PaperCut MF - Solution Provider Only?

[Cache]

Hi all

 

I'm trying to get my head around Papercut MF at the moment.

 

We use PapercutNG to monitor all our printers and we're looking at changing the way we are using our Photocopiers so Papercut MF seems a sensible way to go. I can't find the answers to the questions I have though so hoping someone can help!

 

1. Can you self install/manage Papercut MF or does it need to be done by a solutions provider?
   
2. Can it be "retro-installed" onto an existing copier or does the copier need to be leased with it in place?
   
3. Anybody any experience of using Papercut MF with Konica Minolta devices?
   
4. Anybody any experience of trying to do this with Konica Minolta direct?
   
5. I quite like Papercut, however should I be looking at something else as well?
   

 

Thanks

[Narwhal]

I can answer the first two for you. You can install and manage the papercut install on the devices yourself if you own and maintain them. If they are leased you will need to either have lessor install it or have their permission to do so. If they are leased you can ensure that Papercut is an included part of the deal.

[DGardiner]

Hi all

 

I'm trying to get my head around Papercut MF at the moment.

 

We use PapercutNG to monitor all our printers and we're looking at changing the way we are using our Photocopiers so Papercut MF seems a sensible way to go. I can't find the answers to the questions I have though so hoping someone can help!

 

1. Can you self install/manage Papercut MF or does it need to be done by a solutions provider?
   
2. Can it be "retro-installed" onto an existing copier or does the copier need to be leased with it in place?
   
3. Anybody any experience of using Papercut MF with Konica Minolta devices?
   
4. Anybody any experience of trying to do this with Konica Minolta direct?
   
5. I quite like Papercut, however should I be looking at something else as well?
   

 

Thanks

1. you can self install easily

2. some copiers require extras to be able to support the embeded software on the machine

3. sorry, only toshiba/ricoh here.

4. Na

5. i use papercut in all of my schools.

 

what i will say is try and get whoever you buy it from to purchase it on your behalf then at the end of your term with the current provider you will just need to pay a maintenance fee to keep it rather than rebuying it all over again. because it isn't cheap!

 

just got papercut 18 installed at one site and its great! the embeded scanning is #1!

Edited March 13, 2018 by DGardiner

[pete]

 

1. Can you self install/manage Papercut MF or does it need to be done by a solutions provider?
   
2. Can it be "retro-installed" onto an existing copier or does the copier need to be leased with it in place?
   
3. Anybody any experience of using Papercut MF with Konica Minolta devices?
   
4. Anybody any experience of trying to do this with Konica Minolta direct?
   
5. I quite like Papercut, however should I be looking at something else as well?
   

 

• We ran PaperCut NG for years and we simply upgraded it to MF as part of a new contract. We made it a point of purchase / contract that we wouldn't be paying £750/throw for KM to do it every time there's a MF point release.
  
• It can be retro-installed, but KM will charge you for the work and the charge will very likely be higher than if you rolled it into a new contract. Twist your account manager's arm.
  
• Yes. Works well.
  
• Yes. When we last renewed the copiers we made PaperCut MF part of the contract. Our account manager did make a half-hearted attempt at getting us to try the KM solution, but was undermined by the tech guy saying "nah, use PaperCut MF it's much easier". Be aware the "software support" line item doesn't include them doing upgrades, security fixes or anything like that - that's all chargable if you want KM to do it. We do it ourselves after their tech support confirms they've tested the release and they're happy. If KM are being daft or having squabbling internally, PaperCut (the company) themselves are very helpful.
  

 

MF is essentially NG, with a need to ensure copier compatibility/support before upgrading.

[supawat1]

Yep, I did it myself with Konica Minolta C364 and C558 on standard UI. It was very easy to install.

 

Just set up a new VM and install Papercut MF software (probably the same step as Papercut NG).

 

This is the manual to integrate Konica Minolta with Papercut MF

Edited March 13, 2018 by supawat1

[dapaulio]

Quick side note from this was method of authentication do you use.

 

I wanted to go biometric with ad authentication as a backup but the cost is much higher given the hardware additions and support cost if you lease

[Big_Ted]

You may need to seek permission from the company you lease the copiers from (if you lease) and ask if you can install 3rd party applications on their hardware. It may be that the devices need engineer level settings changed or additional software/hardware licenses.

I would suggest you buy papercut from the same company you get the copiers from to avoid any support issues or confusion. "My print job did not come out" is that a software issue or hardware? both companies will start blaming ther other

[Cache]

Will do some investigating then, we do lease the copiers and lease them direct from Konica Minolta so that might be the only fly in the ointment.

 

Our account manager left 2 years ago (apparently) and as everything has just worked we've never really been in touch with anyone to find out who it is now - perhaps now is the time to do just that. Our lease still has about 17 months left on it.

@pete - do you deal with Konica direct then and they are happy for you to manage the upgrades but you've got this written into your lease some how?

 

The other question I had someone might be able to answer for me is how the licencing works? I realise you need the MF and then the device licence - is the device licence unique to the device/brand or if say after 3 years we change our copiers to another brand can we take that licence to use on their device or would it require a new device licence?

Edited March 13, 2018 by Cache

[MatthewL]

I have known people to self install, going through a solutions provider you get the experience and knowledge from them who do it day in day out.

 

PaperCut can be added to any capabale MFD at any point providing you have the relevant license and the machine can support it.

 

PaperCut is the way forward.

 

Recommendation would be get who ever supplies you kit to do the whole hog for you, some manufactures have querks with their machines they can get around but if machines need additional bits they can sort.

 

You can upgrade NG to MF but they are different intaller files.

 

PaperCut is quite user friendly and the KB does hold alot of information.

 

Some machines will install the application on the machine where as others are effectively just loading a web interfance which becomes the user interface for releasing print jobs/authentication/scanning.

 

Licensing is based on number of user and MFD's plus any other modules, release stations, cash payments, site servers (note you get 1 free site server, you can run multiple secondary and web servers regardless) etc that you want to add in.

 

There are a number of different types of embedded licenses you would be licenses for the ones you need, after 3 years you would just renew with the relevant number of licenses you need for said machines thus keeping everything else the same. If you say change from Toshiba to Sharp you you would not get any Toshiba licenses but x number of Sharp/Lexmark/KM ones.

 

Any questions ask and I will try and answer.

[jtdunford]

PaperCut MF is an expensive endeavor. I got a quote to upgrade our PaperCut NG to MF, 3000 users. We have 9 Thoshiba copiers. The quote was for just under $7000.00! We would have to save a lot of paper to justify the cost.

[fiza]

Does anyone have any experience of embedding Papercut MF with Canon Copiers? Canon don't deal with papercut themselves so directed us to another company who want to charge £100 per device. Is it something I can do myself?

[Primus]

@fiza looking at this myself but finding it impossible to get through to anyone at Canon - which company were you referred to please?

[pete]

PaperCut UK support/sales is based at Selectec:

 

https://www.papercut.com/products/mf/buy/europe/

 

in my dealings with them they were very helpful.

[Big_Ted]

PaperCut MF is an expensive endeavor. I got a quote to upgrade our PaperCut NG to MF, 3000 users. We have 9 Thoshiba copiers. The quote was for just under $7000.00! We would have to save a lot of paper to justify the cost.

 

Not all quotes are the same. Quotes can include all sorts such as training, install etc.