For most people, making any kind of major purchase is a stressful process.
Buying your next printer/copier is no different; advanced printers can run into the thousands of dollars, which means getting the right machine the first time is imperative.
Unfortunately, it can be tough to find access to accurate and unbiased information to make an informed purchase. We aim to change that.
As a vendor that has sold office machines for almost 40 years, we’ve seen how crucial it is for buyers to be informed before deciding which printer is best for their workplace.
To that end, we will be using our expertise with Xerox machines (the products we sell) to give you a comprehensive review of one of their machines, the Xerox VersaLink C7030, so you can feel confident in making an informed decision on whether it’s the right one for you.
Because we’re not going to be the ones that tell you it’s the best and only machine for you. There are many options out there, and Xerox is certainly not a fit for all workgroups.
Rather, we want to equip you with the knowledge necessary to decide for yourself whether the VersaLink C7030 is the appropriate machine to fulfill your printing requirements.
With that out of the way, let’s dive into the review, which will cover the printer’s basic specifications, features, accessories, pros, cons and cost before summing up who would and wouldn’t be a fit for the machine.
Note: The Xerox VersaLink C7130 is the newest version of the Xerox VersaLink C7030.
Xerox VersaLink C7030 Basics
Here are some general statistics and information to help you get a feel for the machine’s print speed, volume, resolution and cost:
Print Speed: Up to 30 ppm
Recommended Monthly Print Volume: Up to 7,000 pages
Monthly Duty Cycle: Up to 129,000 pages
Maximum Print Resolution: 1200 x 2400 dpi (dots per inch)
Copy Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi
First-Page-Out Time Printing: As fast as 7.3 seconds in color, 5.6 seconds in black-and-white
First-Page-Out-Time Copying: As fast as 7.2 seconds color, 5.8 seconds black-and-white
Cost: Starting at around $4,000
For a look at the dimensions of the VersaLink C7030 base model, see the picture below:
Interested in the Xerox VersaLink C7030? Request a Quote for a free estimation of what you could expect to pay for this machine.
Xerox VersaLink C7030 Key Features
Now, let’s look at some of the key features that come with the VersaLink C7030 color multifunction printer:
Touchscreen Interface and App Gallery
The Xerox VersaLink C7030 contains a customizable, seven-inch tablet-like 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 Microsoft 365 and Connect for Microsoft OneDrive, which gives you a cloud-storage solution to find, store and print digitized documents. Both applications use the same pricing metric: $10 per month, $99 a year and $208 for three years.
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QuickBooks Online, which links users directly to the QuickBooks service to quicken the expense reporting process. The app will let you scan multiple receipts at once, preview the receipts, edit and submit the data fields and notify the approver from the device. The price of the app is $20 for 100 receipts, $69 for 500 receipts and $99 for 1000 receipts, and you must have an existing QuickBooks Online account and access to a computer to use the app.
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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.
Example of the Xerox Auto-Redaction app, courtesy of Xerox:
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.
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:
Printer Security
The VersaLink C7030 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
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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 C7030 Accessories
Let’s take a look at some of the different configuration and finishing options that will allow you to customize and upgrade your machine in ways that best optimize your business needs:
Standard Accessories
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A 110-sheet Duplex Automatic Document Feeder
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A Card Reader Bay with embedded USB port.
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An accessible USB port that allows users to print or scan to any standard USB memory device.
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A 100-sheet Bypass Tray
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A 520-sheet paper tray
Optional Accessories
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The Convenience Stapler and Work Surface.
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The Single Tray with Stand Module increases the total paper capacity to 1,140 sheets (includes Bypass Tray) and provides storage for toner cartridges and other supplies.
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The Three Tray Module increases the total paper capacity to 2,180 sheets (includes Bypass Tray)
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A High-Capacity Feeder that holds 2,000 sheets of letter/A4 paper, increasing the maximum paper capacity to 5,140 sheets.
Finishing Options
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The Dual Catch Trays (optional with the Desktop model) stack up to 250 sheets each.
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The Officer Finisher, which gives you advanced finishing functions and offers optional booklet-making (score, saddle-stitch)
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The Integrated Office Finisher, which provides 500-sheet stacking and 50-sheet, dual-position stapling without increasing the footprint of the printer.
You should consider your printing requirements and consult your print vendor or provider to see whether the optional upgrades and finishing options would be worth the investment.
Depending on the accessories you choose, the weight and dimensions of the printer will vary, but the VersaLink C7030 base model weighs approximately 148 pounds.
