June 22, 2005

$99 For A Laser Printer - Dell is Making HP and Lexmark Cringe

If any vendor could do it, it's Dell - launching a $99 laser printer. Sure, it's black and white, and I'm sure it's NOT the fastest one on the market. However, at $99 it will meet the need of many.

HP and Lexmark will continue to be FORCED to play to Dell's tune and build cheaper products while understanding that more and more the printer IS a commodity. All the innovation in the world can be thrown into it but it is a commodity. As prices get higher and features expand, there of course will be more R&D that can be put into the product. But overall, the printer is a commodity.

Cnet writes The computing giant introduced its Dell Laser Printer 1100 on Tuesday. The device handles up to 15 pages a minute with a resolution of 600 dpi. Analysts predict competitors ranging from Hewlett-Packard to Lexmark will feel the pressure to offer something comparable, given that their low-end monochrome lasers start at roughly twice that price.

"Dell's laser is a disruptive price," said Charles Wolf, an analyst with Needham & Co., adding, "This could cause more consumers to shift over to laser."

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