Available in standard and enhanced configurations-the standard has 8 MB of RAM and maxes out at 600-dpi resolutions, while the enhanced sports 40 MB of RAM and 1,200-dpi output-the Phaser 560 comes in at an affordable $4,495 (for the standard configuration).

Even Mr. Spock Would Approve As with the 550, getting the Phaser 560 integrated into your network is a snap. Whether you're transporting print jobs over NetWare protocols or TCP/IP, setup is as painless as surgery in Dr. McCoy's sick bay. You can select the standalone administration software, or skip the bother and point your Web browser at the printer's built-in HTTP server. If you're into buttons, you can set up the printer from the LCD display on the front panel.

Also like the 550, the 560's network capabilities are superb. The PhaserShare card we tested included an Ethernet interface with support for NetWare, EtherTalk and TCP/IP. (I tested EtherTalk and TCP/IP protocols.) You can also get PhaserShare cards that support LocalTalk and Token-Ring configurations.

The Web-based management software, PhaserShare administra tor, with the addition of the ability to manage consumables, is the best printer management tool I've seen. You can configure the printer, manage network connections and determine the status of the printer's consumables-toner, fuser and imaging unit-all from your browser. So a printer administrator could be out hunting the galaxy for Tribbles, while managing the Phaser 560-as long as he or she knows the printer's IP address. (Administration is performed on a printer-by-printer basis.)

Color quality is somewhat improved over the 550. I noticed that colors seemed crisper at the default settings, which Tektronix credits to its automatic print mode optimization algorithms.

Speed is at a dead-heat: Like its predecessor, the 560 serves up a rated five pages per minute (ppm) for color printouts and 14 ppm for black and white. The Phaser isn't the fastest all-around printer. It provides adequate speed, however, with full page color images. Unlike many network color printers, the Phaser 560 works well with a variety of media types. Pulling down the left-side panel reveals the multipurpose tray, which handles 10 envelopes, 30 sheets of card or label stock and 50 sheets of transparencies.

The most noticeable change in the printer's physical appearance is the addition of a much sturdier output tray. A stronger plastic tray replaces the 550's tray, which sprouted at a 45-degree angle off of the side.

I had a few quibbles with the product. The printer ships with starter toner cartridges that are half the capacity of standard cartridges. And placing trays along the sides of the unit makes it difficult to maneuver in cramped quarters. n

David A. Harvey is a freelance reviewer and journalist who lives in New York. He can be reached at daharvey@mindspring.com.