November 21, 2001
At COMDEX 2001, Toshiba America Business Solutions, (TABS) will be demonstrating a new, more powerful version of its GL-1010 document controller (version 1.2) that features the industry's first application of 802.11b Wireless LAN printing.
TABS will be showcasing a complete line of document solutions, including its award-winning e-STUDIO MFP line, at Booth L5638 in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov. 12-16.
"Toshiba is pleased to be the first manufacturer in our industry to integrate 802.11b wireless LAN capabilities into our products. We strive to introduce new technology that will deliver cost and time savings to our customers," said Rick Taylor, Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Business Operations, TABS. "As a member of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance, we are enthusiastic in promoting Wi-Fi (802.11b) as the global wireless LAN standard."
Devices configured with Wi-Fi technology communicate via radio waves, at the 2.4 GHZ frequency, at distances up to 300 feet without being connected by network cables and wires. Using a Wi-Fi enabled Toshiba device, users can send print jobs from their laptop, or computer wirelessly, although they may be on different floors or in another part of the building.
Starting in early December, the Toshiba Wi-Fi printing solution will be available on the e-STUDIO28/35/45 digital MFP series, which is powered by the newly upgraded 1.2 version of Toshiba's GL-1010 Document controller. The GL-1010 surpasses the role of a typical print controller running on a fast 433MHz processor with 128 MB standard memory, a 10 GB hard disk drive and a built-in CD-Rom drive.
Two Different Printing Options
The Wi-Fi enabled GL-1010 controller, designed by Toshiba's Document Solutions Engineering Division, allows users to print via two different modes. The first is ad hoc printing, where operation takes place in a peer-to-peer wireless network environment. Users can access the GL-1010 document controller by knowing the machine name or IP address of the device. The advantage to this method is a user can be given wireless access to the device without allowing access to the corporate network. The GL-1010 can support both wired Ethernet and wireless printing while in ad hoc mode.
The second printing method is the infrastructure mode. This mode supports the traditional client-server network architecture, which eliminates the need for costly wiring and allows unrestricted placement of the e-STUDIO copier/printer. In both modes, the GL-1010 is equipped with a Cisco Aironet 350 wireless network interface card (NIC), which is mounted internally and configured through the e-STUDIO's front panel.
"More and more businesses want to invest in wireless technology to enhance the productivity of their employees," Taylor said. "Wi-Fi installations can eliminate the cost and effort associated with wiring networks. It also enables convenient printing for an increasingly mobile workforce that depends upon devices like laptops to conduct their work."
Upgraded Toshiba Controller Provides Document Management Online
In addition to its new wireless capabilities, the newly upgraded GL1010 controller also features a standard new document imposition and management tool called TopAccessComposer (Composer).
This standard browser-based feature lets users view, edit, merge and store hard copy documents electronically in a central repository using the e-STUDIO28/35/45 MFPs. With Composer, users can input documents into the network using numerous platforms--such as scanning and e-mail--then merge those documents together into one file.
Composer is also a complete document management tool that comes with three default storage folders that can be organized by the system administrator. For frequently printed documents, such as company forms that should not be altered, the Composer's Department system allows read access only. The unit's Public folders gives read and write access to all users connected to the GL1010, so documents can be shared by multiple parties. And, the Private folders require a user name and password for private viewing, editing and storing of confidential documents.
Since it is web-based, TopAccessComposer won't tax systems resources and requires no additional time devoted to loading software when compared to normal software programs that reside on clients or servers.
e-STUDIO45 Offers Outstanding MFP Functions
Launched last January, the e-STUDIO45 has already received recognition from industry test labs such as the Business Equipment Research and Test Lab (BERTL), which gave the e-STUDIO45 its "Highly Recommended" rating last Spring. In its review, BERTL highlighted several of the e-STUDIO45's workflow solutions that promise to help businesses improve their productivity including: network scanning, scan-to-e-mail and Internet fax.
A high performance digital copier/network printer that offers outstanding image resolution, finishing and hole punching capabilities, the e-STUDIO45 is ideal for office environments that require a shared, network-compatible system with fully upgradeable features like optional Walk-up Fax, LAN Faxing and Internet Fax Capabilities, as well as TWAIN-Complaint Scanning and Network Scanning that converts and stores documents as PDF or TIFF files for file sharing by other PC network users.
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