Kyocera TASKalfa 308ci 358ci Review

Good: Additional finishing options on the TASKalfa 358ci model, 7" color touchscreen, mobile printing.
Bad: Not suitable for companies with high-volume printing needs.
Bottom Line: Two color MFPs with strong features geared toward SMBs.
Vendor:
Product:
Price:
Intended Users:
Kyocera
TASKalfa 308ci/358ci
Unknown
Small, Medium
Speed Black:
Speed Color:
Processor:
Memory:
32 ppm-37 ppm
32 ppm-37 ppm
1GHz
1.5 GB-4 GB

Product Overview

The TASKalfa 308ci and 358ci are the newest entries in Kyocera’s color MFP lineup. The TASKalfa 308ci prints and copies at up to 32 ppm in black and color, while the TASKalfa 358ci has an engine speed of up to 37 ppm. Printing, copying and scanning are standard functions and faxing is optional. First-page-out time for copying in color is 7.8 seconds on the 308ci and 7.3 seconds on the 358ci.

Both MFPs come with a 1 GHz processor. The TASKalfa 308ci has 1.5 GB of memory that’s expandable to 3 GB.  The TASKalfa 358ci has 4 GB of memory standard. Users can optionally purchase the 32 GB or 128 GB hard drive on the 308ci. The 368ci has a standard 320 GB hard drive.

Both devices has the 7″ color touch screen tablet-like interface for programming commonly-accessed workflows. The devices also support printing languages such as Kyocera’s proprietary PRESCRIBE language, PCL, PostScript and XPS. USB and Ethernet is standard while Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi are optional. Mobile printing is supported via Apple AirPrint, Google CloudPrint and Kyocera Mobile Print.

More information on these devices is in our Features section below.

Features

Paper handling: Paper handling starts with a 500-sheet tray and a 100-sheet bypass. Kyocera offers optional paper trays that max out at 3,100 sheets, including an additional single 500-sheet tray, two 500-sheet trays and a 2,000-sheet large-capacity tray. All trays accept up to 8.5″ x 14″ paper size. In addition, the TASKalfa 358ci supports a banner size of up to 8.5″ x 48″.

There is a standard 75-sheet reversing automatic document feeder on the TASKalfa 308ci. The TASKalfa 358ci, on the other hand, offers users a choice of three optional document feeders: a reversing automatic document feeder with a 75-sheet capacity, a dual-scan document feeder with a 100-sheet capacity and a dual-scan document feeder with a 270-sheet capacity.

The monthly duty cycle is 100,000 pages and both devices include a standard 500-sheet output tray. Kyocera offers an optional 300-sheet internal finisher with 50-sheet multiposition stapling. There’s also an optional job separator, as well as an optional five-bin mailbox.

The TASKalfa 358ci has two additional finishers, which is a 1,000-sheet finisher with a 50-sheet stapling capacity and a 3,200-sheet finisher with a 50-sheet stapling capacity.

Scanning: Users can send their scans in various ways, such as folder, email, FTP, USB, TWAIN and WSD. These devices accept several file formats, such as TIFF, PDF, XPS and JPEG. Searchable PDF is optional.

Faxing: The optional fax processor includes a 33.6 Kbps modem, up to 170 MB of memory (on the TASKalfa 358ci), network connectivity and duplexing.

Security: The device supports many security features, such as local and network authentication, secure print and LDAP authentication. Optional features include hard drive overwrite mode and hard drive encryption.

  • Automatic Document Feeder?
  • Duplexing?
  • Ethernet Connectivity?
  • Wireless Connectivity?
  • Mobile Printing/Scanning?
  • Finishers?

Shortcomings

These devices may not be suitable for companies with high-volume printing needs.

About

KYOCERA Document Solutions America, Inc., headquartered in Fairfield, N.J., is a leading provider of computer-connectable document imaging and document management systems, including network-ready digital MFPs/printers, laser printers, color MFPs/printers, digital laser facsimiles, and multifunctional and wide format imaging solutions. KYOCERA Document Solutions America is a group company of KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., a core company of the KYOCERA Corporation, the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of advanced ceramics and associated products, including telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages and electronic components.

Copystar brand: Kyocera also sells its machines under the Copystar name, which is a brand originally created for its smaller dealers, but now sells a full range of color and black-and-white MFPs and printers. The Copystar models are identical to the equivalent Kyocera ones and sell at the same prices.

Distribution: Kyocera sells its copiers primarily through dealers, though it has recently been expanding its direct organization and now has about 10 branches. It has more dealers than some of its rivals — approximately 420, compared to an industry average of about 350.

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