As mentioned on the previous page, let's delve a little deeper into some very important differences between the Fargo (HID Global) HDP5000 "reverse image" printer and the XID family of retransfer printers.

Image Quality
Though we have seen many marketing materials from Fargo touting their superior print quality, we have yet to see it for ourselves. When compared to many Direct Card printers, it is indeed an improvement. However, it is by no means superior in image quality to the XID printers. Upon close inspection, there are significant registration errors with the printed image from the HDP5000 as well as overall flat color processing. The XID family produces sharper images, crisp registration and vibrant colors. Compare color print tests here. Compare printer registration tests here.

Print Speeds
First, let's cover some basic technical differences in speed, material options and volume and warranty. According to Fargo's specification sheet, the HDP5000 prints a single-side YMCK card image in 46 seconds. The entry-level XID560ie can do the same in about 45 seconds, while the 570ie model prints the same card in 37 seconds and both the 580ie and 590ie printers can do it in just under 30 seconds. This can mean the difference in hundreds of cards per day, depending on your volume needs.

High Volume Production
The Fargo HDP5000 comes standard with a 100 card input hopper, while all XID models come standard with a removable and adjustable card drawer that holds 300 CR80 30mil blank cards. The HDP5000 can handle cards as thin as 30mil to as thick as 50mil, while all XID printers can use cards as thin as 10mil and as thick as 80mil, including HID clam shells. As for ribbon yield, with "portrait" mode printing, all XID5xxie retransfer printers can print 1,000 YMCK cards per roll, while the HDP5000, using the more traditional "landscape" mode, can yield only 500 YMCK prints per roll.

             
      The HDP5000 ribbon cartridge holds 500 landscape prints versus 1,000 portrait prints per XID roll

Special Ribbon Features
All models of the EDIsecure^® XID printers also come ready with K-panel Security Ribbon Erase, a driver feature that allows the user to automatically "eradicate" the printed data and images on the resin black panel of the color ribbon, eliminating the ability of unauthorized persons to photocopy the used media and collect confidential data. The HDP5000 does not offer such a security feature. Another ribbon type available to the XID580ie and 590ie models that is not offered for the HDP5000, is our unique YMCK-UV, which lets you print photos, text, logos, and whatever else you might need, in High Resolution UltraViolet dye, in addition to regular 4-color images. More than just a "cool" feature, our High Res UV printing is designed specifically to deter counterfeiting, because it automatically prints the printer unique machine access code onto the corner of the card, making each issued ID traceable back to the exact unit that personalized it. When combined with our Card Management Software (CMS) or our IDExpert^® SmartACT software, you can choose specific text and graphic items to print in UV from the same card layout as your color items, which truly makes the XID UV solution unique. Fargo says that they, too, offer what they call a 250 print "fluorescing" ribbon for the HDP5000.

Interior Cleaning Systems
The entire XID family also uses an advanced reusable cleaning roller system, allowing you to wash and reuse the same cartridge over and over again for hundreds of thousands of prints. The HDP5000 uses an awkward replaceable adhesive tape roll that cleans only one of the interior non-removable "cleaning" rollers and is recommended for replacement after every 1,000 prints. XID printers not only save you time and money, but reduce your risk of damage to interior components, with its much more efficient system that cleans both sides of every card, whether you print on both sides or not.

         
              The HDP5000 has a disposable adhesive roller that cleans only the top "cleaning" roller,
                        while the XID has a removable and reusable cleaning roller cartridge system

User Friendly Interactivity
While both systems boast of a multi-line Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), only the XID series' is color-coded so the printer status can be recognized from across the room without being directly in front of the printer or the attached workstation. There are 4 colors preset on the XID (red for error, orange for busy, blue for ready, and green for upload) with a total of 16 color options available to the end user to change if desired. The XID series driver also comes with a dispatcher on the workstation that gives you the status of all active printers connected to the system and the related print jobs. Print jobs in queue can be selected, paused, moved, or deleted directly from the dispatcher. This cannot currently be done with the HDP5000. For the XID580ie and 590ie models, additional features are included in the interactive LCD display and the driver, such as uploading custom color look-up tables for precise color matching and card material presets for ABS, PVC, PVH, PET and PC cards so that just the right speeds and temperatures are used to create perfectly printed and perfectly flat cards every time. The HDP5000 does come with "look-up" table options for card temperature and speed adjustments only.

    
       1 Color HDP LCD versus Multi-color XID Color-coded LCD which allows you to clearly recognize the
                                   printer's status based on its color code from much farther away

Warranties and Reputations
Speaking of hundreds of thousands of prints, though both printers come with lifetime warranties on the print head, Fargo recently updated their warranty to 2 years for parts and labor on the HDP5000, plus they offer a year of free loaner support in the US only, which you may be likely to use if you own one. All EDIsecure^® printers, including our Value Line, come with a minimum 2 years standard warranty for parts and labor, with the XID590ie having a minimum 3 year warranty. With nearly 10,000* XID models still active worldwide since 2001, many with over 300,000 prints on the original print head producing the same impressive quality, only the EDIsecure^® family of retransfer printers has the proven track record for ultimate reliability in retransfer printing.

For those of you who may still be considering the "cheaper" HDP5000, let's take a look at what we believe are some serious design flaws with Fargo's reverse image printer by continuing here.

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Click below to know more about these key EDIsecure^® products and features:  

  • High Resolution UV Printing  
  • K-Panel Security Ribbon Erase  
  • Contact/Contactless Chip Encoding
  • Printer & Print Head Warranties   
  • Custom Inline Lamination
  • Advanced Intelligent Printer Management  
  • Card Management Software  
  • Value Line Direct Card Printers 

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Contact us today if you would like to see a live demonstration of our EDIsecure products or if you would like more information about becoming a Certified Reseller or Systems Integrator.

Call 1-888-DIS-USA-1, opt 2 or email sales@dis-usa.com.

© 2009 Digital Identification Solutions LLC     All Rights Reserved.      "EDIsecure" is a registered trademark of Digital Identification Solutions AG.

Digital Identification Solutions
111 Kiowa Lane
Piedmont, SC 29673
sales@dis-usa.com
www.edisecure.com
1-888-DIS-USA-1

*Includes both XID and original IDX branded retransfer printers shipped worldwide since 2001.