Affordable color lasers have multiplied from discounted old stock through new, slightly more compact, models a year later to today. When every small office and workgroup can enjoy a workhorse, high-volume alternative to inkjet printing and every vendor offers a color laser priced low enough to tempt even solo, let alone network, users.

A fast laser printer will let you crank out lots of black and white pages. A good inkjet properly used can produce high-quality photographic images. For some of the best of each, the Phaser 8560 uses solid-ink technology to quickly deliver rich, even color. And with PostScript compatibility and color-tweaking, you get performance unmatched by an entry-level color laser printer.

The Phaser 8560 is a solid ink printer (also known as wax-jet or phase-change printer). Instead of using liquid or powdered inks, the Phaser 8560 utilizes small solid blocks of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black ink that are specially shaped to be held and used by the printer. Because the blocks are solid, the Phaser 8560 is easy to reload with no mess or fuss.

The Xerox Phaser 8560 is revolutionary. You no longer need complicated software or an over-used front panel LCD to tell you when the ink is low. By simply opening the front of the printer, you can see how much ink has been used directly. More importantly, you can add ink at any time without having to unload or reprogram. Simply drop a new block in the slot.

Unlike the hassles of disposing of or trying to recycle an ink cartridge or waste tank, the Phaser 8560 ink pack is friendly to the earth - requiring you to replace a single tiny kit or image drum lubrication package every ten or thirty thousand pages. There's also a wastes tray you have to keep empty and replace now and then.

The short crayons melt within the printer, and the ink flows into a reservoir. The Xerox Phaser has a signifcant environmental impact because it draws up to 1500 watts, but Xerox says it averages less than 300 watts. A 600 by 600 dpi print head with 1236 nozzles sprays the ink onto a turning, warmed drum that transfer the ink to the paper in a sinle pass, compared to the four separate passes more cheap color lasers require.

The ink will have no seeping or blotting which are characteristic of inkjets. It will not smudge or smear. Also, it hardens almost immediately on the paper page, although it may be scratched off with a fingernail. This results in a page of print that looks as if it were painted. Shades and tones are rich in color and quite glossy. You will see none of the banding typical of many inkjets.

Phaser 8560 ink makes stunning color copies. It's no competition for an inkjet when it comes to image quality, but it's still pretty terrific. The phaser 8560 solid ink utilizes solid blocks of ink, which makes it easy to reload. By simply opening the front of the Xerox Phaser 8560 you can see how much ink has been used directly. More importantly, you can add ink at any time without having to unload or reprogram. The ink dries rapidly, and there is no seeping or smearing. The printout practically looks like it's been painted on with rich, glossy shades, and the negatives like banding are eliminated.