Panasonic DP-C401 User Manual

Digital Multifunctional Device

Dry Toner

Electrostatic Imaging

WORKiO DP-C401

October 2003

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Panasonic WORKiO DP-C401 is a black-and-white and color digital
copier/printer designed for the general office. As such, the unit competes against
the Canon imageRUNNER 2050 and 2058, Ricoh Aficio CL7000CMF. Minolta
CF2002 and CF1501, and Sharp AR-C150/2C50.

As with these competitive units, the DP-C401 is also targeted at replacing
multiple desktop color printers. The unit features an embedded Xerox controller
that is based on a Power PC processor, and provides “RIP-while-print,” printing
while receiving new data, and printing while scanning hard copy, making it
especially useful for shared workgroup use.

VENDOR PRODUCT-POSITIONING STATEMENT

(EDITOR’S NOTE: The information contained in the Vendor Product Positioning
Statement below was provided by the product vendor before the results of the test were
released. It is not intended to serve as a response to the results of the Critical Test
Report.)

CRITICAL

TEST REPORT©

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Vendor Background

Panasonic Communications

& Systems Company

Two Panasonic Way

Secaucus, New Jersey

[phone]

http://www.panasonic.com

Panasonic WORKio DP-C401

Specs-At-A-Glance

Rec. MPV. .......... 21,000 pages

Print Speed..... 22/40 color ppm

Max. Paper Size ...........12”x19”

Max. Resolution......... 1200 dpi

Std. Paper Cap.... 3,140 sheets

Max. Paper Cap... 3,140 sheets
Paper Weights . 16lb. bond -110

lb. index
Color Output/

Scanning ..................Yes/Yes

Std. RAM .......................512MB

Hard Disk........................ 10 GB

Network Scanning ..............Yes

“The WORKiO DP-C401 is the quintessential ‘multi-functional color product.’
It is for those who work in both a color and black-and-white work environment.
Its outstanding color quality and performance doesn’t compromise its 40-ppm
monochrome MFP performance, including an outstanding First Copy Out Time,
warm-up time, copy and print productivity. Its black and white output is superior
to that of many monochrome-only devices on the market today. Incredible
output quality is matched by its powerful standard configuration. The DP-C401
is a standard printer, scanner, copier with maximum paper supply, memory and
accessories. Indeed, only two options are available - a multi-position stapler and
scan-to-e-mail option. It is the complete MFP for today's work environment.”

Panasonic Corporation.

–

Tested Configuration

(List Pricing)

WORKiO DP-C401 .....$26,750*

Finisher.......................... $4,395

Total............................ $31,145

*Includes network printing and

scanning, 2,000-sheet LCT and

duplexing

Other Available Options

Token Ring Interface ........ $595

Foreign Interface Kit ......... $150

Industry Analysts, Inc.

Technical Services Division

1275 Bloomfield Avenue

Building 3, Suite 50-C

Fairfield, New Jersey 07004

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

www.industryanalysts.com

IATSD Critical Test Report – Panasonic WORKio DP-C401 Page 2

DEVICE OVERVIEW

ENGINE

Panasonic Rated Speed ....................22 (color)/40 ppm Color scan-to-file ................................................... Yes*

Rated FPOT............................ 10.1 (color)/6.8 seconds Scan-to-e-mail .......................................................... No

Resolution....................................................... 1,200 dpi Scan-to-FTP-site .....................................................Yes

Rec. Monthly Volume...............................21,000 pages Scan-to-desktop ...................................................Yes**

PAPER CAPACITIES

Std. Supply ............................................... 3,140 sheets

Sizes .............................................. 5.5” x 8.5”-12” x 19”

Paper Weights ......................16 lb. bond - 28 lbs. index

(bypass: 16 lb bond - 110 lbs. index)

Paper Trays .......................2x500 sheets, 2,000 sheets

Optional High Capacity Feeder............................. None

Max. Supply. .........................................................3,140

Bypass ......................................................... 100 sheets

MINIMUM/MAXIMUM INPUT CAPACITIES

DADF ............................................................. 50 sheets

Panasonic Rated DADF Speed .........................31 ppm

DADF Original Size.......................................... 11”x 17”

Scanner Resolution............................................600 dpi

SCANNING FEATURES

Scan-to-Internet fax.................................................. No

Scan-to-fax ............................................................... No

QWERTY-style keypad............................................. No

Authenticated e-mail................................................. No

LDAP-compatible...................................................... No

*JPEG or TIFF format.
**Users must scan documents to Internet Services’

mailboxes, and then retrieve them using the Internet
Services printer Web page.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY FEATURES

• Standard scanning to the user mailboxes contained
within the unit’s memory.

