Konica Minolta Pagepro 9100N

WHAT'S HOT: The PagePro 9100 N can print on tabloid-size (11-by-17-inch) paper, an essential tool for getting an overview of spreadsheets or preliminary layouts and page designs. It comes with 64MB of memory, built-in ethernet, a 500-sheet paper drawer, and a 200-sheet auxiliary feed. Offices with complex printing needs can fine-tune paper handling with add-ons, including up to three 500-sheet trays ($329 each), a four-bin mailbox for routing print jobs to separate user bins ($749), and a duplexer ($449). The PagePro 9100 N prints text at an impressive 16.7 pages per minute, making it the fastest model on the corporate chart at printing text. Its $1499 price is lower than those of several models on the corporate chart capable of handling only the more conventional paper sizes. The PagePro 9100 N didn't stint on print quality, either: We liked the tight, clean text and even lines it produced in our test documents.

WHAT'S NOT: Minolta-QMS's printed documentation comes in too many pieces and tends to use illustrations in lieu of complete text explanations (the on-screen documentation is much better, however, and includes QuickTime videos on use and maintenance). The printer needs an optional internal hard drive to perform some special tasks that other printers can handle without storage, such as printing a single proof page before running a whole job, password-protecting print jobs, and superimposing external images (such as a logo or form template) on a page. The PagePro 9100 N prints graphics slower than most other corporate lasers, at 2.9 ppm.

WHAT ELSE: At first glance the PagePro 9100 N's control panel might seem confusing, with hieroglyphic icons next to text labels, and with some buttons designated for specific functions while others run the LCD menus. But once you turn the printer on and the LCD lights up, the control panel makes sense. The PagePro 9100 N weighs almost 70 pounds, which is hefty even for a machine that handles tabloid-size paper. It has a big footprint, too, at 21 inches wide and 22 inches deep. Fortunately, Minolta-QMS put the power switch on the front face, where it's easy to reach, and built in sturdy hand grips for moving the beast.

UPSHOT: Good speed, quality, and versatility, along with a reasonable price, make the PagePro 9100 a great deal for oversize printing needs.

SUMMARY

Minolta-QMS PagePro 9100 N Rated 35 ppm, standard 64MB RAM, 600-by-600-dpi maximum resolution, 700 sheets input, 500 output. $1499 800/523-2696 www.minolta-qms.com