[Desktop_printing] [roles] Updated printing summit agenda

[Michael Sweet]

McDonald, Ira wrote:
> Hi Michael,
> 
> I'm not aware of any large enterprise network that doesn't
> have network administrators, operators, and field support
> people.

No, however home networks and small businesses almost never do have
those things, and there are a LOT more small networks than large
enterprise networks.  If the purpose is to bring Linux to the
desktop, then whatever work is done here needs to address the
ordinary user, not just the enterprise guru.

> Third-party enterprise management of printers and multifunction
> imaging devices is the largest revenue growth sector in the
> printer industry, at present.

In terms of dollars, yes, in terms of units, no.

> Ellen mentioned some of these roles in printing GUI scenarios.
> 
> If the roles defined in RFC 1759/3805 need updating, then that
> needs to get done, because they really are the main definitions
> used in lots of brand new printing standards from PDAs to
> production printing.

My point is simply that the roles no longer map neatly to different
people.  They are still useful for breaking out functionality and
ensuring that the UI and system can support that separation, however
we need to look at how printers and networks are used *today* and
how those roles have merged.

Even third-party management is changing how those roles map to
actual people!

-- 
______________________________________________________________________
Michael Sweet, Easy Software Products           mike at easysw dot com
Internet Printing and Publishing Software        http://www.easysw.com