Finding the right printer for your business or personal needs can be demanding. With so many brands and options to choose from, even beginning to research which model to go with can seem like an overwhelming task.
Because we partner with Xerox and have been a print vendor for over 35 years, we’ve gained expertise in the company’s array of machines and products and can help lead you through the learning process to help determine which machine will be the best fit for you.
To help you in your printer research process, we’ll be analyzing the Xerox VersaLink B400 printer, including its features, upgrades, pros, cons, cost and whether it’d be a good fit for your printing goals.
We know Xerox is not for everyone, and we pride ourselves on creating content that is both informative and completely transparent to provide you with a guide to help in your printer-buying journey, no matter where it ends up.
Note: The Xerox VersaLink B410 is the newest version of the Xerox VersaLink B400.
Xerox VersaLink B400 Basics
Here are some general statistics and information to help you get a feel for print speed, volume, resolution and cost:
Print Speed: Up to 47 ppm (pages per minute)
Recommended Monthly Print Volume: Up to 15,000 pages
Duty Cycle: Up to 150,000 images/month
Processor Speed: 1.05 GHz (gigahertz)
Print Memory: 2 GB standard
Maximum Print Resolution: 1200 X 1200 dpi (dots per inch)
First-Page-Out Time Printing: As fast as 4.7 seconds
Cost: Starting at around $699
A look at the B400's dimensions:
Xerox VersaLink B400 Key Features
Now, let’s look at some of the notable features of the VersaLink B400 and how they can contribute to a productive work environment.
Touchscreen Interface and App Gallery
The Xerox VersaLink B400 printer contains a customizable, five-inch tablet-like touchscreen that allows users a simple and effective way to complete printing tasks.
You can tailor the interface to your business’s goals by choosing from the numerous applications on Xerox’s App Gallery. A few examples include:
- 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.
- Connect for Microsoft 365, which gives you a cloud-storage solution to find, store and print digitized documents. The app is priced per device at $10 per month, $99 a year and $208 for three years.
- Book2Go, which allows you to scan a QR code on your printer and download a document to your eBook reader, tablet or mobile device. A one-year subscription for the application is $49 per device.
The Xerox App Gallery contains several applications that can aid in 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, allows you to convert hard-copy records into accessible cloud-based documents and allows you to control your printer from your smartphone (more on this in the next section).
Mobile Connectivity and Access to Cloud Services
The VersaLink B400 includes the ability to connect your smartphone to your printer so that you’ll be able to manage and execute printing services directly from your phone.
By downloading Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print or Mopria (Android) on your smartphone, you’ll be able to administer printing tasks without having to get up from your desk.
Xerox’s cloud-based enterprise print management software allows you to store and pull documents from the cloud when needed. Storing documents in the cloud also increases document security by requiring authentication to access print services.
Printer Security
Ensuring document security is crucial in an increasingly technological world, and the VersaLink B400 contains strict security measures that’ll help prevent 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
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Add security to individual documents
Read our blog on Xerox's approach to cybersecurity to learn more about the company's security initiatives.
Additional Printer Features and Upgrades
Let’s take a look at the different configuration options that will allow you to customize and upgrade your machine in ways that best optimize your business needs:
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An accessible USB port that’ll allow you to print from any standard USB memory device.
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A 250-sheet output tray with a tray-full sensor.
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A 150-sheet Bypass Tray that’ll handle media sizes from 3 x 5 in to 8.5 x 14 in/76 x 127 mm to 216 x 356 mm.
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A 550-sheet paper tray with a standard paper capacity of 700 sheets (including Bypass Tray).
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Three optional, 550-sheet trays that increase total paper capacity to 2,350 sheets.
The VersaLink B400 with optional upgrades:
2 Pros of the Xerox VersaLink B400
Let’s go through some of the pros of the VersaLink B400:
1. Printer Size and Versatility
For a black-and-white printer, the VersaLink B400 serves as a strong option to meet high printing demand for workplaces with 3-15 users.
It’s also relatively small (30lbs) and can fit in multiple work environments. With a workplace that’s increasingly shifted to remote, having a machine that can handle a high volume and also not take up valuable workspace is a useful quality of the VersaLink B400.
2. Tablet-Like Interface and Printing Options
As we went over previously, the printer comes with a tablet-like interface and numerous applications that’ll make navigating your printer feel much more familiar while also increasing productive workflow.
The machine also allows for multiple printing options and features, including booklet printing, collation, custom page size and fit-to-page, to name a few.
2 Cons of the Xerox VersaLink B400
Now let’s run through some of the cons of the VersaLink B400:
1. Single Function Printer Only
The downside to the VersaLink B400 is it’s not a multifunction printer, meaning the machine only prints.
If you need a black-and-white printer that can also scan, copy and fax documents, you will want to look into the VersaLink B415, which contains those aforementioned functions while also encompassing many of the same features as the B400 model.
2. Wireless Connectivity Kit
Another thing to keep in mind is you will need to buy a separate Wireless Connectivity Kit to set up WIFI for the VersaLink B400 model. You can purchase the WIFI accessory for around $50.
Is the Xerox VersaLink B400 a Good Fit for Me?
If you’re running a business with a workgroup of 3-15 people, the VersaLink B400 is a solid option for black-and-white printing on a large scale.
It’s also a good option for the remote work environment due to its size and capacity for high demand and high-quality printing.
If you’re looking for a printer that includes the ability to perform multiple functions, such as scan, copy and fax, then this is not the machine for you.
Xerox VersaLink B400 Cost
As listed previously, the base cost of the VersaLink B400 is around $699. This doesn’t include optional upgrades or maintenance plans that you may want to include upon purchase of your machine.
Some vendors may offer trade-ins and there’s also the option to lease your printer, rather than purchase it outright. Keep in mind, most lease companies have a minimum of $1,000 in order to finance. For more information on this, read these blogs:
Think the Xerox VersaLink B400 Is Right for You?
Because of our industry knowledge and experience, we can tell you that the Xerox VersaLink B400 is a quality machine that can adequately perform black-and-white printing and contribute to general office productivity.
However, this machine is not for everyone. If you need a printer that can perform multiple functions for larger workgroups, then you’ll want to look elsewhere. To best assess which machine is the right fit for your business goals, make sure to consider the size of your workgroup, your estimated monthly print volume and your budget.
At Strategic Technology Partners of Texas, we lean on our customer-first values to provide you with the best information and recommendations to make sure you are making the right purchase for your workplace.
If you're interested in the VersaLink B400 or need guidance in finding your ideal solution, reach out to us and one of our members will be in touch with you shortly.
