When a color job is outsourced, it is usually for one of the following reasons: fast turnaround is needed, better document finishing is needed, the job's length is long (an average of 3,822 pages). The transition from black-and-white–only devices to color-capable machines will be gradual. Operating costs are the most important aspect of consideration in this transition. If a black-and-white page costs $0. 01, respondents anticipate the color page to cost only three $0. 03 (median). In addition, the acceptable hardware cost premium between the two devices is only 15–20%. Lastly, respondents indicated that the time frame to completely transition from black-and-white–only devices to color-capable machines is nearly six years. However, 24% of respondents said that the transition to color-capable machines will never happen. The highest-rated product features for workgroup color hardcopy devices are reliability, output quality, network connectivity, hardware/operating costs, and ease of use. A surprising majority of respondents said that their workgroup color hardcopy devices do not have to be monitored and controlled for access and usage. This finding may have been affected by the overwhelming percentage of small businesses that said that the device does not need to be monitored and controlled. The highest-rated paper handling features for workgroup color hardcopy devices are supporting paper sizes larger than 8. 5 x 11in. , duplexed output, and having standard paper capacity over 500 sheets. The majority of respondents said the next workgroup color hardcopy device purchased/acquired would produce mostly black-and-white pages, with occasional color output. Specifically, this mix is about 70:30 in favor of black-and-white pages. The expected monthly volume is approximately 5,000 pages (median). The overwhelming next workgroup color hardcopy device of interest for purchase/acquisition is an MFP. By respondent percentage, interest in MFPs is nearly double that in printers and almost six times higher than interest in copiers. In addition, the MFP configuration of greatest interest is a full copy/fax/print/scan configuration. Respondents expect the new machine to replace existing devices. Most of these respondents said the new machine would most likely replace current black-and-white–only laser products. While the Windows operating system obviously must be supported on workgroup color hardcopy devices, certain markets show a high need for Mac OS and Linux support. Adobe Postscript attracts high interest. Clone Postscript has gained much smaller interest. PCL is wanted by slightly more than half of all respondents. Workgroup color hardcopy devices must be priced aggressively. The average expected price for this product is just over $8,600, but the median price is only $2,500. Channel preferences are similar for the hardware and maintenance needs. However, the channel preferences for purchasing supplies are more varied and wider than the hardware and maintenance preferences. "IDC projects significant growth for the workgroup color hardcopy market as it transitions from a niche to a mainstream market for general office applications. While IDC does not believe that color device shipments will overtake black-and-white–only device shipments within the forecast period, we anticipate that color offers the hottest market potential for hardware growth in the hardcopy market," said Keith Kmetz, program director for IDC's Hardcopy Peripheral Solutions and Services programs.

".