I was in a competitive situation today pitching a new colour copier. The competition came in pitching a used Ricoh copier probably because they can make a lot more money selling a used box than a new one.
This customer seemed quite concerned about keeping current with technology but was attracted to the lower cost of the used box.
I understand that many customers plan to put Windows 8 IT purchases off into the future but if you are buying a copier on a five year lease, it is very likely your organization will have a Windows 8 PC.
I discovered today that the transition to Windows 8 might not be as smooth as simply saying that the Windows 7 print drivers will work A-Ok.
There are some real issues with SMB scanning that can only be fixed with firmware updates. Toshiba and Ricoh do not plan to begin to release updates until Jan 2013.
Where do you think that leaves the customer with the prospects of a manufacturer bringing out timely updates for a discontinued product?
Does anyone know where the other MFP manufacturers are with Windows 8 compatibility release dates?
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