The Aficio IS300e is a full colour duplex scanner with 40-second warm up time, able to scan 100 sheets in one run at up to 38 ppm and 100-600 dpi resolution. Thanks to an impressive spectrum of embedded software, it is a widely compatible self contained system. All that is needed to monitor the system from a PC is a web browser and settings can be altered as needed with Web Status Monitor.

Network connected, the Aficio IS300e offers various capabilities to smoothen the workflow in the smaller office. Different document processing methods are available. ‘Scan to print’ means fast and affordable colour output through connected printers (up to 99). ‘Scan to e-mail’ offers the ability to send scanned documents to any e-mail address in the world. ‘Scan to folder’ allows a document to be directly sent to a designated folder without extra software requirements. And ‘scan to FTP’ means easy sharing of large files with remote offices in a network.

Connectivity has been upped to optimal. Ethernet 10 base-T/100 base TX, Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b), USB for connection to printer, TCP/IP for trouble free network integration. Connectivity is excellent. The IS300e outputs to most file formats (TIFF, multi-page TIFF, JPEG and PDF).

Ricoh’s IS300e product manager Akio Sekizawa says, “The IS300e is a good looking unit and the technologies are state-of-the-art. It is an extremely well networked scanning station, responding to many customer needs. Anybody who wants to digitise and transmit colour documents, will be happy with the IS300e. It can also be used as colour copier in combination with Ricoh printers. I am sure users will get acquainted with it fast and soon learn how to get the most out of it. We are sure it is going to be a success.”

The exterior design of the unit offers some elegant ergonomic features that stand for extra ease of use and an attractive appearance. For instance, the platen cover has an easy to use ‘no look’ grip. The operating panel, while compact, is still highly visible and the keys are so intuitive as to suggest an instruction manual is hardly needed.

The Aficio IS300e is the latest addition to Ricoh's range of network scanners. Ricoh currently manufactures one of the world's most extensive line ups of copiers, printers, scanners, faxes and multifunctional devices, as well as advanced software solutions.