In 2011 ITS replaced the Xerox multi-function devices (copier/printers) with the current Canon C5051s, expecting them to last for five years. Their reliability and stability far exceeded our expectations, and in 2016 we chose to defer their scheduled replacement for an additional year. During the spring of 2017 we evaluated the current version of Canon’s MFDs to see if it would meet our needs. After a very positive evaluation period, we made the decision to purchase 80 Canon C5550 MFDs to replace the now-six-year-old C5051s.
The new model is, in many ways, identical to its predecessor, although faster and quieter. Because it’s using the same technology inside, most of the things you’ve learned over the last six years will continue to work as you expect. There are effectively three significant changes to these devices and how we’ve configured them.
- They no longer require an external card reader for your OneCard. Each MFD now has a “proximity reader” built-in, and all you have to do is touch that reader with your card to be logged in and ready to copy. Getting rid of the extra object by each MFD is helpful for both space and power.
- The software that manages printing, including both managing who is allowed to print to any particular device and how that printing is charged, is now also managing copying. When we schedule the replacement of each MFD we are making sure that each person in the department has access to print and copy to the correct budget numbers with the correct defaults.
- We are encouraging faculty and staff to install the new printer software themselves on their computers. Detailed installation instructions are available for Macs and Windows machines. The Helpdesk is always available and happy to help.
We have begun replacing the old MFDs, starting with the departments that moved over the summer. We’ll pause for the first couple of weeks of school, beginning again around the first week in October. Austin Robinson-Coolidge will reach out to department admins and printer operators to schedule a time to do the replacment; we expect all MFDs to be replaced before Winter Term starts.