BUYERS LABORATORY TEST REPORT
Muratec MFX-1200 Multifunctional
2-TR
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General Appraisal
continued
The MFX-1200 was easy to use overall, with
a clearly labeled and well-organized control
panel, that, unlike most units in this segment,
offers users a choice of languages. And main-
tenance, which involves removing and install-
ing a photoconductor and a toner cartridge,
was rated good, as were the unit’s documen-
tation and methods of loading paper and re-
moving misfeeds.
In addition, the unit offers above-average
paper-handling capabilities, including a gen-
erous 500-sheet standard paper capacity for
up to legal-size copies that can be upgraded
via a 500-sheet drawer and a 50-sheet bypass,
for a total on-line capacity of 1,050 sheets—
standard and maximum paper capacities that
are larger than the majority of models in this
speed range (7 ppm to 17 ppm), although it
should be noted that a number of competi-
tors in this speed range can accommodate 11"
x 17" copies and originals. The MFX-1200 also
comes equipped with a 50-sheet automatic
document feeder. Copies, faxes and print jobs
are output face-up in correct order.
The MFX-1200 scans copies at 300-dpi reso-
lution and produces 13 copies a minute at 600-
dpi resolution after a first-copy time of 12.65
seconds from the platen and 18.55 seconds
from the document feeder. The unit supports
variable reduction/enlargement from 50% to
200% in 1% increments, as well as preset re-
duction (50%, 64% and 78%) and enlarge-
ment (129% and 200%) modes, scan-once/
print-many capability and standard electronic
sorting. As with the majority of models in its
class, up to 99 copies can be made in a single
run, but unlike most units in this category,
the MFX-1200 offers negative/positive rever-
sal.
continued
The unit also performed well as a fax, scan-
ning documents at a quick 1.78 seconds per
page and demonstrating good procedures for
transmitting from memory after a failed com-
munication. In addition, the unit dials the des-
tination and begins transmitting documents
while pages are still being scanned to memory.
Fax features include a 14.4-Kbps modem,
MMR compression, an 8-MB memory that
can be upgraded to 16 MB, multi-access,
broadcasting (up to 32 groups with up to 230
destinations per group), 55 one-touch keys
and 145 speed-dial locations, confidential
transmission and reception, batch transmis-
sion, transfer hub capability, 72-hour memory
backup, 100 department codes, error-correc-
tion mode, remote diagnostics and image
smoothing. Noteworthy is that faxing can be
accomplished from either the document
feeder or the platen.
Connectivity
The Muratec MFX-1200 was tested as a net-
work printer using the optional embedded
controller card and PCL 5e and 6 print driv-
ers that support Windows 95, 98, 2000 and
NT 4.0 operating systems. The drivers are
well-laid-out, easy to use and graphically de-
pict current features or settings. A setup util-
ity is provided to install the drivers and the
drivers automatically detect the unit’s fea-
tures and configuration rather than requir-
ing the administrator to manually specify this
information. The network PCL option can be
used via an Ethernet or Token Ring connec-
tion (BLI’s test was conducted with an
Ethernet connection).The MFX-1200 pro-
duced 600-dpi print output that received
BLI’s highest rating for text, line art and sol-
ids, although halftones were rated “Fair,” and
