Contrary to popular belief, printers/copiers are complex machines that require tedious research and evaluation.
Because of their basic functionality, it’s easy to get tricked into thinking that buying any type of printer for your office will suffice and adequately satisfy your printing goals.
As a local print vendor for over 35 years, we’ve seen this general misconception backfire on customers who were misled by the seeming simplicity of printers and ended up paying more than they would’ve paid if they just bought the right machine in the first place.
To make the right purchase for your business, you need to be properly educated on what a printer can do for your business.
Because we sell Xerox products specifically, we’ve gained noted expertise in their product catalog and can accurately formulate a thorough review of its printer models.
Based on our industry knowledge, we can also tell you Xerox will not be for everybody, and there are many other printer brands out there that might better meet your unique goals.
With that context as the backdrop, this review will be covering the VersaLink B7030 multifunction printer, including its specifications, features, configuration options and pros and cons to help you assess if this model would be a good fit for you.
Note: The Xerox VersaLink B7130 is the newest version of the Xerox VersaLink B7030.
Xerox VersaLink B7030 Basics
Here are some general statistics and information about the VersaLink B7030 to help you get a feel for print speed, volume, resolution and cost:
Print Speed: Up to 30 pages per minute (ppm)
Monthly Duty Cycle: Up to 129,000 pages
Recommended Monthly Print Volume: Up to 15,000 pages
Print Resolution: 1200 x 1200 dpi (dots per inch)
Copy Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi
First-Print-Out-Time: As fast as 9.1 seconds
First-Copy-Out-Time: As fast as 5.4 seconds
Base Model Weight: 113.1 pounds
Cost: Starting at around $3,600
For a look at the base model’s dimensions, see the picture below:
Xerox VersaLink B7030 Key Features
Now, let’s look at some of the key features that come with the VersaLink B7030 multifunction (MFP) printer:
Touchscreen Interface and App Gallery
The Xerox VersaLink B7030 contains a customizable, seven-inch tablet-like color touchscreen that allows you to complete printing tasks simply and effectively.
You can tailor the user interface to your business’s goals by choosing from the numerous applications on Xerox’s App Gallery. A few examples include:
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Connect for XMPie, which is a free application that allows for access to over 50 templates, including holiday cards, birthday cards and calendar templates.
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Cloud storage applications, like Connect for Box, Connect for Google Drive and Connect for Dropbox, among others, let you store and pull documents from the cloud. Prices for Xerox cloud-based applications will typically be $10 per month, $99 per year or $208 for three years.
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Summarizer, which automates summaries of documents by using artificial intelligence to condense pages to create a concise interpretation of the source text. This app can be used on any Xerox device with related ConnectKey technology and the price depends on the number of credits (one-page counts for one credit) that you account for. The 250-credit price is $49, the 1,000-credit price is $159 and the 5,000-credit price is $659.
Example of Xerox’s Summarizer App:
The Xerox App Gallery contains several industry-specific and general applications that can help increase overall office productivity. For more information on the different kinds of apps, read the following blogs:
The touchscreen interface and app gallery are a part of Xerox’s ConnectKey technology, which, among other things, gives you the ability to convert hard-copy records into accessible cloud-based documents and allows you to control your printer from your smartphone.
Printer Security
The VersaLink B7030 contains a four-point approach to security that’ll help prevent, detect and protect against cyberattacks at all points of vulnerability.
According to Xerox’s website, these include:
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Network intrusion and data transmission
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Protection from unauthorized access
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Stringent data encryption and secure overwrite.
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Added security to individual documents
Some of the security measures involve a comprehensive Firmware Verification test upon printer activation, and further security enhancements by Xerox’s external partnerships with McAfee and Cisco, which includes McAfee’s Whitelisting technology and Cisco’s Identity Services Engine (ISE).
In a technological world where cybercrime has become prevalent, it’s helpful to inform yourself of the security measures that companies are taking before making a purchasing decision. To learn more about Xerox’s security measures, read our blog about Xerox’s approach to cybersecurity and why it matters.
Xerox VersaLink B7030 Accessories and Upgrades
Let’s take a look at some of the standard accessories and different configuration and finishing options that will allow you to customize and upgrade your machine in ways that best optimize your business needs:
Standard Printer Accessories
Here are the accessories that come standard with the VersaLink B7030:
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A 110-sheet Duplex Automatic Document Feeder (DADF)
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Card Reader Bay
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Accessible USB Port
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A 100-sheet Bypass Tray.
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A 520-sheet Tray.
Optional Printer Accessories
Now, let’s look at some of the additional accessories you can have included with your machine upon purchase:
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Work surface (included with Convenience Stapler)
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Up to three additional Tray Modules (can increase paper capacity to 2,180 sheets)
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High-Capacity Tandem Tray Module (can increase paper capacity to 3,140 sheets)
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High-Capacity Feeder (holds 2,000 sheets of letter/A4 paper.
Print Finishing Options
Lastly, here are the finishing options you can include with the VersaLink B7030:
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Dual Catch Trays (stack up to 250 sheets each)
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Office Finisher LX (gives you advanced finishing functions and offers optional booklet making)
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Integrated Office Finisher (provides 500-sheet stacking and 50-sheet, single-position stapling.
