Canon launch Bubble Jet S500 printer

Canon say this model can reach class-leading print speeds of 12ppm (pages per minute) of sharp mono text and 8ppm of colour print making it an excellent choice for fast action offices or home office users.

Optimum speed is achieved by 'relay paper feeding'. As the Canon S500 finishes printing at the end of a single sheet of paper, it is already loading the next sheet. This ensures that the print process is virtually continuous and the efficient paper handling ensures super-fast print speeds.

Maximum print economy is assured because the S500 features Canon's cost effective, Single Ink technology that uses individually replaceable ink tanks for each colour. Unlike combined ink-tank systems, there is no need to throw away unused ink when a single colour runs out, you simply need to replace the relevant empty ink tank with a new one. With Single Ink technology, a controlled light beam monitors the ink level in the separate colour tanks as it reduces. Before an individual tank needs replacing, an alarm warns you in plenty of time to ensure a replacement is available. Each of the ink tanks is translucent so you can quickly check ink levels by lifting the printer cover.

Canon S500 users can take advantage of Canon's High Colour pigment black ink that improves the quality of monochrome print and gives sharper text reproduction while Canon's new formula High Colour inks offer greater colour range and higher optical density.

A wide range of Canon media is available for the S500 Bubble Jet printer, including High Resolution Paper and Transparencies. Specialist A4 Photo Paper Pro (PR-101) and Photo Paper Pro 4x6in (PC-101S) are also available for superior photo quality. Canon now guarantees more than 25 years light fastness (subject to storage or display conditions)* for images printed on Photo Paper Pro using the S500.

The S500 has both Parallel and USB interfaces giving compatibility with Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Mac OS.   The printer can also be shared across a variety of network environments by using the Pricom C-700 (10 Base-T) and C-5100 (10/100 Base-TX) print servers.
It will be available from September 2001 at a retail price of around 159

*In-house evaluation on Photo Paper Pro (PR-101):
  Accelerated test conditions:
Temperature 24C
Humidity 60%
Light source: White fluorescent light 70,000lux
Conditions: Assume 1 days illumination as 500lux x 10 hours
   Layer of air and 2mm - thick glass on the sample

In-house Evaluation criteria (Based on ISO):
Single colour/Composite colour: A colour change has occurred if the density is under 70%(OD:1.0->0.7)
Process Bk: The fading ratio between each colour is within 15%, and A colour change has occurred if the density is under
70%(OD:1.0->0.7)

Precautions on storing printed images:
25 years of light-fastness may not be achieved depending on storage conditions. The expressed number of years is the result of simulated tests conducted by Canon Inc and is not guaranteed. This number of years does not allow for paper fading or durability. After
printing, allow the ink to dry completely. Store your images in albums, clear plastic folders, or glass frames in order to avoid exposing them to the open air. Never store printed images in locations subject to high temperatures, high humidity, or direct sunlight. Store them at normal room temperature. It is not advisable to use albums with self-adhesive pages for storing images as this may prevent them from being removed in the future.