IT Pro Verdict

The EvoJet Office is best suited to undemanding workloads, and its paper-handling features are basic, but in other regards it's in a different league to competing inkjets and colour lasers. Combining speed, quality and low running costs, it's a promising debut for Memjet's technology. We look forward to seeing it in more products.

By Simon Handby

published 31 July 2012

in Reviews

The key to the EvoJet's speed is a unique print head, produced by US firm Memjet. Regular inkjets have a narrow head which must travel back and forth to cover the page, whereas the EvoJet's huge head covers the entire width of the paper path. Instead of stepping sheets through to give the print head time to move, the paper transport simply keeps running; the stationary head sprays the paper with a 'waterfall' of ink as it passes underneath.

The EvoJet is capable of mimicking laser printing speeds due to the waterfall design of the print head

The resulting print speeds are more like those of a laser printer, but the EvoJet retains several inkjet advantages. Key among these is that there's no fuser to warm up, so the first page output time should be consistent regardless of how recently the printer's been used. As fusers are power hungry, going without one also means a printer uses less electricity, generates less heat and needs less cooling which can also be noisy.

On the negative side, the EvoJet doesn't have the durability of a laser: with a recommended monthly duty of up to 4,000 pages, it's only going to be suitable for smaller workgroups.

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After a brief career in corporate IT, Simon Handby combined his love of technology and writing when he made the move to Computer Shopper magazine. As a technology reviewer he's since tested everything from routers and switches, to smart air fryers and doorbells, and covered technology such as EVs, TVs, solar power and the singularity.

During more than 15 years as Shopper's long-time printer reviewer, Simon tried, tested and wrote up literally hundreds of home, small office and workgroup printers. He continues reviewing smart products and printers for a variety of publications, and has been an IT Pro contributor since 2010. Simon is almost never happier than when surrounded by printers and paper, applying his stopwatch and a seasoned eye to find the best performing, best value products for business users.