Re: IPDS/AFP Printing

Peter wrote:


>Question #1:
>The AFP sales literature indicates that AFP/IPDS printing over a
>LAN has similar error recovery as a twinax attached line printer.  Is
>this so?

I would agree with this.  We are using about 10 printers in this fashion
(4317, 4320, 4332) and so far we are very pleased.  However, I have
noted a slightly higher incident of ended writers.  It is slight and no
one is complaining.  I haven't been able to pin down any exact cause
so I am not sure as to it's nature.  It could be something specific to
us or a configuration issue.  Back to your question, we seem the same
kind of support that we see in the twx world.  I would make sure that
you are current on PTF's for print-related TCP fixes.  You can get this
from SupportLine.  The document number is 8203740.  Also, make sure
you have the most current AFP PTF's.

>Question #2:
>Does anyone have experience with both the 3130 and Infoprint 40?
>I'm wondering if the 3130 is more reliable.  It surely is more
>expensive.

We don't have any specific experience with the IP40.  However, I believe
I can help.  The biggest issues between this printers is duty cycle
and support cost.  Both printers are rated at 200,000 IPM.  However, the
IP40 has that little note that 'This figure represents a maximum monthly
printing rate. IBM does not   recommend printing this monthly maximum
 on a consistent basis.'  I don't have specifics on the cost/imp. for the
IP40 but I will say that the 3130 has the lowest compared to other NP
or IP printers.  If you can get street pricing for the toner cartridge and
usage kit you can do the IP 40 cost/imp.  The 3130 is $0.0074/imp.  The
3130 also has supply interventions per 1M impressions of 50.33.  The IP40
may be better then this.  If you have the yields for the IP40 you can
calculate this.  FYI, the IP32 has 46.81 supply interventions and a cost of
$0.0124.  When comparing printers I always to a quick TCOP.  If you know
approximately how many pages you are dealing with you can do one
yourself.

FYI, we had the 3130's before the IP40 came out so ours was not a
decision of the 3130 over the IP40 but actually the 4332.

On the less technical side, it may also depend on where you are placing
this printer.  The 3130 is different than any other printer you may be
supporting.  It essentially has a small RS/6000 engine inside as the
controlling mechanism.  This makes starting, stopping, and sometime
intervening with the printer a slow process.  You just don't turn this
printer off without some repurcussions.  We use 3 3130's in our data
center and print around 1.2M impressions/year on them.  We are
very pleased and can support them.  We used to have two 3130's
in the user community.  The volumes were less, around 500,000 to
600,000 but getting the user community to support these printers
'properly' was a pain.

HTH

Mike Crump











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