• Full bleed tabloid-size paper capability (prints
images up to 11.7” x 18.8” images on paper up to
12” x 19”)

OUTPUT CAPACITIES

Optional Finisher ...................................... 1,000 sheets

Offsetting Catch Tray .............................................. Yes

Stapling........................................ 50 sheets/3 positions

COPIER FEATURES

Hard Drive......................................................... 512 MB

Scan-Once-Print-Many ........................................... Yes

Electronic Collation ................................................. Yes

NETWORK PRINTING

Controller ................................................Power PC 750

Printer RAM ...................................................... 512 MB

Interface.....................................10/100BaseT Ethernet

Supported NOS .................................. Windows 95, 98,

NT 4., 2000, XP; Mac OS 9.x

Print Drivers ......................PCL 5e, PCL 6, Adobe PS 3

SOFTWARE

• Internet Services (printer Web home page)

• Network Scanner Utility

OTHER CONFIGURATIONS

• None

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND POWER

Height ....................................................................45.1”

Width ..................................................................... 26.2”

Depth.....................................................................30.7”

Weight .............................................................. 383 lbs.

Power ............ 115V, 60Hz 15A (115v), 10A (220/240v)

Dedicated Outlet...................................................... Yes

SOLD THROUGH

Authorized Panasonic dealers and branches

 2003 • INDUSTRY ANALYSTS, INC.

IATSD Critical Test Report – Panasonic WORKio DP-C401 Page 3

IMAGE QUALITY

Image-quality samples were produced using a variety of applications. Image quality was measured from images
produced using the default automatic settings.

Black Output Color Output

Copier Optical Density

Copy Resolution - (Minimum line

pair reproduced per millimeter
[lp/mm])

Printer Resolution ­(Horizontal/vertical point lines
produced)

Copier Halftone Reproduction ­(Moiré 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 -

(Using an original with halftones
ranging from 10% to 100%
coverage in 10% gradations)

85/80, 50, 30, 20, 10%

85 line screen/10% 150 line screen/5%

85 line screen/95% 85 line screen/95%

Halftone gradations were even. Halftone gradations were even.

1.374 1.418*

6 lp/mm 4 lp/mm

3 pt.

Panasonic WORKiO DP-C401

C Y M K

4 pt. 4 pt. 4 pt. 4 pt.

150/30, 20%
133/50, 20%
120/30, 20%

Positive/Negative Line
Reproduction - (Discernable

differences between line widths
when printed in widths ranging
from 1 - 6 pts.)

Positive/ Negative Dot
Reproduction - (Percent of

correctly printed 1 and 2 pixel
positive/negative dots)

There were no discernable differences

between the horizontal and vertical widths

of the negative and positive lines.

1 Pixel 2 Pixel 1 Pixel 2 Pixel

Positive

100%

Negative

0%

Positive

100%

Negative

50%

Positive

1, 2, 3 pt.

Positive

100%

Negative

100%

Negative

1, 2, 3 pt.

Positive

100%

Negative

50%

*Process black – Image Density

Image-Quality Discussion

In testing, the Panasonic WORKiO DP-C401 produced above-average black-and-white image quality. The device
also produced color image quality that was somewhat better than that produced by other workgroup color devices
tested to date by IATSD. Note that because there is no fuser oil, prints are less shiny, and are more matte in finish
when compared to prints produced by some other color laser-imaging devices.

 2003 • INDUSTRY ANALYSTS, INC.

IATSD Critical Test Report – Panasonic WORKio DP-C401 Page 4

NETWORK-PRINTER PRODUCTIVITY

IATSD determined printer productivity using its controlled Windows 2000 local area network with a Windows
2000 Professional client. Since printer productivity involves many minor variables (such as network
hardware/software throughput efficiency, network-queue polling times, network-server processing power and
computer-workstation processing power), the printer-productivity test results below may be difficult to replicate.
Productivity tests were performed using a 10-page Microsoft Word text document. Timings were performed using
default printer settings, and timing began from the “click of the mouse” until the complete exit of the print.

Paper Source/Feed/Output

Advertised Print Speed

Panasonic WORKiO DP-C401

Tray 1/Long-edge/Finisher

40 ppm (black-and-white)

Print Driver PCL 6 PostScript Level 3

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

12.2 seconds 9.3 seconds

12.0 ppm 26.2 ppm

22.0 ppm 33.9 ppm

27.0 ppm 35.1 ppm

32.5 ppm 35.4 ppm

25.2 seconds 14.0 seconds

10.6 ppm 21.2 ppm

19.1 ppm 27.2 ppm

22.7 ppm 28.9 ppm

26.5 ppm 29.0 ppm

IATSD “Snapshot” of Competitive Productivity Test Results

In the chart below, the Panasonic WORKiO DP-C401’s black-and-white printer productivity is compared to the
black-and-white productivity of another color imaging device tested by IATSD, one rated at 38 ppm by its
manufacturer in black-and-white mode.

