Gestetner F104 Printer Review
The Gestetner F104 is a dedicated laser fax machine, which could come in handy for a small office with a lot of incoming and outgoing fax volume. Its output speed of 15 pages per minute is a bit slow, but it has a 33.6 Kbps transmission rate, and an upgradeable paper capacity is a good option for future growth.
The F104 might not be quite as compact as some buyers would prefer, but it is a comfortable fit on a desk surface. The unit measures 21.6x17.6x21.7 inches, but it weighs a fairly hefty 61.7 pounds, including the Gestetner F104 printer toner supply.
Some of this extra bulk is made up from its robust paper handling. It includes a 70-sheet automatic document feeder for automated scanning, and the standard paper supply includes both a 250-sheet tray and a larger 500-sheet tray. Offices with larger volumes can expand this up to 1,350 sheets, requiring another 500-sheet tray and a 100-sheet bypass tray for alternative media.
The F104L model includes some enhancements such as internet faxing and color scanning to email. The former can save on long-distance fees, while the latter can help reduce paper and Gestetner F104 toner usage. Both models can also store faxes in memory for up to 12 hours to ensure that important documents aren't missed when paper runs out or the unit encounters an error.
An access panel makes replacing toners a simple process, but Gestetner F104 toner cartridges won't need frequent replacement. With a yield of around 6,000 pages for each Gestetner F104 toner cartridge, users also benefit from a low cost per page that keeps operating costs within a comfortable range.
As more offices move away from faxing, a machine like the Gestetner F104 will lose appeal. For those who still need a robust faxing solution with upgradeability and solid performance, however, it remains a cost-effective option.