Best laser printer for laser transferes ?

[logobear]

Logobear have used Xerox DC12 for our laser transfere printing for over 10 years, - it is a big old beast, but absolutely the very very best laser printer ever made for toner laser transfer.
The problem is that since the model is 20 years old, there are only Windows XP drivers, and Microsoft stop XP support next month.
Universal drivers do not support manual feed, or extra heavy paper stock settings needed for good fuser action.
TMT recommend Oci C610 A4 laser printer for about £500 or unsupported for about £400 but I wonder if you have any suggestions?
I have a Oci 711w and would prefere a CMYK A3 laser if possible, but understand the fuser units of A3 laser units cannot deal with fusing to heavyweight transfere media....
Your thoughts or experience?

[spongerobinson]

My thoughts would be if the printer is working fine and your happy with the quality, then keep going with Windows XP for now. If you have a computer running XP that you don't have to connect to the net, then I wouldn't be worried in the slightest about Microsoft stopping support. If it's connected to the internet then you are more prone to problems. Windows XP is a pretty solid os IMO.

[logobear]

if my XP is on the network, surely it is connected..... and extra vunerable ?
ALSO - it is a PITA to have to work on 1 pc, - then save as a lower version, re-open on the XP and print, - fonts etc can be different and stuff...

[spongerobinson]

If it's on an internet connected network then yes. I wouldn't think it's any more vulnerable then normal though. It should be possible to disable internet traffic on a specific machine, and just use it for local network access, but again this doesn't help with software versions, fonts, etc.

I know how much of a pain it can be working on different computers and transferring files though...we use 3 different macs and trying to ensure fonts are on each one and the likes, is a right pain. Just seems a shame if it's such a good printer to let it go!

We don't print laser transfers ourselves, so can't really comment on the quality of the printers you mentioned.

[neilb]

We have a Oki C821N which is A3 colour and seems to work fine with TMT transfer paper although admittedly it isn't used much.

[RogerC]

XP support might be stopping but unless you need upgrades I don't see any problem just continuing to use it.

[logobear]

will i still be able to get service packs if i do a clean re-install?

[spongerobinson]

According to Microsoft


Yes, all existing Windows XP updates and fixes will still be available via Windows Update and WSUS.



Its on this page: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/enterprise/end-of-support.aspx

[windyash]

.
TMT recommend Oci C610 A4 laser printer for about £500 or unsupported for about £400 but I wonder if you have any suggestions?


Is there much change between the supported and unsupported versions? Im still looking to buy an A4 laser but not sure what I should do , how does the unsupported version fair with TMT / Xpres papers?