MFDs and papercut.

[timbo343]

I was wondering what MFDs people have around in schools at the moment and share their experiences of them when used with Staff and/or students with papercut We have papercut at the moment but its only the NG version so know how it works. I'm mainly interested in the MFDs.

 

Really this is an exercise as we are looking at a few vendors - Toshiba, Kyocera, Konica, Xerox and canon to name a few.

 

Thanks

[localzuk]

Been using it with Ricoh machines for about 5 1/2 years now. Works well for us. Only staff have access to MFDs though, so I don't know how well it works with kids. Pupils just have their printing generally restricted on B&W printers instead.

[pcstru]

Papercut with Konica Minolta MFD's, release by mag card swipe. MFD's available to staff and in most places students (we do cover some of the MFD's in open areas with CCTV). Works well.

[Meldrew]

We use it here with students too using fingerprint biometrics. Students are limited to monochrome printing and a maximum number of pages is set. There was originally a mentality of 'we mustn't let students out of lessons!' they'll cause chaos. Turns out its really not a problem as they're out for a minute or two, then back.

 

Meldrew.

[Chris_]

We're using PaperCut MF with Toshiba MFDs for follow me printing and copy tracking, and restrictions on the desktop printer fleet also. We use RFID cards for authentication which we already had for door access. Staff have taken to it without too much fuss, they now remember to bring their door entry/ID cards!!

 

We used Arena Group (based in Leeds) for both the MFDs and PaperCut, it's useful having just one company looking after both systems as there's no blaming it on another company!

[MatthewL]

Sharp way forward.

 

I've just spent all morning messing around with a Toshiba trying to get it to play nicely with PaperCut and gave up till later in the week. Sharp from an engineers point of view takes 5 minutes tops to get it in a basic working form from unplugging to having PaperCut.

 

I have been a user of Sharp kit for 6 or 7 years now and its just getting more and more user friendly I find, in the last 2 years I have installed just short of 500 machines and not had one complaint, full of features as standard and have KS1 kids to college kids using them as well as staff plus many in corporate areas.

 

Speak to local suppliers, go look at machines in their showrooms, have a feel for yourself, speak to local schools nearby arrange a visit if they have one model.

[Printman]

Try Lexmark, comes with papercut embedded as standard and reduces down the cost of having MFDs with A3 when not required throughout the school. Works well with swipe cards or biometric release stations.

 

PM me for more details

[unixman_again]

Over Easter we installed a mix of Lexmark XS748s (for b/w) and Sharp MX2614s & MX6240s (for colour). We're using PaperCut and USB card readers for swiping our staff and student id cards for pull printing and scanning. So far (touch wood), it all works fine. We also installed Lexmark CS748s for our b/w printers in classrooms and offices.

 

Why are we using colour printers for b/w? You'll have to ask our supplier, but I think it is probably because they bought a job lot at a good price.