Konica c6501 vs Xerox docucolor 260

[ginfay]

I'm considering upgrading my current km c500 to either a 6501 or a 260. I've been through most of the threads and have not seen this comparison -- although there's been a lot of mention of both machines. From speaking to other folks in the industry, I am leaning toward the 6501. Any thoughts?

[random]

the comparison machine for the c6501 is the xerox 700. If you have got along so far running a c500 kudos to you. The c6500 is twice the machine the c500 ever was.

[X33]

take a look at either the Xerox DocuColor 260 or 700 ... probably quality to the naked eye is going to be very comparable between the 3 units (of course, depending on what you are printing), so your decision might come out based on technology, uptime, realiability, service, maintenance and obviously cost.

I agree with random, "the c6500 is twice the machine the c500 ever was", in size ... but I think it still has the same old print engine technology (please correct me if I'm wrong)

[ginfay]

I never looked into the xerox 700. My guess is that it's out of my price range. The km c6501 was very reasonable. Although the cost I got for the xerox 260 was still about $200 less per month. I've been fairly happy with the c500 so I'm leaning toward the c6501.

The c6501 I priced out includes the embedded EFI fiery. Are there any "must have" options I should add to that fiery? like spectro photometer, color wise, ???

[Mark]

The Creo rip is supposedly "better" than the Firey, so the Firey must just explode when you use it because I can't imagine worse than the Creo.
Unless you're doing Kinkos kind of work, then I'm sure it rocks.

[lfelton]

260 is a brilliant piece of kit for the money, we put a million clicks on one in a year with minimal break downs. Disadvantages are front to back registration, it does not like duplexing coated stock and you get curly sheets (depending on stock, toner coverage).

6501 is really a product range, not a product and it sounds like you have spec'ed a fairly basic product so you probably won't get the air seperators, pre-heaters, decurler, RIP functionality etc. etc. of something like a 6501e system 7 (which is more expensive than a 700). If you post the model, someone might be able to comment in more detail, but I would guess that the sheets would be flatter and you would probably get better ftb registration. I can't comment on reliability as we only just finished the training late this afternoon and have only put a couple of thousand clicks on it since then. So far so good...

Fiery exploding?? I hope not as we specified the IC-305 with all the bells and whistles...

[random]

take a look at either the Xerox DocuColor 260 or 700 ... probably quality to the naked eye is going to be very comparable between the 3 units (of course, depending on what you are printing), so your decision might come out based on technology, uptime, realiability, service, maintenance and obviously cost.

I agree with random, "the c6500 is twice the machine the c500 ever was", in size ... but I think it still has the same old print engine technology (please correct me if I'm wrong)

Well your wrong, unless you think the 2060 and DC5000 is same old print engine i.e 4 drums, devs and transfer belt putting marks on paper. With this theory of being the same then you are basically saying in your comment that the 260 and 700 print very similar to a c500. C500 owners rejoice!

The creo and Fiery rips each have their strengths and weaknesses. Here are a couple….

Fiery –
Media guide lets you chose which pages are black and white or color.
If you have an ES-1000 custom spot colors are a piece of cake.
Superior color management.
Freeform
Expensive to match the creo spec.

Creo –
Possibly the best imposition available.
RGB and CMYK protection.
Comes with everything, spectro, screen etc.
REALLY easy gui

Both have virtual printers so really freeform is the only outstanding thing out of the box as a rip. The full spec Fiery in my mind is better than the creo as you can export impositions and a few other things the creo won’t do. But this comes at a cost so bang for you buck is the creo. They seem to add more and more features with upgrades so maybe things like freeform may become available. Imposition is done on the video board of the creo so the impo export probably won’t happen. But you will all have this ability anyway I would say.

You could run a business with the embedded Fiery but I wouldn’t. If at all possible try and stretch for the creo.

If you are going to run lots of heavy stocks then you must atleast have a large capacity tray. The bypass is like a appendix, it doesn’t do anything but evolution has left it there.

[Craig]

Well said Random!

[Mark]

If you are going to run lots of heavy stocks then you must atleast have a large capacity tray. The bypass is like a appendix, it doesn’t do anything but evolution has left it there.

I keep hearing that the bypass tray is the only way to reliably print envelopes on the KM6500.
But our appendix was taken out before the printer arrived, so I can't confirm that.

Be sure that your Konica repair guy is nice since you'll see him almost every week.

[random]

Mark,

I take it must have a c6500? Out of interest what is your monthly volumes?