🚀 go-pugleaf

We plan to install a network of Macs (SEs) this summer and are investigating
ways of keeping track of laser printer output so that user's can be charged.
In our current CP/M network a WordStar printing program we developed 
counts pages as it is formatting output and updates a master accounting
file from which users are billed on a monthly basis.  From our point of
view this approach is ideal since it requires no operator intervention.

Unfortunately, the complexity of printing operations on the Mac would seem
to eliminate such a simple solution.  Three other possibilities could be:
     1) do not charge users for output;
     2) hire someone to count pages and distribute output;
     3) use a magnetic card similar to ones available for photocopies that
        keeps track of pages on the card. 

Solution 1 is only viable for rich universities (which we aren't).  Solution
2 is a bit better, but probably would end up costing as much as number 1.
Which brings me to number 3.  Has anyone had any experience with these
cards in conjunction with a laser printer charging scheme.  Our information
on them indicate that there are many ways to defeat them, which would be
unacceptable to us.  Unfortunately, unless someone comes up with a better
solution, it seems to be the only possibility.

If anyone would care to shed some light on this subject, please email
your suggestions to me, and I'll summarize for the net.  Thanks.


Paul H. Steele      UUCP:      {seismo|watmath|utai|garfield}!dalcs!aucs!Paul
Acadia University   BITNET:    {Paul|phs}@Acadia
Wolfville, NS       Internet:  {Paul|phs}%Acadia.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU
CANADA  B0P 1X0     PHONEnet:  (902) 542-2201x587