Samsung Gives the Most Hated Office Device a Much-Needed Brain Transplant

Most frustration and hostility is the result of poor communication. Not being able to properly communicate important information in high pressure situations can lead things to escalate well above the level they actually warrant. And while they may not be the direct cause (or target) of every case of workplace violence against inanimate objects, printers can likely be identified as a catalyst in many of them.

Samsung, who is likely all too aware of the frustration a bad office printer can bring, set out to fix this problem by making its latest line of multi-function office devices smarter. By integrating a fully functioning Android tablet seamlessly into each new printer/scanner/copier, Samsung is providing a snappy, familiar, and mature user interface that will make bi-directional information exchange easier.

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No longer will the user have to navigate through convoluted menus with awkward buttons, erratic touch screens, or slow responses when attempting to print out accompanying materials for a presentation that starts in 5 minutes. Samsung has also eliminated the need to decipher cryptic one-line error messages ("PC LOAD LETTER"); users will simply follow animated instructions on the full colored 10.1-inch screens without any guesswork.

A total of four series of Smart laser printers were announced as part of the IFA 2014 lineup: the X4300, the K4350, the M5370, and the M4580. Each copies and faxes at 600x600 dpi, prints at 1200x1200 dpi and scans at up to 4800x4800 dpi.

The A3-sized X4300 series (A3 is a European paper size, approx. two letter sheets side-by-side) features full color and double-sided printing, scanning and copying. This line launches with three models—the X4300LX, X4250LX, and X4220RX—which differentiate primarily in speed.

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If you need to print large, but not in color, the K4350 series is the perfect fit. The models in this series—K4350LX, K4300LX, and K4250RX—closely mirror their chromatic cousins in the X4300 series in terms of performance and features.

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For pure monochrome office printing in letter size, Samsung offers two solutions: the M5370 series and M4580 series. The models in these series, M5370LX, M4370LX, M4580FX and M4583FX, all feature the same dual scan technology and fast printing, scanning and copying. The M4580FX and M4583FX will only be available through OA and IT channels, respectively.

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Printers have been incredibly resilient to significant advances in usability and responsiveness. Long warm up times, duplicate printing, paper jams, and memory hogging printer drivers have plagued PC users for decades. The emergence of smart printers may finally end the tyrannical reign of office printers and usher in an era of pure office bliss.