Dec 15, 2011

Panasonic Releases New Laser-Class “Fit Anywhere” Multifunction Printers

Panasonic System Networks Company of America today introduced the KX-MB1500 series of value-priced A4-format Multifunction Printers (MFPs). Offering fast, high-quality monochrome laser printing and copying, full-color scan to PC, and paper/paperless faxing, the KX-MB1500 and KX-MB1520 share a slimmed-and-trimmed form factor that reduces the space and volume needed for installation and operation by approximately 25 and 40 percent respectively.

Both the KX-MB1500 and the step-up KX-MB1520 are highlighted by a reduced-size print engine, an inner paper-exit tray, front-panel access to consumables such as toner and paper, and a side-mounted power connector. Taken together, these features deliver a lightweight (20lb.), small footprint, All-In-One workhorse which can be installed flat against a wall on a crowded desk, or upon a shelf, bookcase, or file cabinet.

Panasonic KX-MB1500

"According to the most recent Census Department figures, more than 14 million Americans are currently operating a business from their homes, with about 4.5 million of them generating 100 percent of their income from those businesses," Bill Taylor, President, Panasonic System Networks Company of America, noted. "Even more surprising, the Census Bureau also reports that the annual median family income of a home-based business owner is $17,000 higher than that of the general population working traditional jobs.”

"That is a huge, constantly growing market that deserves – and is demanding – office products designed for a business environment where the kitchen doubles as a conference room and the 'printer stand' might be one end of a shelf holding balls, bats and skates," Taylor added. "With its space-saving design, robust feature set, and Panasonic durability-by-design build quality, the KX-MB1500 series is the latest example of our commitment to providing Fortune 500-quality office machines to entrepreneurs with small-business budgets."

Using Panasonic's proprietary Easy Print Utility, a no-cost software bundled with each KX-MB1500/1520, end users sitting at their PCs can merge files created in different applications into a single print job, rearrange the order of pages immediately prior to sending them to the print queue, and instantly reformat the whole document to print multiple pages (up to 16) on a single sheet of paper.

They can also add headers, footers and/or watermarks to their pages before deciding whether to send the job directly to the printer or output it as a PDF file.

Featuring a wide reduction/enlargement range of 25-to-400 percent in one-percent increments, the MB1500/1520 offers Quick ID copying of both sides of small items like drivers licenses and business cards onto one side of a single sheet of paper. Quick ID copy reduces paper consumption and simplifies information management.

Both KX-MB1500 series models also feature Panasonic's user-friendly four-mode, four-format scanning system. After positioning a document to be scanned on the platen, all the operator has to do is select Viewer, File, Email or OCRon the unit's control panel and start scanning. Once the scan is completed, the document will automatically open in the appropriate PC application. For maximum flexibility, KX-MB1500-series MFPs support scanning in TIFF, JPEG, PDF and BMP formats.

Exclusive features on the KX-MB1520 include: 33.6Kbps faxing via direct phone line connection, paperless fax sending and receiving via a USB-connected PC, fax/telephone switch, 100-entry phone book, and an integrated speaker phone for voice communications with fax recipients.