Color Laser printers and PS3 emulation vs real PS3

[bigg_MARK]

I am looking to replace my "Free" color printers Xerox Phaser 860 with a new color laser printer. The Phaser did us wel, was true PS3 but didn't do 11x17, wee need Tabloid printing.
So I'm on the hunt. We looked at a few Color Copier solutions but our current office equipment, while old is not dead so idealy my department would be the only upgrade.
I found a couple of printers that meet my criteria but they both have PS emulation only.

Anybody here use this technology?
Does it work fine, do things print off the printer looking like they do when they come out of the imagesetter?

We will not be using this device for color proofing, just for a visual for the pressmen, as well as for positioning on press (we do envelopes on Jet presses).

the two printers I'm considering are within 2k-3k and are as follows:

#1 HP Color Laserjet 5550n
• I understand HP has been running emulation for the longest time.

#2 OKIDATA C9300
• Will do 11x17 full bleed

Any input would be appreciated.

[seratne]

Alot of people use the HP printers with almost no problems. But, just because a printer uses PS emulation doesn't mean it will perform or output any better/more precise or worse than either true PS or even PCL. In fact with HP printers I've found that it's faster and more accurate to use PCL for printing.

If you've had good success with your old Xerox, why not look at their 7400 model that does tabloid size?

[bigg_MARK]

The cost of a Xerox that does 11x17 is 3 times the cost of the HP.

Plus I'm tired of the Xerox "wax based ink", it looks good but overtime the blues seem to turn color and are never close to the atcual printed piece. If I can be more accurate now's the time to go for it. It doesn't have to be an exact color match but If I can help it it will be closer.

[seratne]

The Xerox 7400n is the same price as the HP5500 and does not use wax based inks, it uses plain old toner.
http://www.office.xerox.com/color-pr...7400/enus.html

Also, the HP can only handle 11.7x17 while the Xerox handles 12x18, so with the Xerox you can print 11x17s with bleed.

[bigg_MARK]

I stand corrected, thanks!

I'd rather have a Xerox, and TRUE PS3 any day.