Wirth Consulting Test Procedures
Wirth Consulting performs hands-on testing of printers, MFPs, All-in-Ones, software, and other business-imaging solutions. During the course of our tests, we extensively evaluate how easy the device is to install, use and maintain; measure productivity and image quality; evaluate software; and issue a recommendation.
General
Wirth Consulting always uses best testing practices described in ASTM standards when testing. All testing is performed under controlled conditions with a stabilized network, and a “clean” computer workstation with latest service packs and all application-software updates installed.
Wirth Consulting evaluators have decades of experience in the testing and evaluation of all types of digital-imaging products, in particular networked, digital-imaging products.
Installation
Office products are delivered and set-up by dealers. For B2B (business-to-business) and some small/mid-size business products, Wirth Consulting records the procedures and time it requires for our evaluators to:
- Remove the components from its packaging and install the hardware and imaging supplies.
- Install the device on our wired or wireless network.
- Install software utilities and print drivers on a single computer workstation.
Image Quality
Wirth Consulting evaluates prints (produced with highest settings) and copies (in text, text/photo and photo modes) for negative/positive line/dot quality, halftone reproduction, grayscale reproduction, and photo reproduction. Raw TIFF photographs of the output are included in each report.
Selection of the Test Targets used for image-quality analysis.
Raw TIFF photos of the actual printed image quality are displayed in the test report to provide an approximation of image quality that end-users can expect.
Print Productivity Using normal print settings, the media supply closest to the print processor, and finisher-tray output (when applicable), ensure that the device is not in recalibration or standby modes, and time the simplex and duplex FPOT (First Page Out Time) and Job Times/pages per minutes (ppm) of the following selection of documents:
- 1-page photo.
- 10-page Adobe Acrobat color document.
- 10-page Adobe Acrobat text document.
- 10-page graphic-intensive Microsoft Word Power Point document.
- 10-page Microsoft Word black text document.
- 10-page Microsoft Word black text document (duplex).
Copier Productivity
Using default copy settings, the media supply closest to the print processor, and finisher-tray output (when applicable), ensure that the device is not in recalibration or standby modes, and time the simplex and duplex FCOT and Job Times/ppm of a 10-page color document in both color and black modes.
Ease of Use
Analyze the control panel and touch-screen layout and design, as well as the user interface of any included software.
Software
Analyze the effectiveness and usability of all included software, including network-management utilities, client utilities, print drivers, etc.
Maintenance
Photograph and record all of the procedures for accessing and removing misfeeds, as well as all procedures for replacing imaging and media supplies.
Media Handling
Analyze the scope of all media types and weights that the device can handle.
Cost Per Page
Using figures supplied by the vendor that are derived from the ISO/IEC 19752:2004 test method for the determination of imaging-supplies yields, calculate and report the cost per page based on original coverage of 5% per color for color devices, and 6% for B/W devices.
Space and Power Requirements
Recognizing that space is always at a premium and most enterprises and users seek to minimize their energy costs, Wirth Consulting reports the energy consumed while printing, the space required in regards to its footprint (including cubic feet/cm), and whether additional space is required around the perimeter of the device for common user maintenance.
Warranty
Note standard and optional warranties, as well as any additional service offerings.
Eco-Friendly Features
Wirth Consulting reports on any of the device’s notable eco-friendly features or capabilities, including Energy Star-certification, consumables' and device-recycling programs, vendor environmental intiatives and goals, etc.
Recommendation
Evaluators compose a summary of the device's overall performance in testing, describing the device's strengths and limitations, overall value, and recommending its best-use scenario.
Wirth Consulting assigns the device one of the following ratings: Outstanding, Well Worth Consideration, Worth Consideration, and Not Worth Consideration.