120/10, 20, 30% 85/5, 10, 20, 30, 50, 90%

130/30%

120 line screen/10% 120 line screen/80% Halftone gradations were even. Positive 1, 2 pt. 1 pixel Negative 1, 2 pt. 2 pixel

85 line screen/5% 85 line screen/90% Halftone gradations were even. Positive 1, 2, 3 pt. 1 pixel Negative 1, 2, 3 pt. 2 pixel
Positive Negative Positive Negative 30% 85% 90% 0%
Positive Negative Positive Negative 90% 30% 100% 0%
IATSD On Maintaining the Sharp AR-651: In testing, IATSD found the Sharp AR-651s image quality superior for copied halftones and the ability to produce copies and prints with fine line work and detail.

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POINTS TO CONSIDER
Its important that your customer understands the differences between the Sharp AR-651 and Kyocera Mita KM-6330, particularly when production capabilities and image quality are important. When competing against this unit, you should be aware of these key considerations:

Product Positioning

Both units are targeted at high-volume printing/copying applications primarily for large workgroups in office environments and to a lesser extent, print-for-pay. Rightfully so, the Kyocera Mita KM-6330s high drum yield will be cited as evidence for its ability to produce high volumes of prints and copies.

Pricing

In comparable configurations (finisher, duplexing and network printing), the Sharp AR651 lists at $27,740, while the Kyocera Mita KM-6330 lists at $26,670 in the same configuration. Consider that Kyocera Mita has historically been a loss leader when it comes to office-product pricing and that the 63-ppm Kyocera Mita KM-6330 is actually a new version of the Kyocera Mita KM-6230 engine.

Drum Yield

The Kyocera Mita KM-6330s amorphous drum has a page yield of 3,600,000 pages, while the Sharp AR-651s OPC drum has a page yield of 440,000 pages. As stated, this will be used as evidence of the Kyocera Mita KM-6330s ability to produce high volumes of prints and copies. In reality, the Preventative Maintenance (PM) schedule of an imaging device is a better indicator of its ability to produce high print and copy volumes.
Optional Document Finishers
Both units may be equipped with optional saddle-stitch booklet makers. The Kyocera Mita KM-6330 can also be equipped with a mailbox/finisher that provides the ability to separate print jobs for individuals or departments.

Maximum Paper Capacity

The Kyocera Mita KM-6330 has a greater maximum paper capacity of 8,100 sheets, versus the Sharp AR-651s maximum paper capacity of 7,100 sheets. This will also be used as evidence that the Kyocera Mita KM-6330 is more suitable for high-volume print and copy applications.
Optional Network Scanning
Both units feature optional scan-to-desktop and scan-to-e-mail. However, the Kyocera Mita KM-6330 cannot send scanned documents to FTP sites.

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Optional Network Printing
Both units feature optional network printing that includes network-printer management software - the Kyocera Mita KM-6330 provides network-printer management software solutions that are developed in house using the expertise of Kyocera. The Sharp AR-651 includes Fiery WebTools from EFI, a highly respected and experienced developer and manufacturer of color and black-and-white print controllers and other digital-imaging technology.

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POINTS TO STRESS
While in some respects, the Kyocera Mita KM-6330 seems to have several advantages; it also has its weaknesses. When competing with the Kyocera Mita KM-6330, stress the following:
RECOMMENDED MONTHLY VOLUME
Sharp rates the AR-651 for production of up to 440,000 pages per month, while Kyocera Mita rates the KM-6330 for up to 300,000 pages per month.

FIRST PAGE OUT TIME

In the tests, the Sharp AR-651 had a considerably faster first page out time than the Kyocera Mita KM-6330 in all copy and print modes (the AR-651 was actually up to 8 ppm faster than the KM-6330 in some instances).

