[LM_NET] HIT: Printing Control Software

[Sarah Loch <sloch@EBRPSS.K12.LA.US>]

Thanks to everyone who responded. Not sure if I can convince the school to cough up 
money for either PCounter or VendPrint, but we'll see.

Original request:

I'm having a problem with students pressing print several times if the printer does 
not immediately spit out their projects. Does anyone know of a free or low-cost 
software solution that would allow me to look at the print jobs and approve or deny 
them before they print?

Replies:

We use PCounter which is not free but it is relatively inexpensive (~$600-$800).  
It paid for itself in less than one year.  If that price is out of reach and you 
use queue-based printing and individual student log-ins you can set permissions on 
the queues so that you can pause all printing and delete or approve jobs.  It is 
not perfect but it can help.  If you do not use queues (i.e. your computer 
communicate directly with the printer without passing through a server) there is 
not too much that you can do.  Even PCounter won't limit printing in that situation.
_______________________________________________________________________

This is not low cost ($595) but it is wonderful. I use PCounter. I give each 
student 10 pages at the beginning of the month and then they have to pay after 
that. They are now emailing papers to themselves, being more particular about what 
they print. Before, we had used our allotment of ink and toner for the year by 
October. I would highly recommend PCounter.
_______________________________________________________________________

Try VendPrint.
http://www.vendprint.com/products/vendprint_k-12.html

I've been using them for the last 5 years.  I'm very satisfied with the software 
AND the service.
_______________________________________________________________________

We use Vendprint

http://www.vendprint.com/


Sarah Loch
Librarian
Valley Park Alternative School
4510 Bawell Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
225-926-9765 x. 229
SLoch@ebrpss.k12.la.us

Currently reading "Pagan's Crusade" by Catherine Jinks and "Confessor" by Terry 
Goodkind

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