Evaluating wide-format laser MFPs 25
Evaluation
Total cost of ownership is more than just purchase price and cost per page. To calculate the true TCO,
consider the following factors:
• Initial purchase price, including enough memory to print complex documents at the highest print quality
mode, network accessories, additional paper-handling accessories, and any other accessories or
upgrade packages needed.
Note To ensure accurate comparisons between products, be sure to compare street prices (or what you
would actually pay) instead of list prices.
• Warranty and service costs.
• Energy consumption costs. (Some manufacturers require you to choose between fast warm-up times and
energy efficiency, while HP offers both.)
• User productivity costs. (How easy is it to learn to use the product? How easy is it to print and process
your documents correctly?)
• Special paper costs. (Does the product require special paper?)
• Supplies costs. (Do you have to purchase a starter kit? Does the product come with demonstration
supplies that have a reduced life? What does it cost, in both expense and downtime, to replace
supplies?)
• Cost of security risks.
• Cost per page.
It is difficult for end-users to calculate the cost per page due to many variables. When assessing cost per
page, keep the following in mind:
• Make sure the cost per page associated with a product’s print sample represents that sample. Some
manufacturers may quote the cost of printing in a draft mode when the sample they give you is
printed in their best mode, which requires more toner.
• Make sure all the supplies are included in the cost per page calculation and not hidden as service
items. Also, remember that supplies used during routine cleaning and warm-up cycles are not always
included in the supplies’ yields, which directly affects costs.
• Watch for other hidden costs (such as unusable output, which wastes toner).
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