PRODUCTIVITY

In the tests, the Sharp AR-651 was considerably more productive than the Kyocera Mita KM-6330 in all copy and print modes.
In testing, the Sharp AR-651 produced prints and copies that displayed better image quality than those produced by the Kyocera Mita KM-6330, particularly for copies of halftones and fine detail and line work.
The AR-P15 controller includes Fiery WebTools for remotely managing the printer and print jobs. Many users are familiar with the operation of Fiery WebTools that includes utilities for monitoring and managing the printer, print jobs and print-job queues. Fiery WebTools is also compatible with all Fiery-equipped devices on the network: With one of these utilities, Fiery e-Mail Services, the controller automatically sends the administrator an e-mail message alerting them to any device-status conditions that need attention, such as low toner. Additionally, Sharp provides optional document-management software, Sharpdesk, for receiving and viewing scanned documents. Customers also may add Sharps optional Doc2NET, a collaborative electronic-filing system for storing and sharing scanned documents.

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USABILITY
The Sharp AR-651s touch screen reflects is clearer, crisper and easier to read than the Kyocera Mita KM-6330s touch screen. Is also is easier to comprehend because it has a more simple layout.

DOCUMENT FINISHERS

The Sharp AR-651s document finisher has a paper capacity of 4,000 sheets, while the Kyocera Mita KM-6330s document finisher has a maximum paper capacity of 3,000 sheets. The Sharp AR-651s saddle-stitch booklet-maker finisher has a paper capacity of 4,000 sheets, while the Kyocera Mita KM-6330s saddle-stitch booklet finisher has a paper capacity of 3,000 sheets.

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What Kyocera Mita Will Talk About:
The KM-6330 is a 63-ppm digital copier/printer that features robust construction and reliability making it ideal for high-volume copying and printing applications. Tandem copy/print option Produces high-speed copies and prints

What Kyocera Mita Wont Talk About:
Recommended monthly volume is only 300,000 pages, while the Sharp AR651s recommended monthly volume is 440,000 pages.
Tested image quality was inferior to that produced by the Sharp AR-651.
In testing, the Sharp AR-651 was more productive (faster) in printer and copier modes than the KM-6330. The Sharp AR-651s toner cartridge has twice the page yield (60,000 pages) versus the KM-6330s toner-cartridge page yield (30,000 pages). Recommended monthly volume is 300,000 pages, versus the AR-651s recommended monthly volume of 440,000 pages. Service intervals are dictated by maintenance schedule, not drum life. High-speed devices require more powerful controllers. A controller that works well with a 45-ppm device may not be powerful enough to support a 63ppm device. Universal print driver does not have bidirectional communication so that users cannot easily check device status and configuration. The KM-6330s First Page Out Times are slower in all print and copy modes than the AR-651. This means that users will be less productive because they must spend more time at the device for each and every print job.
High-yield toner cartridge
Ideal for high-volume environments
Long-life amorphous drum Home-grown controller is used across the product line and is superior to thirdparty controllers.
Universal print driver is easy to use and is the same for all models and multiple page description languages. Ideal for large workgroups

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FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS
Sharp AR-651 Maximum Monthly Volume Scanning Resolution Gray Scale Standard Memory Power Source Dimensions (H x W x D) Weight SPEED Warm-Up Advertised First Copy Advertised Copy/Print Speed Quantity ORIGINAL COPY SIZE Maximum Original Size Minimum/Maximum Paper Size PAPER CAPACITY Standard Paper Capacity Optional Paper Supply Maximum Paper Capacity Paper Weight REDUCTION/ENLARGMENT Preset Reduction/Enlargement Zoom %/Increments DUPLEXING Capacity Maximum Paper Size FINISHER Total Capacity Staple Capacity SADDLE-STITCH FINISHER Total Capacity Staple Capacity Optional Hole Puncher Optional Post-Process Sheet Inserter NETWORK PRINTING Standard or Optional Proof/Secure/Store Printing PostScript Network Printer-Management Software Job-Accounting Software SCANNING Scan-to-Desktops Scan to-FTP site Scan-to-e-Mail 4,000 sheets 15-sheet booklets Yes Yes Optional Yes Optional Adobe PostScript Level 3 Yes (Fiery WebTools) No Yes Yes Yes 3,000 sheets 16-sheet booklets Yes None Optional Yes Post Script Level 3 Emulation Yes (KM-NET Viewer) No Yes No Yes 440,000 pages Digital 600 dpi* 256 shades 32 MB; 10 GB hard drive 115V, 20A 47.8 x 27 x 30.lbs. 2 minutes 3.2 seconds 65 ppm 1-x 17 5.5 x 8.5/11 x 17 3,100 sheets 4,000 sheets 7,100 sheets 17 lb. to 110 lb. index 5 reduction and 5 enlargement presets 25 to 400% in 1% increments Unlimited 11x 17 4,000 sheets 50 sheets/2 positions ADVANTAGE Kyocera Mita KM-6330 300,000 pages Digital 600 dpi 256 shades 128 MB; 20 GB hard drive 120 V, 12A 46 x 27 x 31.lbs. 2 minutes 3.6 seconds 63 ppm 1-x 17 5.5 x 8.5/11 x 17 4,100 sheets 4,000 sheet 8,100 sheets 16 lb. to 110 lb. index 5 reduction and 5 enlargement presets 25 to 400% in 1% increments Unlimited 11x 17 3,000 sheets 50 sheets/3 position

