One of the most popular questions via our website or over the phone seems to be: What is the difference between PaperCut NG and MF?
As you probably know PaperCut NG gives you these key features:
- Control student print quota, or charge for printing.
- Track and budget staff printing by faculty or department.
- Simple installation – starts working immediately.
- Directory integration with automatic user account creation.
- Simple web-based administration for office staff.
- Automatic scheduling of credit/quotas.
- Solutions for managing wireless laptop printing.
- Runs on Windows, Mac, Linux and Novell, making PaperCut the most flexible and integrated management solution available.
Of course PaperCut MF has all of the above features as well, so what exactly is the difference? In truth, the answer is ‘very little’. Apart from a change of logo and a few extra tabs, regular PaperCut users wouldn’t notice much difference – that is until you throw a photocopier into the mix. PaperCut MF is designed to capture “off the glass” walk-up copying. It can achieve this using two methods:
1. Modern embedded applications that run directly on a multifunctional device, enabling single sign-on using existing domain infrastructure.
2. Direct TCP/IP network connection with selected 3rd party hardware terminals.
Both options allow user authentication and access via various login methods including user name and password, PIN codes, as well as common card formats including: magnetic stripe (“swipe”); barcode; proximity.
Basically, if a customer is only ever going to want/need to monitor and/or control printing, then NG is the ideal solution. However, if now or in the future a customer is looking to monitor and/or control printing and copying (and, increasingly, scanning and faxing), then MF is the right option. Currently, we have a lot of sites planning for the future, so MF has been installed and is being used solely for monitoring printers, until the time comes to implement copier control and monitoring.
PaperCut MF is a complete integrated copy and print solution that you can manage from within a single mature application. We can offer a 40-day trial of PaperCut MF to any interested parties, but we suggest you contact us with your requirements first.
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PaperCut Features
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PaperCut NG
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PaperCut MF
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| Set print quotas on individuals, groups or across departments |
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| Automated Quota Allocation System |
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| Track and charge walk-up / off-the-glass copier usage, just like for printers |
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| Simple installation – starts working immediately |
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| Directory integration with automatic user account creation |
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| Clustered Server Support to Increase efficiency and distribute wear and tear |
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| Scalability up to 100,000+ Users |
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| External Database Support |
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| Reasonable licensing that doesn’t dictate your IT infrastructure |
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| Multiple print server support as standard |
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Runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Novell and mixed environments
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| Print Job Filtering and Restrictions |
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| Support for Hardware-Based Copier Terminals |
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| Support for Copy Control via Embedded MFD Software |
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| Hundreds of report combinations to view, export as file or deliver via email |
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| Monitor locally attached printers |
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| Error notifications when printers are in error |
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| Charge copying to accounts that can be shared by multiple users |
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| Secure print release via PC-based print release stations |
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| Secure print release via card reader using fast release terminal |
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| Secure print release via staff and end-user web interfaces |
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| Secure print release via hardware terminals |
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| Secure print release via embedded MFD software |
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| Monitor faxing and scanning on supported hardware |
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| Web-based staff print release |
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| Find Me Printing (pull printing) |
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| Advanced business reporting |
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| Add credit to user’s accounts via admin web interface |
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| Support for cash value loaders |
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| Support for web based credit card payments |
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| Real-time environmental Impact statistics |
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| Manage wireless and unauthenticated printing from user-owned devices |
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Administer the system straight from your web browser anywhere on the network
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| Bill back printing costs to clients |
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| TopUp/PrePaid Cards – ideal for student payment management |
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| Open architecture – full documentation and APIs provided to all customers |
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Select Technology is pleased to be selling PaperCut NG, PaperCut ChargeBack and the new PaperCut MF in the UK
