Fargo/HID’s new entry level offering – the C50 printer – has taken a naming convention throwback, picking up where we left off with C30 and C30e. And truth be told, it pretty much looks the same.
All in all, the C50 is a proven design that has a good history and I would expect nothing less from this unit.
A Good Fit for Most Low Volume ID Issuance Needs
As an entry level model, The C50 has a 50 card input hopper and a 30 card output hopper, making it a good fit for most low volume ID card issuance situations.The Fargo C50 is compact, easy to use, and will blend in nicely with your Mac. Fargo has moved into the Mac market – which I am happy to report – and now offers drivers for this model along with all of its other models. I know this is not a “new” thing, but I do like to mention it when the opportunity presents itself.
Comes Bundled with Software, Blank Cards & YMCKO Ribbon
Touching back on ease of use, the C50 comes packed with Swift ID, which is a straight forward built-in card design app. It’s nothing fancy, but it will certainly get the job done if you are on a very tight budget.
Should you need something a little more robust, you can always upgrade to their Asure ID software package for more flexibility and creative license. Fargo offers two affordable upgrade bundles to choose from.
Impressive Print Speeds & Card Stock Flexibility
Print speed is always on everyone’s mind, and the C50 delivers a full-colored card in 24 seconds and a monochrome card in 7 seconds.
I appreciate that it will print on both CR80 and CR79 card stock. This is something every one of these printers should do but most don’t. Fargo has proven this can be done time and time again.
The card stock flexibility of the C50 adds to its appeal. In addition to printing on CR80 and CR79 stock, it can also print on thermal cards.
Eco-Friendly Ribbons Available
The Fargo C50 also has a bit of flexibility with ribbons. It can use the standard bulky Fargo ribbon cartridge or a refillable Eco cartridge, which is a great way to reduce the amount of waste with each ribbon use. Be sure to ask for the Eco cartridge ribbons by name – for some reason it’s still somewhat of a secret option.
Extended Driver Compatibility
Driver compatibility is another good feature of the C50. Along with the Mac drivers I mentioned above, Fargo supports Linux and all Windows desktop versions from 8 all the way back to XP. (RIP XP, as of April 9, 2014 Microsoft will no longer be supporting that operating system.)
And on a final note, the C50 comes with the industry standard 2 year warranty. All in all – the Fargo C50 is a great low volume card printer choice.
Questions?
If you need more information on the C50 printer – or want additional help choosing the best Fargo/HID printer for your organization’s needs – call our ID experts at 877-868-0012 or [email protected]. We’ll make it easy for you!
ID Card Group offers a price match guarantee, provides free shipping on orders over $100, and accepts purchase orders.
