24 Evaluating laser all-in-one products
Evaluation
When evaluating network capability, it is important to test the network solution for both the network
administrator and the end-user, keeping in mind the type of networking needed for a small business.
For the network administrator
• Determine if your network operating systems are supported.
• Install and configure the device and administrative software and simulate connecting end-users. (Keep
track of the resources and time required and ease of setup.)
• Examine the following:
• Ease of network installation
• Network security
• Device diagnostics and troubleshooting
• Device alerts and status
• Device grouping, filtering, or mapping
Note Try to assess the time efficiency and convenience of the network management utilities.
For the end-user
Make sure that the user can easily determine the following:
• What devices are available?
• Where are they relative to my desk?
• What are their features?
• What is the device’s status?
• Is my job done yet?
• Is the device out of paper?
• Is there a paper jam?
• Is there enough toner to finish my job?
The user does NOT want to know:
• Status of all the devices on the network
• Diagnostic information for all devices on the network