For a look at the VersaLink B7030 with some additional upgrades, see the picture below (courtesy of CDW):
2 Pros of the Xerox VersaLink B7030
Now, let’s look at some of the pros of the VersaLink B7030:
1. All-In-One Printing Solution
The VersaLink B7030 is a multifunction printer, which means you’re getting a machine that not only has print capabilities but also can act as your scanner, fax machine and copier, as well. With an MFP, you get all these basic office functions in one machine, without having to invest in or make space for a separate scanner, copier or fax machine.
For more information about multifunction printers, read these blogs:
2. Permanent Printing Solution
In addition to being able to perform as an all-encompassing print solution, the VersaLink B7030 is also built to act as a permanent printing solution for your workplace.
Investing in an advanced multifunction printer is a long-term investment, which means you can expect the machine to last for a significant amount of time if you follow the recommended monthly print volume.
That last point is crucial, as consistently overusing the machine past its recommended volume will result in more service issues and a shorter lifespan.
Read our blog about understanding your machine’s duty cycle and print volume to learn more.
2 Cons of the Xerox VersaLink B7030
Let’s now go through some of the cons of the VersaLink B7030:
1. No Color Printing Capability
The main downside to the VersaLink B7030 is it only prints/copies in black-and-white, which means the machine can’t satisfy color printing needs.
If you’re looking for a similar multifunction option that can print in color, the VersaLink C7025 could be an option for you.
2. Not an Option for Large Workgroups
While the VersaLink B7030 is a solid multifunction option for small workgroups, it’s not built to withstand the workload required to satisfy the printing needs of large businesses with a high monthly print volume.
If you’re a large workgroup and are wanting a black-and-white multifunction printer option, you would want to look into one of the three options in the AltaLink B8100.
Xerox VersaLink B7030 Cost
As listed previously, the base cost of the VersaLink B7030 is around $3,600. This doesn’t include optional upgrades or maintenance plans that you may want to include upon purchase of your machine.
You will also need to purchase a separate Wireless Connectivity Kit to set up WIFI on the VersaLink B7030. You can purchase the WIFI accessory for around $50.
While being a relatively affordable option compared to other black-and-white multifunction printers, such as the models in the AltaLink B8100 Series, the VersaLink B7030 is not an inexpensive option. Buying a multifunction printer will almost always be more expensive than buying a single-function printer, and it’s a purchase that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Some vendors may offer trade-ins and there’s also the option to lease your printer, rather than purchase it outright. Leasing a printer breaks down the total price into more affordable monthly payments. For more information on this, read these blogs:
Who Is the Xerox VersaLink B7030 a Good Fit for?
The VersaLink B7030 is a good fit for:
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Workgroups of 3-8
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Small-to-medium businesses that need an all-in-one printing black-and-white printing solution.
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Those looking to purchase an efficient printer with advanced technological features and industry-specific applications.
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Those looking to make a long-term printing investment.
If you fall into one of these categories, then you are a candidate for the VersaLink B7030. However, you would want to extensively evaluate your specific printing goals with a business consultant before purchasing.
Who Is the Xerox VersaLink B7030 Not a Good Fit for?
The VersaLink B7030 is not a good fit for:
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Businesses with a small office equipment budget (less than $3,000)
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Those searching for a single-function printer for personal use.
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Businesses that require a machine with color printing capability.
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Large workgroups with a high monthly print volume.
If you fall into one of these categories, then this is not the model for you. Read our blog on how to choose a printer for your budget and business needs to help with choosing the right model for you.
What Are the Other Models in the Xerox VersaLink B7000 Series?
The VersaLink B7030 model is one of three printers in the VersaLink B7000 series, with the others being the B7025 ($2,900) and B7035 ($4,300) models.
They all contain the same basic technological features but differ in function efficiency. The more advanced the model gets in the series, the more efficient it will be.
This is displayed by the ascending print speeds in the series: the VersaLink B7025 has a print speed of up to 25 ppm, the B7030 has a print speed of up to 30 ppm and the B7035 has a print speed of up to 35 ppm.
The same can be said for the monthly print volume. The B7025 model has a recommended monthly print volume of up to 13,000 pages, the B7030 has a monthly print volume of up to 15,000 pages and the B7035 has a monthly print volume of 17,000 pages.
If you like the technological features of the VersaLink B7030 but want a more efficient printer option, then the B7035 model would be the better fit for you.
For the newest models of the B7100 series, which replaces the B700 Series, check out our reviews for the B7125 and B7135 models.
Think the Xerox VersaLink B7030 Is Right for You?
The VersaLink B7030 is a quality multifunction printer option for small-to-medium-sized workgroups who desire a machine equipped with a tablet-like touchscreen that makes for simple navigation and applications that increase task efficiency.
However, the VersaLink B7030 is not a fit for large workgroups that require color printing capabilities and print at a substantial volume, or for individuals who seek a personal desktop printing solution.
Our goal at Strategic Technology Partners of Texas is to provide you with the information we’ve gathered over our time in the industry so you can make the best purchasing decision for your printing goals.
If you’ve read through this and think the VersaLink B7030 could be for you, or have any other additional questions, reach out to us and an experienced business consultant will be there to walk you through the next steps.
