Epson Enters Low-End Laser Printer Market with EPL-3000

Strategic Insights -

Epson has introduced the EPL-3000, a laser printer that prints at four pages per minute (ppm) at 300 dots per inch (dpi) resolution, aiming to compete with Hewlett Packard's 4L personal laser market. The printer does not use GDI technology, a departure from other similarly priced lasers. Epson's announcement coincides with a report from market research firm IDC, which states that lasers with print speeds below 8ppm account for 60% of all units sold, and that the sub-eight ppm market segment is expected to grow by 20% in 1994, double the rate for other lasers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Epson EPL-3000 prints at four ppm at 300 dpi resolution.
  • The printer is priced below $1000 on the street.
  • The EPL-3000 does not use GDI technology, a departure from other similarly priced lasers.
  • Epson aims to compete with Hewlett Packard's 4L personal laser market.
  • Lasers with print speeds below 8ppm account for 60% of all units sold, according to IDC.
  • The sub-eight ppm market segment is expected to grow by 20% in 1994, double the rate for other lasers.
  • Epson's announcement coincides with the growing demand for low-end laser printers.
  • Lotus CD Releases SmartSuite 3.0, priced at $1150, with a promotional trade-up price of $495 for users of current Lotus stand-alone desktop applications and competing suites.
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Statistics:

  • The sub-eight ppm market segment is expected to grow by 20% in 1994.
  • Lasers with print speeds below 8ppm account for 60% of all units sold.
  • The EPL-3000 prints at 300 dpi resolution.
  • The EPL-3000 has a print speed of 4 ppm.
  • $1000 is the expected street price for the EPL-3000.

Sources:

  • Epson on (02)4159000 for more information.
  • IDC report on the low-end laser printer market.
  • Lotus SmartSuite 3.0 CD-ROM pricing.
  • Compression Labs on (02)7009266 for more details on Cameo Personal Video System 3.0.
  • WordPerfect 5.2+ upgrade pricing.
  • Novell on 1800244364 for more information on the WordPerfect upgrade.
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  • ComputerGram International on 4401712084200 for pricing and further information on the IT news service.
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  • Victorian Macintosh Users Group on (03)6547322 for more information on the next meeting.
  • Melbourne PC Users Group on (03)6996222 for more information on the annual general meeting.