You won’t find many multifunction printers in the market that can print A3 sized sheets. This functionality is niche enough to keep Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) from focusing on it. Even so, businesses that need A3 printing tend to depend on it significantly. For such businesses, the Oki MC873dn is a lifesaver.
The Oki MC873dn is a laser-class multifunction printer. The reason why we mentioned “class” there is that this printer’s technology is slightly different from a conventional laser printer. The imaging inside this machine is done through the Digital 4 LED Full-color Electrophotographic Printing Technology. This just means that this device uses LEDs in place of a laser to do its imaging.
The most distinct aspects of the Oki MC873dn are that it can print A3 sheets and that it offers scalability to owners. Whether this multifunction device is suitable to your specific needs or now, however, depends entirely on what your business’s specific needs are. Have a look at our review to get a better idea of this device’s capabilities.
Strengths of Oki MC873dn
There is only one reason why the Oki MC873dn would be on your shortlist – colour A3 printing. As mentioned above, you won’t find many multifunction printers out there that support A3 sized sheets. This means that it can print, copy, scan, and fax A3 sized sheets. While you can buy two devices – one for A3 printing and the other for your more usual office printing needs – cost metrics don’t really support the purchase and maintenance of two devices. This is why businesses that need A3 printing will consider the Oki MC873dn very seriously.
The Oki MC873dn is, essentially, targeted at Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs). However, because the scale at which this device can handle print jobs, it is possible that it will be suitable for large-scale businesses with low volume requirements as well. The Oki MC873dn comes standard with a paper capacity of 400 sheets split between a 300-sheet main paper tray and a 100-sheet multipurpose feeder. This makes it suitable for SMEs with minimal print volume requirements.
However, owners have the option of increasing this input capacity to whopping 2,005 sheets.
This is made possible with the addition of three optional paper trays of 535 sheet capacity each. In fact, Oki offers two other versions of the MC873dn. The first is the Oki MC873dnc that comes standard with a caster base and an additional tray which takes its total paper input capacity to 935 sheets.
The other is the Oki MC873dnx that comes standard with two additional trays for a paper input capacity of 1,470 sheets and the option of adding another tray. Effectively, the total paper capacity of the Oki MC873dnx can be 2,005 sheets as well. These paper capacities are supported by the print engine of the Oki MC873dn because it can handle up to 75,000 pages per month.
The speed of the device is also conducive to high volume printing i.e. just because you have a massive print job doesn’t mean that you’ll have to wait for ages. The multifunction printer is rated to print at a speed of up to 35 pages per minute (ppm) and 20 ppm for A4 and A3 sized sheets, respectively.
Automatic duplexing is another feature in this device’s repertoire. It possesses a 100-sheet Reversing Automatic Document Feeder (RADF). While the duplexing facility isn’t single pass, it is still useful when it comes to cutting costs, regardless of whether you’re printing, scanning, copying, or faxing.
Weaknesses of Oki MC873dn
An A3 multifunction printer is never cheap. You’ll also be spending a pretty penny if you choose to buy A4 and A3 devices separately. This A3 multifunction printer is, at least, cheaper than the second option especially since maintenance costs will also rack up with two separate devices. The Oki MC873dn can be had for a price slightly lower than $3,700.
Operational costs of the Oki MC873dn are also a little on the high side but that is only in comparison to A4 multifunction printers. In the A3 multifunction printer market segment, the MC873dn falls within the accepted spectrum. By purchasing the Oki MC873dn, you’ll be committing your company to pay around 13.54 cents per page. That, however, is with generic or compatible cartridges. If your company insists on using genuine or OEM cartridges, you should brace to pay 14.88 cents per sheet.
Unfortunately, costs aren’t the biggest problem with the Oki MC873dn. Output quality is. The output quality of this device, across the board, leaves a lot to desire. Whether it is text, graphics, or images, you’ll have to settle for less than perfect. Perfection here, of course, is defined as output that you can present to high-value clients and output on which a big deal rests. For internal use, the Oki MC873dn is more than sufficient. It is rated to produce a maximum resolution of 600 x 600 dots per inch (dpi).
A minor downside of the Oki MC873dn is that wireless connectivity isn’t a standard option with it. The OEM has provided USB 2.0 and Ethernet connectivity in the standard device but if you want wireless connectivity, you’ll have to opt for the additional wireless module. From the perspective of mobility, though, the Oki MC873dn supports Google Cloud Print, Apple Air Print, and the Oki Mobile Print.
Another minor flaw owing to the fact that this device can print in A3 sizes is its size and weight. This is a big device that weighs quite a bit. You need to pick out a specific niche for it in your office and maybe three burly employees to move it into place. The Oki MC873dn measures 700mm high, 600mm deep, and 563mm wide with a weight of around 64 Kg.
If you have diverse printing requirements, then you may even find the dearth of finishing options a problem with the Oki MC873dn. With this machine, you’ll only get a 20-sheet manual offline stapler. There aren’t even any additional options that you can go for.
Key Features of Oki MC873dn
The scanner on the Oki MC873dn also deserves a special mention. The MC873dn’s scanner produces excellent images and comes with multiple features too. Its maximum resolution is 600 x 600 dpi and it allows for scans to be sent to emails, network folders, and even USK devices. The scanner can operate at a maximum speed of up to 50 Images per Minute (ipm).
With such great scanning and printing capabilities, it is not surprising that this device comes with an exceptional control panel. The control panel of the Oki MC873dn is dominated by a 7-inch colour touch cum display screen. The screen is very ergonomically friendly because it tilts to suit the user. The screen also has a job macro feature where you can set up custom jobs and print tasks. The screen is also your go-to avenue for diagnosing problems and troubleshooting the device.
Additionally, the Oki MC873dn comes with a 250GB built-in hard drive with inherent encryption and a 1.28GB RAM for storage and quick processing of print tasks. The RAM helps the MC873dn deliver the first print out in less than 9.5 seconds. There are also a number of security features such as password protection for print tasks. The Oki MC873dn comes with a 36-month onsite warranty.
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