🚀 go-pugleaf

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Agreed with all of this response, but have added my comments.

> ---------- response -----
>
> On our network, we use both approaches.  That is, we map LPT1: to the
> nearest dot-matrix printer, and LPT3: to the lab's laser printer.  The
> appropriate printer drivers are installed in our apps.  This permits
> folks to use the dot-matrix for draft printing, and the lasers for
> high-quality printing.

We did something like this for awhile.  Couldn't get students to use the
dot matrix printers.  Why would they, laser printing was available (free),
and when changing from one printer to another, the look of the document
would change. (especially word perfect.)

> 1. Look carefully at your maintenance coverage, especially for the warranty
> period.  Occassionally, these large lasers (we use Digital Printserver 17)
> will not include on-site maintenance in the warranty.  If the
> printer goes down - you will simply be without a printer for a (long) while.
> This is one area where several dot-matrix printers have a single laser
> beat......some "creative shuffling" can allow dot-matrix printing to
> stay up, even if one of the printers breaks.  In our configuration, we still
> have dot-matrix on line to carry the load if the lasers are off-line for a
> while.

We solve this by having a spare laser printer.  We have three HP V si's in
duty.  And an HP iv si as a spare.  Actually, the iv si was an older
printer that was kind of retired, but its the spare, getting light duty as
the spare in an individual's office.  He knows its the spare.

How do you get management to buy 3 hp v si's?  1. Never suggest buying a
printer, management knows they are dollar hogs and won't listen. 2.
Plainly post your email address by the printer as the place to send
complaints.  3.  When enough students and other important people complain,
forward these along with your "plan" to resolved this issue.

Gosh, that sounded cynical :-)

> 2. Keep an eye on printing costs!  When we implemented our printing plan,
> even our most pessimistic analysts were surprised at how much money the
> toner and laser paper were costing us for students to laser print whenever
> they want to.  We are now considering setting a laser printing "quota"
> for students, or finding another method for having the users help pay
> for the printing supplies.

4 to 5 cents a page.  paper, toner, maintenance, and depreciation.

> 3.  Take a careful look at the "tons of memory" option.
> We have control of print jobs in the queue, but cannot control the
> printer memory.  If a "garbage job" starts coming out that might waste
> a ream or two of paper, the only way to kill it is to kill the printer, and
> restart it.  Unfortunately, this also kills anyone else's job that was
> in memory with this "malignant" printout.  Users don't like that part.
> Also, our lasers take 20 or 30 minutes to warm up and come into service,
> even if they were already warm........so this delay is not taken well by
> the students who needed to turn something in in ten minutes.......
> In some of these cases, a cheap laser printer with less memory, and very
> fast come-on-line time would be a better alternative.

We don't have this problem.  We can cancel a printing job.  I think the hp
v si's take about 3 or 4 minutes to come online.  I haven't timed it, it's
never been an issue.  I think they are rated at 12 ppm, and one serves a
lab of 54 well.

Ken Schriner                            kens@comp.uark.edu