Copiers

Despite the rumors, workplaces are far from becoming paperless. Electronic communications are increasing, but workers aren't ready to give up paper copies of messages, documents and correspondence. In addition, the information explosion is so enormous that the amount of paper used in offices is growing right along with the increase in electronic communication.

Printers are another threat to the copier's role. Once, a worker who finished a memo would print, copy and distribute it. Now, that same worker is distributing the memo via a computer network and the recipients are printing their own copies. Or the memo writer is printing multiple copies and distributing them. Either way, the copier loses traffic.

Manufacturers are fighting back with digital copiers that are more efficient, productive and versatile. Digital copiers have been on the market for about 10 years, but only now are they becoming widely available and a viable choice for many offices. Unlike analog or "light lens" machines, digital copiers scan an image once and then make copies from it. Analog copiers must scan the original for each copy. The other major difference is that digital machines can stand alone or be wired into a network; analog machines must stand alone.

The primary benefits of digital technology:

• Faster copy times (because they scan only once).
• Better images (they can also manipulate and edit images).
• A worker can walk away with an original while a job is running.
• Workers can run jobs from their desks.

The primary disadvantages of digital are price and availability. Until now, digital machines have cost about 50 percent to 100 percent more than analog machines with comparable copy per minute and volume per month. That gap is beginning to close. Now, expect to pay about 20 percent more for a digital machine. Ultimately, the advent of digital copiers will lower prices for analog machines.

At this point, those interested in digital won't find much to choose from. "There are many benefits to the technology, but early adopters pay a price. The choice is restricted and the prices are higher than they are likely to be in two or three years' time," says John Derrick, publisher of Better Buys for Business.

Many manufacturers don't yet have full digital product lines. For example, some companies are offering only stand-alone versions. While at least six leading manufacturers already have digital machines on the market, more are expected to begin shipping this year.

Players in digital technology include Canon, Ricoh, Toshiba, Konica, Savin (which is owned by Ricoh) and Sharp. "The Konica 7050 [at 50 copies per minute] is arguably the most successful digital machine available," says Derrick. "It's a very viable product. It's available and connectable, and it works quite well."

What does this mean for buyers? Derrick recommends considering one more round of analog before going digital. "But it will probably be the last round," he says. Increased use of e-mail, networked computers and printers are causing copy volumes to fall, so look closely at your needs before you buy. You may not need as much machine as you used to.