Here’s a look at what the VersaLink C7030 could look like with the stand and additional accessories added (via QDoxs):
2 Pros of the Xerox VersaLink C7030
To get a better feel for the advantages of purchasing the VersaLink C7030, let’s look at a couple of the main pros associated with the machine.
1. Large Printing Capacity
With a recommended average monthly print volume of 7,000 pages and a duty cycle of up to 129,000 pages per month, the VersaLink C7030 is built to handle a sizable printing capacity for small-to-medium-sized businesses.
Although the machine can print up to 129,000 pages per month, it’s always advised to follow the monthly print volume rather than the monthly duty cycle to avoid overtaxing the printer. To learn more about print volume and duty cycle, read these blogs:
2. Permanent All-In-One Printing Solution
In addition to its capability of printing at a high volume, the VersaLink C7030 is also built to act as a permanent, multifunction, 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.
The benefit of investing in a multifunction printer is that you’re getting a machine that not only has print capabilities but also acts as your scanner, fax machine and copier, hence the “all-in-one” moniker.
With a multifunction printer, you get all these functions in one machine without having to invest in or make space for separate machines to execute each function.
For more information about multifunction printers, read these blogs:
2 Cons of the Xerox VersaLink C7030
Now that we’ve covered some of the positives regarding the VersaLink C7030, let’s go over two of the cons that you need to consider before making a purchasing decision:
1. Not a Printer for Large Workgroups
While the VersaLink C7030 is a solid multifunction option for small-to-medium workgroups, it’s not built to endure the workload required to satisfy the printing needs of businesses that print over its 7,000-page recommended monthly print volume.
If you’re a large workgroup and are wanting a more robust color multifunction printer, you would want to look into the AltaLink C8145 or C8155, depending on your monthly usage.
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 C7030 model. You can purchase the WIFI accessory for around $50.
Xerox VersaLink C7030 Cost
As listed previously, the base cost of the VersaLink C7030 is around $4,000. This doesn’t include optional upgrades or maintenance plans that you may want to include upon purchase of your machine.
While being a relatively affordable option compared to other color multifunction printers, such as the models in the AltaLink C8100 series, the VersaLink C7030 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 C7030 a Good Fit for?
The VersaLink C7030 is a good fit for:
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Small-to-medium-sized businesses that need a multifunction printer that can make around 7,000 color and black-and-white prints per month.
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Workgroups 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 would be a candidate for the VersaLink C7030. However, you would want to extensively evaluate your specific printing goals with a business consultant before purchasing.
Who Is the Xerox VersaLink C7030 Not a Good Fit for?
The VersaLink C7030 is not a good fit for:
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Large businesses with a monthly print volume of over 7,000 pages per month.
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Those searching for a single-function printer (print-only) for personal use.
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Businesses that don’t need to print or copy documents in color.
If you fall into one of these categories, then this is not the model for you. Read our blog about 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 C7000 Series?
The VersaLink C7030 model is the most advanced of the three printers in the Xerox VersaLink C7000 Series, with the others being the C7020 and C7025 models.
They all contain the same basic features, but the more advanced the model gets in the Series, the more efficient it is.
This is displayed by the ascending print speeds in the Series: The VersaLink C7020 has print speeds up to 20 ppm, the C7025 has print speeds of up to 25 ppm and the C7030 has print speeds of up to 30 ppm.
The same can be said for the monthly print volume. The C7020 model has a recommended monthly print volume of up to 5,500 pages, the C7025 has a monthly print volume of up to 6,250 pages and the C7030 has a monthly print volume of 7,000 pages.
To learn more about the other models in the C7000 Series, read our reviews of the C7020 and C7025.
For the newest models of the C7100 series, which replaces the C700 Series, check out our reviews for the C7120 and C7125 models.
Think the Xerox VersaLink C7030 Is Right for You?
The VersaLink C7030 is a quality option for small-to-medium workgroups that desire a machine equipped with user-friendly navigation and advanced technological features, such as an App Gallery and stringent security measures.
However, the VersaLink C7030 will not be for everybody. If you’re a business that prints over 7,000 pages or doesn’t require color printing, then you would want to look at another printer model.
Furthermore, businesses that print significantly less than 7,000 pages per month or need a single-function printer would not be a fit for the VersaLink C7030.
Now that you’ve seen everything you need to know about the VersaLink C7030, is it the right machine for you?
If you think it is, or you need help finding your ideal printing solution, reach out to us and we can discuss the next steps to getting the right machine in place for your company.