As can be seen, the Panasonic DP-C401 was faster that the other unit in simplex and duplex PostScript modes (it
also had faster First Page Out Times in PostScript mode), while the other unit was faster in PCL mode.

PCL Simplex (Sets) PCL Duplex (Sets) PostScript Simplex (Sets) PostScript Duplex (Sets)

ppm FPOT* 1 3 5 10 FPOT* 1 3 5 10 FPOT* 1 3 5 10 FPOT* 1 3 5 10

38 11.44 23.8 31.9 34.1 36.0 18.99 19.0 28.4 31.6 34.4 12.69 21.9 30.9 33.5 35.8 21.31 18.0 26.0 31.6 33.4

40** 12.20 12.0 22.0 27.0 32.5 25.16 10.6 19.1 22.7 26.5 9.30 26.2 33.9 35.1 35.4 14.00 21.2 27.2 28.9 29.0

*FPOT = First Page Out Time (seconds).
**Panasonic WORKiO DP-C401 test results.

 2003 • INDUSTRY ANALYSTS, INC.

IATSD Critical Test Report – Panasonic WORKio DP-C401 Page 5

COPIER PRODUCTIVITY

Black-and-white copy jobs were timed from the press of the “Start” button until the complete exit of the copy
using a 10-page original, the document feeder and default automatic settings.

WORKiO DP-C401

Paper Source/Feed/Output Tray 1/Long-edge/Finisher

Advertised Print Speed 40 ppm (black-and-white)

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

10.1 seconds

19.4 ppm

27.7 ppm

28.6 ppm

29.9 ppm

15.6 seconds

19.0 ppm

26.2 ppm

27.2 ppm

10 Sets Simplex to Duplex

28.1 ppm

IATSD “Snapshot” of Competitive Productivity Test Results

In the chart below, the 40-ppm WORKiO DP-C401’s black-and-white copier productivity is compared to that of
another color device tested by IATSD, one rated at 38 ppm in black-and-white by its manufacturer.

As may be seen, the WORKiO DP-C401 was faster than the other unit in duplex mode, but slower in simplex
mode.

Simplex Copies (Sets) Duplex Copies (Sets)

ppm FCOT* 1 3 5 10 FCOT* 1 3 5 10

38 8.6 26.0 33.3 35.3 36.9 17.3 18.7 23.5 24.8 26.2

40** 10.1 19.4 27.7 28.6 29.9 15.6 19.0 26.2 27.2 28.1

*First Copy Out Time = FCOT (seconds).
**Panasonic WORKiO DP-C401 test results.

 2003 • INDUSTRY ANALYSTS, INC.

IATSD Critical Test Report – Panasonic WORKio DP-C401 Page 6

Color Versus Black-and-White Productivity Comparison

In order to compare the differences in print speed between color and black-and-white output, IATSD made copies
of a full-color, 10-page MS PowerPoint presentation with a solid background. Tray 1, which was configured for 8­1/2” x 11” long-edge feeding, was used as the paper source. Copies were output to the center tray.

Black Output Color Output Color/Black & White

Differential (%)

First Copy Out Time 10.05 seconds 15.49 seconds

1 Set Simplex 31.52 seconds 40.06 seconds

54.13%

27.09%

Productivity Discussion

Interestingly, when printing black-and-white output, the unit was considerably more productive in Adobe
PostScript mode, than in PCL mode in testing (usually it is the opposite). First Page Out Times for both simplex
and duplex were also faster in PostScript mode. Indeed, the unit was more productive in Adobe PostScript 3 mode
than it was in copier mode.

In both printer and copier modes, the unit was from 27 to 36 percent slower printing a 10-page document
containing spot color than when printing black-and-white output.

First Page Out Time in both copy and print modes was faster than most workgroup color MFPs and was as fast (or
faster) than that of many tested black-and-white imaging devices.

 2003 • INDUSTRY ANALYSTS, INC.

IATSD Critical Test Report – Panasonic WORKio DP-C401 Page 7

PRINT DRIVERS

The Panasonic WORKiO DP-C401 is equipped with PCL 6 and Adobe PostScript Level 3 print drivers.

Figures 1-2 – The Panasonic WORKiO DP-C401’s PCL 6 print driver. On the top is the “Paper/Output” (main) tab that

contains most programming options. On the bottom is the “User Settings” tab where users can store and recall the print

settings used for commonly printed jobs.

 2003 • INDUSTRY ANALYSTS, INC.