(no subject)

[vicarz]

Dumb tech question:
Does printer speed have anything to do with how fast a pdf file gets printed?
My boss wants me to research printers under 2k that are appropriate for bulk printing jobs, and is very interested in speed - especially for printing large pdf files. My gut says any decent computer with any decent laser printer would be the same, and it's only our outdated computers that cause the delays. We're getting new computers, and new printers...I get to research the printers.

Any advice is appreciated, none required - I'll look stuff up when i get a chance tonight.

Comments

[joanarkham.livejournal.com]

It matters. Most printers will break down speed by pages/minute so you can easily compare.

I use 4 different printers, and the difference between them can be substantial.

[pulsdeslebens.livejournal.com]

The pages per minute is the how fast the printer can actually output pages. Typically, black and white printers are faster than color printers and more cost effective. Color printer cartridges are expensive and the printers themselves can be slow as molasses. Another consideration is the memory of the printer itself. The more memory, the less often it has to go out to the network to get the information it needs to print.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

More memory sounds like it hits the pdf issue!

[kernelpanic.livejournal.com]

What is your boss considering "bulk printing jobs" ??? Like 300 copies of a 250 page report? If so, this is why god (hey, in this day and age, gov't and god, go hand in hand, right?) gave us a guy with kinky red hair, franchises and Fedex.

You might want to get some metrics there and also see if you can find out what sort of volume the printer and printer cartridges can handle. I'll echo the 'more memory is better' as is having postscript processor built into the printer. This is especially true for PDF's, which are basically encapsulated postscript. If the printer can handle the postscript, rather than your desktop, you'll probably be better off.

If you look at HP's Printing site - they rate the printers in pages per month, which might be a helpful guide for you. I've usually had pretty good luck with HP printers, though they can be a bit more pricey than other brands.

[trhodes.livejournal.com]

Love the username.

--
Tom Rhodes

[gentlemoose.livejournal.com]

As they all said, speed matters. The desktop machines and print servers have to prep the pdf/whatever before sending the job to the printer, but what really matters is the page per minute rating of the printer itself.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Is this the same regardless of content? Is a PPM figure going to be the same for blank pages, text, and pictures?

[gentlemoose.livejournal.com]

It definitely matters - a blank page'll shoot straight out. A black page, generally, will take considerably longer. Caveat: that applies certainly to inkjet-style printers and I suspect also to cheaper laser printers. high-end printers, I THINK, print an entire page all at once (more or less) much like high-speed photocopiers. Uh. Stop asking questions. I have nfc :)

[translucent-eye.livejournal.com]

Using a print server or no print server? Is this a network printer, direct connect to each desktop? Connected to a server and shared to desktops? How is print spooling going to be handled/configured?

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Hmm...I was not provided with those details, however the offices do run on LANs. It is possible it will be hooked to the computer, but it is far more likely it will be through the LAN. I'm not so sure about the server - possible. Spooling, no idea.

As the user, it's nearly transparent. We see a printer to select, but can access many. The printer is typically at your desk but on the LAN, you print and it pops up nearby.

[translucent-eye.livejournal.com]

There are some more technical details to how/where it is hooked up that you need to consider if the speed of the printer is really important to you. If it is only slightly important then faster printer = better printer (factoring in budget of course).

But it may be the case the the more important factor is what server is doing print spooling for it, and what the spooling options are.

It is possible that a $100 printer + $1000 in memory for the print server with modified spooling options prints much better then the $2000 printer.

I've got a feeling that is more depth then you want to go into though....

[justaputz.livejournal.com]

Hey, the person to ask would probably be Kangal. He's worked around commercial printers for many a year. Probably knows which are good and which one break too often.

[http://users.livejournal.com/---corvus/]

no idea.

ps. LA is on fire!

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Honey it's you that's on fire! Rawr!

[http://users.livejournal.com/---corvus/]

no really, i like live in the valley and the fire is on every mountain range surrounding the valley.
the news has a list of schools closed down on the bottom marquee. every school is closed down.

except for mine. poop.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I know - it's all over the news. Floods, fires...maybe we are all going to hell after all.

[trhodes.livejournal.com]

Guess you already have an answer. :)

--
Tom Rhodes