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HP Introduces 'Universal' Printer Driver, Updated Admin Tool

HP this week rolled out new and updated items in its print management portfolio aimed at simplifying life for IT administrators, including a universal printer driver and an updated Web-based administration tool.

The company’s new HP Universal Print Driver for Windows aims to ease driver management woes by deploying a single print driver that supports an enterprise’s entire print environment. The Universal Print Driver provides one driver for HP general office printers -- virtually all HP PCL 5 and Postscript general office color and black-and-white laser printers, manufactured since 1997, according to an HP statement.

Additionally, the new driver will automatically support new HP LaserJet printers and multifunction printers as they are released, thus eliminating the need to deploy new drivers when equipment is upgraded or replaced.

HP’s Web Jetadmin version 8.0 adds user and application-level reporting for usage analysis, the ability to set color controls by user, application or schedule, and predictive and consolidated reporting that can be linked with HP’s SureSupply supply-chain management application for just-in-time reordering. Web Jetadmin 8 also features a simplified user interface to enable administrators to pre-define the most common tasks.

About the Author

Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.