*Enhanced to 600 x 2,400 dpi.

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Sharp AR-651 FEATURES Auto Paper Select Auto Reduce/Enlarge Auto Start Auto Tray Switching Book Copy Covers Energy Save Erase Center/Border Image Modes Image Repeat Image Rotation Job Build Job Programs Mailbox Margin Adjust OHP Interleaving Scan-Once-Print-Many Stamping YIELDS Drum Yield Toner Yield PM Interval Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Text, Photo, Text/Photo Yes Yes Yes 4 Electronic Yes Yes Yes Yes OPC Drum/440,000 pages Cartridge/60,000 pages 460,000 pages ADVANTAGE Kyocera Mita KM-6330 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Text, Photo, Text/Photo, eco Yes Yes Yes 8 Electronic Yes Yes Yes Yes Amorphous drum/3,600,000 pages Cartridge/30,000 pages 500,000 pages

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AR-651 DIGITAL IMAGER

Versus

ImageRUNNER 6000
Industry Analysts, Inc. Client Report April 2003
This bulletin is intended solely for the use and information of Sharp Electronics, its designated agents and their employees. The information in this guide was obtained by Industry Analysts, Inc. from several different sources that are deemed reliable by all industry standards. To the best of our knowledge, the information is accurate in all respects. However, neither Sharp Electronics, Industry Analysts, Inc., nor any of their agents or employees shall be responsible for any inaccuracies contained herein.
2003 INDUSTRY ANALYSTS, INC.

TEST DATA SUMMARY

Sharp AR-651 Digital Imager Versus Canon imageRUNNER 6000
In an effort to determine the competitive performance of the Sharp AR-651 Digital Imager versus that of the Canon imageRUNNER 6000, Industry Analysts, Inc.s Technical Services Division (IATSD), an independent testing organization, ran a battery of tests. The tests were designed to objectively evaluate the respective performance of the Sharp AR-651 Digital Imager versus that of the Canon imageRUNNER 6000. IATSDs testing of the performance of these digital copier/printers included an evaluation of some or all the following, depending on the devices performance: Network-Interface Installation and Functionality Software Installation Print-Driver Operability and Functionality Software-Utility Operability and Functionality Copier Operability and Functionality Image Quality Network Productivity Printer Productivity Copier Productivity Ease of Operation Ease of Maintenance
Both systems were fully configured and installed on local area networks running Novell Inc.s IntranetWare 4.11 and Microsoft Windows 2000 network operating systems in confidential connectivity test suites in IATSDs facility located in Fairfield, New Jersey.
In terms of performance, the Sharp AR-651s high-quality printer controller facilitates a very
productive network printer with above average remote printer-management capabilities. The AR-651 also features above-average image density, extensive document-finishing options and versatile paper-handling. These capabilities make the Sharp AR-651 a real workhorse that is most suitable for demanding higher-volume copy and print applications. Terry Wirth Director, Industry Analysts, Inc.

