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Ella Lee

In offices, print management becomes a critical task for networks in which a single printer is shared by a group of users.

 Network administrators have to install and configure user terminals to enable all to have printer access, and to monitor and control print jobs.

 To simplify print management and to do it via the Internet is top of the agenda for leading network-printer vendors such as Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark and Xerox, who all say their network printers already support remote management via a Web browser.

 HP said its network printers were set to go to HP's Web site automatically to download the latest print-driver software.

 Lexmark said its technology supported 'real-time remote management' to allow direct control of network printers via their IP addresses, without passing through a centralised Web administrator.

 Xerox said it aimed at a Web-based management capability of different printing platforms, including non-Xerox printers.

 HP and Lexmark also emphasise the capability of their printers to support networks of different speeds - whether 10-megabit Ethernet or 100-megabit Fast Ethernet - and different operating systems such as Windows NT, Novell NetWare and IBM OS/2.

 However, Xerox has focused more on the speed of the print engine rather than network communication. Its DocuPrint N32 is the fastest network-ready laser printer sold in Hong Kong, but supports only 10-megabit Ethernet.

 Another new feature is 'RIP once, print many' which allows users to send a print command and file once, but to make several copies of the output. This could help reduce network traffic, said Andy Cho, Xerox sales manager. The feature is supported by the three vendors' printers.

 Most network printers on the market simply are ordinary lasers with network interface cards added. The price difference is as much as $2,000, according to Martin Chau, senior printer analyst at International Data Corp (IDC).

 Because of this price difference, it was a common practice in Hong Kong to share a printer for general office use by adding a print server, he said.

 However, the drawback was slower print speed, especially when many users sent print jobs at the same time.

 IDC said less than 5 per cent of 68,500 printers sold in the SAR in the first quarter were network-ready models.

 Vendors project a more optimistic outlook for network printers. HP said half of its printers sold in the commercial market were network-ready, while Lexmark said half of its printers sold in the SAR were the same. For Xerox, it was 15 per cent in terms of unit shipment, but half of revenue.

 Using a print server not only slowed down the operation because it created traffic bottlenecks, but it also required additional configuration and administration, Mr Cho of Xerox said.

 Also, the full functions of a stand-alone laser printer were unlikely to be utilised if it was networked using a print server.

 Lexmark's senior business product specialist T.C. Chao said even a low-end print server with a single port would cost as much as $1,000, and one with a serial and two parallel ports could reach $3,000.

 The demand for network printers depended on the extent to which companies needed networking, said Terence Chan, market development manager for HP. If a company, especially a start-up, wanted to build a networked office, it definitely would choose a network-ready printer.

 Otherwise, it simply would add a print server to the printer being used, to allow printer sharing.

 At present, it was common for printer vendors to roll out a base version of their laser printers, which could be upgraded by adding a network interface card.



Vendors aim for hard-copy control via Web