MAY 2008 Sharp’s “Next Frontier” – Sharp’s years of apologizing for gaps in its product line are over. Its A3 MFPs are impressive, the new A4 line will challenge competitors, and the latest OSA release is at the forefront of the industry. Sharp has its works cut out to become “the biggest and best,” but it now has the tools. Xerox Moves on Mono – While Xerox has beefed up its offerings on the lower end of its B&W product line, the most significant news is the addition of more models at both ends that support the EIP software platform. Xerox now has a B&W model under $6,000 that supports EIP, and has also added EIP support on machines that scan at up to 100 ppm and print at up to 125 ppm. “Solution Secrets and Silos” – Most vendors fall into one of two camps when it comes to sharing information on MFP solutions. Most disappointing are those who treat such information as if the stuff were a state secret. The prevailing alternative is to provide certain information on one topic or the other but relegate the content to an esoteric silo that’s easy to overlook in the normal course of MFP shopping.

	APRIL 2008 HP Bolsters Color and Software for Business MFP Line – HP’s latest enterprise printing announcements focused on a new series of ledger-size color MFPs and the company’s hard-to-pin-down “OXP” software platform. While both have lots to recommend them to customers, we go the extra mile to figure out the real pros and cons ... there’s some of each. It’s definitely worth a read. Adios Danka – Despite superficial similarities, Konica Minolta buying Danka is not like Xerox acquiring Global Imaging. Xerox bought a stellar multi-vendor sales organization and a company with solid management. Konica Minolta has acquired a company that was on death’s door and demonstrably lacking in management expertise. We give you the details to put it all in perspective. “SMB Strategies ... Wrong in So Many Ways?” – MFP vendors typically oversimplify the complexities of the SMB world – while ignoring significant similarities between the SMB and enterprise markets – by obsessing over one particular attribute. For some it’s a letter-size engine; for others it’s cartridge-based supplies; for yet others it’s a matter of price; and for some it means selling through IT resellers or Web sites. See why all of these mindsets are so flawed.

	MARCH 2008