industryanalysts.com

Page 3
PRICING AND CONFIGURATION
In testing, the Sharp AR-651 Digital Imager and Canon imageRUNNER 6000 were configured as follows:
Sharp AR-651 Digital Imager
List Price Sharp AR-651..$21,350 Finisher..$2,795 AR-P15 Fiery X3e Print Controller.$3,595 TOTAL $27,740

Canon imageRUNNER 6000

List Price ImageRUNNER 6000.. $21,500 Printer Kit A-2.. $3,350 Finisher F-1.. $3,000 TOTAL $27,850

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PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Copier Productivity: Copies per minute (cpm) when copying a 10-page document. Jobs were timed from the press of the Start button until the complete exit of the copy using the document feeder (when applicable) and default automatic settings. (Note that a denotes that the device has the advantage. In some cases, neither device has the advantage.) Sharp AR-651 Rated Copy Speed Paper Source Paper Feed 65 ppm LCT Long-edge Advantage Simplex First Copy Speed 1 Set Simplex 3 Sets Simplex 5 Sets Simplex 10 Sets Simplex Duplex First Copy Speed 1 Set Simplex to Duplex 3 Sets Simplex to Duplex 5 Sets Simplex to Duplex 10 Sets Simplex to Duplex Simplex Ranking* Simplex to Duplex Ranking*

*On a scale of 1 to 2, with 1 being the best.
Canon imageRUNNER ppm LCT Long-edge
5.63 seconds 40.7 ppm 51.2 ppm 56.0 ppm 60.2 ppm 11.41 seconds 29.6 ppm 46.3 ppm 52.8 ppm 58.3 ppm 1 1
6.8 seconds 29.5 ppm 48.9 ppm 53.0 ppm 56.8 ppm 13.81 seconds 25.3 ppm 42.0 ppm 48.0 ppm 53.9 ppm 2 2

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Network Printer Productivity: Pages Per Minute (ppm) using PCL and a 10page Microsoft Word text document on a Windows 2000 local area network. Tests were performed under controlled conditions using a workstation running Windows 2000 Professional client. Jobs were printed from the application using the latest print drivers and sent over the network to a port installed on a Windows 2000 server. Jobs were timed from the click of the mouse until the complete exit of the print. (Note that a denotes that the device has the advantage. In some cases, neither device has the advantage.) Sharp AR-651 Rated Print Speed Paper Source Paper Feed 65 ppm LCT Long-edge Advantage Simplex First Page Out Speed 1 Set Simplex 3 Sets Simplex 5 Sets Simplex 10 Sets Simplex Duplex First Page Out Speed 1 Set Simplex to Duplex 3 Sets Simplex to Duplex 5 Sets Simplex to Duplex 10 Sets Simplex to Duplex Simplex Ranking* Simplex to Duplex Ranking*
Canon ImageRUNNER ppm LCT Long-edge
8.75 seconds 33.2 ppm 48.3 ppm 54.4 ppm 59.5 ppm 12.23 seconds 27.8 ppm 45.3 ppm 52.1 ppm 57.9 ppm 1 1
11.1 seconds 28.0 ppm 42.9 ppm 49.4 ppm 54.6 ppm 13.75 seconds 23.6 ppm 40.0 ppm 46.4 ppm 52.6 ppm 2 2

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Network Printer Productivity: Pages Per Minute (ppm) using PostScript and a 10-page Microsoft Word text document on a Windows 2000 local area network. Tests were performed under controlled conditions using a workstation running Windows 2000 Professional client. Jobs were printed from the application using the latest print drivers and sent over the network to a port installed on a Windows 2000 server. Jobs were timed from the click of the mouse until the complete exit of the print. (Note that a denotes that the device has the advantage. In some cases, neither device has the advantage.)

