I am a Copystar Dealer that has not bought any TaskAlpha Color machines, Yet. All of the comments posted, the numerous firmware upgrades, the lack of common features on the initial models, has me very leery about how much testing was done on the machine before the introduction, and I did not want to get involved and just have headaches. I have been there in the past with selling a machine and thne needing to keep reselling it over and over because the client is not happy.
With that being said, does anyone have good news about these machines? How many do you have in the field? What is their Image volume? Has copy quality held up? What is your images between calls? How is the Toner Yield?
I do not place machines in the Graphic Arts, Advertising Industry, so comments about poor image with 60-80% coverage is not a concern for me. But under typical business applications, Church Bullitens with moderate color coverage, etc. In general what is the overall performance like. Thanks for any feedback.
Posts: 169 | Location: Midwest | Registered: January 07, 2003
We have 22 in the field and 2 in our shop. We have had problems with 3 of these machines, but with the new designs on the developer motors, etc., and firmware updates, 2 of the 3 have been ok (the third was declared dead by Kyocera. However, we had been swapping parts between a 400 and 500 to get one running and I believe that was the majority of the reason for the 500 to be DOA). The other 21 have had no issues.
If at first you don't succeed, redefine success.
Posts: 85 | Location: Texarkana | Registered: October 07, 2009
Have put out a dozen or so, no graphics houses, mainly churches and small businesses, have not had one problem. I see the point of not wanting to jump the gun with new technology, but in all seriousness, you can't compete in the market without new equipment. If you try to sell someone a Voyager, and the competition is pitching a new Ricoh or Canon, you're gonna lose the deal.The Voyagers were a step up from from previous KM color, but that doesn't say much, does it? I do believe the T/A's are a huge leap forward, we all just have to hang on tight and hope KM works the bugs out.
=========================== Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. - G. Carlin
Ballpark, you were smart to wait, as these have many issue I was told by our Rep that they are being replace and will be showing new clor line at the April show
Posts: 52 | Location: CA | Registered: June 23, 2003
Toddnew: Thanks, I was waiting for a newer version to come out with all of the issues addressed at the factory. I wonder why Kyocera is having so much trouble developing a solid color machine. Thanks for all of your comments.
Posts: 169 | Location: Midwest | Registered: January 07, 2003
I waited also, just installed my first one this week, I haven't touched a KM since the 830's. I have been selling Canon and recently had a couple of machine's with main board problems, 6 months old and no warranty from Canon. So I took the plunge back in with KM, time will tell but at least we have the 3 year warranty.
Posts: 324 | Location: New York | Registered: January 09, 2003
We have well over a dozen out. We just placed 6 with one customer that had some first series voyagers that they hated. It took a six month demo of a TA machine to convince everybody that KM was the brand to stay with. They really wanted to stay with us - just not KM.
The six we placed actually only replaced 3 copiers - they went with more slower machines favoring availability over speed.
Alright, I might be forced to dive into the KY color, besides upgrading the firmware to the latest version, does anyone have other recommendations of what we need to do to the machine before we deliver it to the client? Does the fax system work with these machines, or is that a problem? Have the fuser tearing been solved with the firmware? Are the toner yields improving with Firmware? Let all of your feeling flow to me about these machines....
Posts: 169 | Location: Midwest | Registered: January 07, 2003
If you've got a customer running 50 or more prints of images with heavy fill, the image quality can start to fade. There are adjustments listed in the "Color" forum that effectively counteract this problem. Look here:
I have over 30 out in the field, and have had no serious issues so far. I have not replaced a drum, developer, fuser as of yet. Matter of fact I have not put any parts besides technical bulletin parts in what so ever in these machines. I keep my firmware up to date and my technical bulletins up to date.
I started working on Kyocera printers before they bought out Mita and have been working on Mita before Kyocera bought them out. All I can say is my hat is off to Kyocera for all of their leaps and bounds they have done. There are some changes I would like to see and sometimes I say what the heck is this, but all in all I like the product.
our experience with these task alfa colour boxes is not good.wish i could say otherwise but i cant.they just cant get it right hence all the firmware updates which most of the time fix very little.background issues is the latest in a long line of problems for us and of course we are the only ones having these problems according to km.got 2 waiting in boxes to be shipped back we had to uplift and swap out of a customers due to many problems.kyocera black and white great but colour back to the drawing board, they just cant cut it.
Well, now I am confused.. I started this posting asking for positive comments, hoping to gain enough confidence in the color to want to take the plunge. And some of you have posted satisfaction with the product, while others seem to be having a nightmare with the machines. My feeling is that, well engineered machines that have a problem, the problem is recognized by the manufacture, and they have the proper fix, not just a band-aid, and these units will perform fine. But when you have such a varying degree of satisfaction & performance, this is an indication of the machine with problems.
When you need to ship machines back to the manufacture, tells me there is some underlying problems that need to be resolved. ( ex. electronics - software, etc.. ) We have all battled tempermental machines and it is not a plesant place to be with a client breathing down your back.
I am not seeking the perfect machine, just a solid machine. Maybe I can wait and see if these models are updated in April...Who knows...
Posts: 169 | Location: Midwest | Registered: January 07, 2003
I have about 20 out and all had some kind of isues from dv unit going bad becuse the auger seals leaking to drum units locking up becuse the wast toner gear maesh failing all the way to the poor color out put.
Techboy - Yes I am selling the NEC along with Samsung & Copystar. I feel I have a fairly good combination with these three manufactures. The majority of our business is 20-50 ppm units, and this combination offers several options. Kyocera 3 Year Warranty is a plus, but the Toner cost is an issue for me, since that is the one supply item we cannot control. If toner yeilds are way low for whatever reason, we could be maintaining a machine just to break even.
While the NEC Color is a solid machine, I need to offer the TASKalpha color units in combination with Copystar B&W with multi machine install clients.
Every Manufacture has it's pro's & con's.
Posts: 169 | Location: Midwest | Registered: January 07, 2003
