John, 
This is our low tech solution......we only install color printers on a
limited number of machines and students do not have access to them and
must ask to print color.  For example, the lab supervisor in one of our
computer labs is the only person with access to the color printer and
the kids go to her to ask to print color.  This has worked pretty well
and keeps the waste down.
I agree totally with you that the color printing thing has gotten way
out of hand.
Jean

Jean Campbell
CESU Technical Services
Phone: 802-899-4690 X501
Pager: 802-450-2254

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>>> [log in to unmask] 6/21/2006 11:10 am >>>
Greetings All,
 
We've taken a look at our printing costs over the past year and were a
bit shocked at the amount of $ color printing has cost us.  While it's
certainly been a boon to our users, it's forced us to look at
implementing some cost containment measures.
 
One item we've discussed is printing quotas for users.  I've looked at
this in the past, but was unable to find a solution that got around
XP's
insistence on installing a printer the first time a user wanted to
print
to it.  With the amount of jumping around our students do on
computers,
this "feature" is problematic.  Our current workaround has been to
setup
IP ports on machines and thus print to a device XP sees as installed
locally.  Unfortunately, I don't see a way to incorporate this method
into a quota solution.
 
I'm hoping some of you have found a product or solution that will
allow
us to control how much a user can print, and still not burden them
with
the printer install situation I mention.  Any success stories out
there???
 
Thanks!
John

________________________________________
  John Carolin
  Network Administrator
  Stowe School District
  413 Barrows Rd.
  Stowe,  Vermont  05672
  (802) 253-7218
________________________________________