Sharp AR-651 Rated Print Speed Paper Source Paper Feed Simplex First Page Out Speed 1 Set Simplex 3 Sets Simplex 5 Sets Simplex 10 Sets Simplex Duplex First Page Out Speed 1 Set Simplex to Duplex 3 Sets Simplex to Duplex 5 Sets Simplex to Duplex 10 Sets Simplex to Duplex Simplex Ranking* Simplex to Duplex Ranking*
Canon ImageRUNNER ppm LCT Long-edge Advantage 13.1 seconds 27.1 ppm 42.5 ppm 48.2 ppm 54.2 ppm 13.1 seconds 23.3 ppm 39.1 ppm 45.6 ppm 52.5 ppm 2 2
65 ppm LCT Long-edge 7.76 seconds 33.2 ppm 48.3 ppm 54.4 ppm 59.5 ppm 7.8 seconds 27.8 ppm 45.3 ppm 52.1 ppm 57.9 ppm 1 1
IATSD On The AR-651s Productivity: The AR-651s outstanding performance as a network printer can be attributed to its fast and consistent printer First Page Out Time (FPOT). When a network printer displays a fast FPOT, this means that the print drivers, software and hardware are working together in a highly efficient manner. Also, the use of PostScript Level 3 that is included with a controller developed by one of the best controller companies in the industry allows the AR651 to achieve a FPOT that is nearly twice as fast as that of the imageRUNNER 6000.
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The following performance highlights represent only a portion of the tests and evaluations that IATSD routinely performs on digital imaging devices. The following comparisons were determined to have strategic relevance for this particular product-performance comparison. Software: Performance of the administration utilities, print drivers and client software. The software provided with the Sharp AR-651 is comparable in scope to that of the Canon imageRUNNER 6000. (Note that a denotes that the device has the advantage. In some cases, neither device has the advantage.) Software Document Management Network Monitoring Sharp AR-651 Sharpdesk Printer Administration Utility (coming soon), Fiery WebTools) Printer Web Page, Fiery WebTools Sharp Composer Fiery WebTools Canon imageRUNNER 6000 eCopy Desktop NetSpot, Remote UI, NetSpot Console NetSpot, Remote UI, Job Monitor Page Composer Remote UI
Device/Job Status Combine Print Jobs Network Setup
Figures 12 - The imageRUNNER 6000s NetSpot Job Monitor software. On the left, the software is indicating that the printer is ready to print, while on the right it is indicating that it is printing a document.

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Figure 3 Canon NetSpot is an executable utility that shows the configuration and status of MIBcompliant network devices.
Figure 4 Canons NetSpot Console is accessible via Web browser and displays status and configuration information for all MIB-compliant devices on the network.

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Figure 5 The imageRUNNER 6000s Remote User Interface (UI) software utility, which is accessed by entering the printers IP address in the address field of a standard Web browser. Above, Remote UI is indicating the devices current status.
Figure 6 The imageRUNNER 6000s Remote User Interface (UI) Status Screen that shows installed paper types and levels.

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Figure 7 The AR-651 controller includes Fiery WebTools for job and printer management and monitoring.
While much is made about Canons NetSpot Suite of printer-management software, the Sharp AR-651 includes the Fiery WebTools software suite that allows for advanced network monitoring and management using only a standard Web browser. Additionally, Fiery WebTools does not require that any additional software be installed on workstations or network servers.

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IMAGE QUALITY
Image Quality: The quality of the images produced by the Sharp AR-651 as evaluated by Industry Analysts, Inc. All images were produced under controlled conditions using automatic or default settings. (Note that denotes that the device has the advantage. In some cases, neither device has the advantage.)
Sharp AR-651 Copier Optical Density Copy Resolution (Minimum line pair reproduced per millimeter [lp/mm]) Printer Resolution (Horizontal/vertical point lines produced) Copier Halftone Reproduction (Moir effect noted in auto mode expressed as line screen/halftone) Minimum Copier Halftone Reproduced (Before White) Maximum Copier Halftone Reproduced (Before Black) Printer Halftone Reproduction (Halftones ranging from 10% to 100% coverage in 10% gradations) Positive/Negative Line Reproduction (Differences in horizontal and vertical line widths when printing 1-6 pt. lines) Positive /Negative Dot Reproduction (Percent of correctly printed 1 and 2 pt. positive/negative dots) Ranking* **Ranked 1 or 2, with 1 being the best. 1.lp/mm --Advantage Canon imageRUNNER 6000 1.lp/mm

