Printing needs can vary from business to business and individual to individual. Finding that one machine that will satisfy all your requirements can be difficult with all the available options on the market.
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 guide you through the learning process to help determine which machine will be the best fit for you.
Today, we’ll be taking a thorough and objective look at the Xerox VersaLink C400 color 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 strive to create content that is fair in analysis and accurate in information to give you the knowledge you need to make an educated purchasing decision.
Note: The Xerox VersaLink C410 is the newest version of the Xerox VersaLink C400.
Xerox VersaLink C400 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 36 ppm (pages per minute)
Recommended Monthly Print Volume: Up to 8,500 pages
Monthly Duty Cycle: Up to 85,000 pages
Maximum Print Resolution: 600 X 600 x 8 dpi (dots per inch)
First-Page-Out Time Printing: As fast as 8.2 seconds black-and-white/ 9.3 seconds color
Base Model Dimensions: 19.3" x 19.2" x 15.7"
Base Model Weight: 57 pounds
Cost: Starting at around $749
Xerox VersaLink C400 Features
Now, let’s look at some of the notable features of the VersaLink C400 and how they can contribute to a productive work environment.
Touchscreen Interface and App Gallery
The Xerox VersaLink C400 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:
- @PrintByXerox, which is a free app that can be used as a medium to print from your mobile device. To do this, you send an email with an attachment of the documents you need to print to the Print@PrintByXerox.com address. You will then receive a code you can use on any machine that is ConnectKey-enabled and has the @PrintByXerox app downloaded on it.
- Xerox Auto-Redaction allows you to select Personally Identifiable Information, or custom words and phrases, and redact it while keeping the rest of the document intact, thus ensuring that sensitive information is not compromised. It’s $69 for a 2000-page scan capacity, $199 for a 7,500-page scan capacity and $499 for 25,000-page scan capacity.
- XM Fax, which is a software-only Fax over IP solution that allows you to fax your documents securely through either the XM Fax cloud or on-premises solutions. The price for the app is $20 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 for mobile connectivity so you can control your printer from your smartphone.
Color Image Quality Enhancements
The VersaLink C400 contains additional features that will help boost overall color image printing quality, including Pantone-approved solid-color simulations and Xerox color correction technology.
Pantone is a company that uses technicians and X-Rite technology to “adjust and qualify hundreds of professional and production-grade color output devices per year,” according to their website. Achieving Pantone validation means the product meets the company’s testing and calibration standards.
The VersaLink C400 is equipped with color correction technology that helps correct or adjust the characteristics of a color print. Some of the characteristics that can be adjusted in your print’s image and text include lightness, contrast, saturation and color cast.
Printer Security Features
The VersaLink C400 is also armed with a four-point approach to security, which has become an increasingly important issue as cybercrime has become more prevalent.
This model is set up with security features that prevent, detect and protect against external security threats, while also partnering with companies like McAfee and Cisco to provide extra security standards.
Here are a few of the security measures, courtesy of Xerox’s website, that comes with the VersaLink C400:
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A Firmware Verification test that alerts users of harmful changes to the printer.
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Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) auto-detects Xerox devices on the network and classifies them as printers for security policy implementation and compliance.
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Prevention of intentional or unintentional transmission of sensitive data to unauthorized users by requiring the authorized user to be at the device when documents are being sent or released.
Read our blog on Xerox’s approach to cybersecurity to learn more.
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, front-side, 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 1,250 sheets.
Here’s a look at the VersaLink C400 with additional upgrades:
2 Pros of the Xerox VersaLink C400
Let's take a look at some of the main pros of the VersaLink C400:
1. Printer Size and Versatility
For a color printer, The VersaLink C400 serves as a strong option to meet quality color printing demand for workplaces with 2-10 users.
The printer’s size allows it to fit into compacted and condensed workplaces. The machine’s ability to perform high-quality color printing while also not taking up valuable workspace is a useful quality of the VersaLink C400.
Purchasing the VersaLink C400 means your machine will have the ability to print in color and black-and-white while also allowing for letter/legal printing capabilities.
2. Tablet-Like Interface and Mobile Connectivity
As we went over previously, the printer comes with a tablet-like interface and numerous applications that’ll make navigating your printer much easier while increasing productivity.
Its mobile connectivity feature allows you to administer printing tasks from your smartphone, while its cloud-based services grant you the ability to store and pull documents from the cloud whenever needed.
2 Cons of the Xerox VersaLink C400
Now that we've looked at a couple of the pros of the VersaLink C400, let's go over a couple of the main cons:
1. Doesn't Copy, Scan or Fax
The downside to the VersaLink C400 is it’s a single-function color printer, which means it can’t copy, scan or fax documents.
If you need a color multifunction printer, the Xerox VersaLink C415 could be an option for you. It contains much of the same characteristics as the VersaLink C400 but gives you the ability to perform the scan, fax and copy functions.
2. Separate 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 C400 model. Prices will vary depending on where you buy it, but you can purchase the WIFI accessory for around $50.
Xerox VersaLink C400 Cost
As listed previously, the base cost of the VersaLink C400 is around $619. 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 that most lease companies have a minimum of $1,000 in order to finance. For more information on this, read these blogs:
Is the Xerox VersaLink C400 a Good Fit for Me?
If you’re running a business with a workgroup of 2-10 people and would like a machine to provide proficient color and black-and-white prints, the VersaLink C400 serves as a solid option.
If you are looking for a color printer that includes additional features, such as copy, fax and scan, then this is not the machine for you. You’ll want to look into the VersaLink C415 or another color multifunction printer.
Think the Xerox VersaLink C400 Is Right for You?
Using our expertise with Xerox machines as a reference, we can tell you that the Xerox VersaLink C400 is a quality machine that can adequately perform color and black-and-white printing capabilities and contribute to general office productivity.
However, this machine is not for everyone. If you’re looking for a multifunction printer, you’ll want to look at different options. 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 are constantly looking for ways to innovate the traditional sales process to find the best solution for you, no matter the sales consequences.
If you're interested in discussing the VersaLink C400 further or have any additional questions, reach out to us and we'll help you find the right solution for your situation.