130/30%

150/10, 20, 30 133/10, 30 120/10, 20, 30
120 line screen/10% 120 line screen/80%
133 line screen/5% 133 line screen/95%
Halftone gradations were even. Positive 1, 2 pt. 1 pixel 100% 0% Negative 1, 2 pt. 2 pixel 100% 10%
Halftone gradations were even.
Positive and negative line widths were the same for lines of all point sizes. 1 pixel 80% 2 pixel
Positive Negative Positive Negative

50% 100% 20%

IATSD on the Sharp AR-651s Image Quality: While it is may not be apparent from the sideby-side test data shown above, both devices provide image quality that is acceptable for nearly any black-and-white imaging application. In general, the AR-651 delivered slightly better copies and the imageRUNNER 6000 delivered slightly better prints.

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PRINT DRIVERS

The AR-651s optional printer controller includes PCL 6 and Adobe PostScript Level 3 print drivers. While Canons PostScript 3 print driver is aesthetically pleasing, customers should understand that they are getting a Canon-developed PostScript clone.
Figure 5 The Canon imageRUNNER 6000s PCL 6 print driver. Note that duplex and stapling options are on the second (Finishing) tab.
Figure 6 - The Canon imageRUNNER 6000s PostScript print driver. Note that the user interface is the same for both print drivers. industryanalysts.com Page 13
Figure 7 The AR-651s PCL 6 print driver (first tab). Note that the most frequently used features such as paper size, source, number of copies and duplexing are conveniently located on this first tab.
Figure 8 The AR-651s PostScript Level 3 print driver; above is the first tab. Note that the user interface is the same for both print drivers. industryanalysts.com Page 14

USER INTERFACE

At first glance the imageRUNNER 6000s touch screen appears easy to use. However, in order to select paper sizes, duplex or finishing, users must contend with layers of menus and read and respond to various prompts. On the other hand, with the Sharp AR-651, basic copy functions are clearly labeled and easy to find.
Figures 8-9 On the left, the Sharp AR-651s main touch screen. Note that the user can select sources by touching them on the graphic display of the device. On the right, the user has selected the LT-R tray and its paper level is shown on the upper right corner of the touch screen.
Figures 9-10 The Canon imageRUNNER 6000s touch screen. On the left is the main touch screen. On the right is the Paper Select Menu.
At first glance, it appears that both the Sharp AR-651 and the Canon imageRUNNER 6000s touch screens are easy to understand and use. However, a closer examination reveals that in roughly the same screen area, the AR-651 features larger (easier-to-use) keys, includes both text and icons for ease of use, and features a graphic display of the device.

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SUPPLY MAINTENANCE

Changing the Canon imageRUNNER 6000s toner has the potential to be a messy job, especially for those who dont do it regularly. First, the user removes the old toner bottle, and then attaches the new toner bottle. Next, the user empties the toner into the device. Finally, the user removes the empty bottle once the all of the toner has been dumped into the toner hopper. If the customer prematurely removes the bottle, toner may be wasted or spilled on the floor, the device or the user. Sharp customers need not worry about emptying the toner bottles content. They simply remove the old bottle and replace it with the new one, which remains attached inside the device until it is empty.
Figure 11 Replacing the AR-651s toner.
Figures 12-14 Replacing the imageRUNNER 6000s toner. On the left, the user first removes the old toner bottle. In the center, the user has affixed the new toner bottle. On the right, the user pulls open the seal, which allows the toner to dump into the toner hopper. industryanalysts.com Page 16

POINTS TO CONSIDER

In order to protect the installed base of the more expensive and ruggedly constructed imageRUNNER 600 models, Canon took care to position the 60-ppm Canon imageRUNNER 6000 as a workgroup device, designed to meet mid- to high-volume printing, scanning and copying needs. Although the imageRUNNER 6000 has its advantages, when compared to the Sharp AR-651, it also has several weaknesses. While Canon stresses the imageRUNNER 6000s image quality and document-workflow capabilities, the Sharp sales executive should stress the following: Page Volume The Sharp AR-651 features a recommended monthly volume of up to 460,000 pages, while the Canon imageRUNNER 6000 has a recommended monthly volume of up to 230,000 pages. Consumables/Maintenance The Sharp AR-651 toner bottle yields 60,100 pages, 45 percent more than the imageRUNNER 6000s toner bottle. The Sharp AR-651s photoconductor yield was designed around preventive maintenance volume bands. This means that drum replacement will not result in an additional service call, as it is scheduled to be changed during preventative maintenance. The imageRUNNER 6000 is more likely than not going to need several service calls before it reaches its drum yield of 3,000,000 pages. Furthermore, if the drum is included in your customers service contract, is the yield really that critical? Document Finishing The Sharp AR-651s optional finisher offers greater paper capacity 4,000 sheets versus the Canon units 2,000 sheets The Sharp AR-651 may be equipped with an optional post-sheet inserter that can be used with either finisher, allowing customers to insert color documents on paper stock as thick as 140 lb. index. Network Scanning The AR-651 may be equipped with Sharps Sharpdesk software for viewing, managing, and saving scanned images at the computer desktop using easy-to-use thumbnails and a convenient drag-and-drop approach. The AR-651s Fiery WebTools Remote Scan enables users to retrieve scanned documents stored in the controllers memory. Scanned images may then be printed, emailed, imported into application, etc. This is an extremely cost-effective and easy-toimplement network-scanning solution. With the Canon imageRUNNER 6000, the customer must add the eCopy ScanStation ($6,995) in order to enable network scanning, including scan-to-e-mail, scan-to-folder,

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scan-to-fax, etc. The included eCopy Desktop document-management software is used for viewing and managing received scanned documents (including OCR software for converting scanned documents into editable formats such as Microsoft Word). With the eCopy ScanStation solution, users can add network authentication and security, and compatibility with LDAP and SMTP, neither of which are offered by the AR-651. With LDAP compatibility, network administrators may conveniently link to the networks e-mail address book. This eliminates the time-consuming task of entering the network e-mail address book at the control panel. It also means that new network e-mail addresses are automatically added to the device. Note, however, that the addition of the eCopy ScanStation requires an investment of approximately $7,000 per imaging engine.

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POINTS TO STRESS
When you find yourself competing with the Canon imageRUNNER 6000, stress the following points: The Sharp AR-651 is less expensive than a comparably equipped Canon imageRUNNER 6000. In testing, the Sharp AR-651 was more productive as a network printer than the Canon imageRUNNER 6000. This means that the Sharp units print drivers, print controller and print engine are operating in a more efficient manner. The Sharp AR-651 features a recommended monthly volume of up to 460,000 pages, while the Canon imageRUNNER 6000 has a recommended monthly volume of half that at 230,000 pages. The Sharp AR-651 may be equipped with an optional saddle-stitch finisher as well as a postprocess document inserter that supports media as thick as 140 lb. index for producing bound, professional-quality booklets. Although the Canon imageRUNNER 6000 offers a saddlestitch finisher as an option, it has no document inserter accessory. The Sharp AR-651s embedded controller is made by Electronics for Imaging, one of the most highly regarded controller designers in the industry. The AR-651 may be equipped with Sharps Sharpdesk software for viewing, managing, and saving scanned images at the computer desktop using easy-to-use thumbnails and a convenient drag-and-drop approach. The Sharp AR-651 provides Fiery WebTools, a high-quality suite of software that runs in the window of a standard Web browser. No additional software needs to be installed on servers or workstations in order to monitor and manage the device in a highly efficient manner.

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What Canon Will Talk About: The imageRUNNER 6000 is a fast, 60-ppm high-volume digital copier/printer NetSpot Suite network-printer management software High-volume production-printing applications
What Canon Wont Talk About: In testing, the Sharp AR-651 was more productive than the imageRUNNER 6000 in both print and copy modes. Included Fiery WebTools require no software installation on the client or network servers. Recommended monthly volume (230,000 pages) is half that of the Sharp AR-651 (460,000 pages) Less efficient printer productivity Less efficient copier productivity The AR-651can run almost twice as long as the imageRUNNER 6000 before users must add toner More expensive than a comparably equipped Sharp AR-651
Amorphous silicon drum yields up to 3,000,000 pages Higher standard paper capacity (4,100-sheets) eCopy Desktop software
SharpDesk offers a richer set of features and has unlimited user licenses (eCopy Desktop includes only 10 user licenses) The Sharp AR-651s included software offers similar functionality. eCopy ScanStation is a $6,995 option per MFP.
NetSpot Suite network-printer management software Optional eCopy ScanStation network-scanning solution provides LDAP compatibility and network authentication.

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Maximum Monthly Volume Scanning Resolution Gray Scale Standard Memory Power Source Dimensions (HxWxD) Weight SPEED Warm-Up First Copy Rated Copy/Print Speed Quantity ORIGINAL COPY SIZE Maximum Original Size Minimum/Maximum Copy Size PAPER CAPACITY Standard Paper Capacity Stack Bypass Optional Paper Supply Paper Weight Maximum Paper Capacity REDUCTION/ENLARGMENT Preset Reduction/Enlargement Zoom %/Increments DUPLEXING Capacity Maximum Paper Size FINISHER Total Capacity Staple Capacity/Positions SADDLE-STITCH FINISHER Total Capacity Staple Capacity Optional Hole Puncher Post-Process Inserter Capacity SCANNING Scan-to-Desktop Scan-to-FTP Site Scan-to-e-mail *Enhanced to 600 x 2,400 dpi.
Sharp AR-651 460,000 pages Digital 600 dpi* 256 shades 32 MB; 10 GB hard drive 110V, 15A 47.8 x 27.48 x 30.lbs. 2 minutes 3.2 seconds 65 ppm 1-x 17 5.5 x 8.5/11 x x 500-sheet trays; 2 x 2,500-sheet trays 100 sheets 4,000-sheet paper deck 17 to 110 lb. index 7,600 sheets 5 reduction and 5 enlargement presets 25 to 400% in 1% increments Unlimited 11 x 17 4,000 sheets 50 sheets/2 positions 4,000 sheets 15 sheets Yes 100 sheets Yes Yes Yes

ADVANTAGE

Canon imageRUNNER 6000 230,000 pages Digital 600 dpi 256 shades 128 MB copier memory; 5.1 GB hard drive 115 V, 15 A 44.75 x 25.5 x 29.lbs. 5 minutes 3.8 seconds 60 ppm 1-999
11 x 17 4-1/8 x 5-7/8 11xx 550-sheet trays; 2 x 1,500-sheet trays 100 sheets 3,500-sheet tray 17 to 110 lb. index 7,700 sheets 5 reduction and 4 enlargement presets 25 to 400% in 1% increments Unlimited 11 x 17
2,000 sheets 50 sheets/2 positions 2,300-sheets 15 sheets Yes

None Yes Yes Yes

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2003 INDUSTRY ANALYSTS, INC. Sharp AR-651 Network Printing Standard or Optional FEATURES Auto Image Rotation Auto Paper Select Auto Reduce/Enlarge Auto Start Auto Tray Switching Book Copy Centering Combine Originals Covers Double Copy Erase Center/Border Image Modes Image Repeat Image Rotation Job Build Job Program Mailbox Unit Margin Adjust OHP Slip Sheet Proof/Secure/Store Printing Scan-Once-Print-Many Stamping YIELDS Drum Type/Yield Optional Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Text, Photo, Text/Photo Yes Yes Yes 4 Electronic Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes OPC Drum/460,000 Pages Canon imageRUNNER 6000 Optional Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Text, Photo, Text & Photo Yes Yes Yes 9 Electronic Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Amorphous silicon/3,000,000 pages Bottle/33,000 Pages Cartridge/60,100 Pages Toner Packaging/Yield This bulletin is intended solely for the use and information of Sharp Electronics, its designated agents and their employees. The information in this guide was obtained by Industry Analysts, Inc. from several different sources that are deemed reliable by all industry standards. To the best of our knowledge, the information is accurate in all respects. However, neither Sharp Electronics, Industry Analysts, Inc., nor any of their agents or employees shall be responsible for any inaccuracies contained herein.

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