Brooks Updates IDPS Print Driver for Windows Vista

June 19, 2007 Alex Woodie

Brooks Internet Software last week announced a new release of ExcelliPrint, a software product that allows non-IPDS printers to print the IPDS output of i5/OS and z/OS servers. With ExcelliPrint version 3.2, Brooks has introduced support for Windows Vista, among other improvements.

While the Intelligent Printer Data Stream (IPDS) and Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) architecture–sometimes referred to as AFPDS–implements features that are important in high-volume printing environments, the high cost of native IPDS printers from IBM has left some customers feeling a bit trapped. For that reason, vendors such as Brooks Internet Software and others have devised IPDS emulation solutions that allow IPDS print jobs to be printed on lower cost PCL or PostScript printers.

ExcelliPrint is a Windows-based print server that allows any Windows computer to be used for IPDS printing. It works by converting AFP documents to PDF, TIFF, EMF, JPEG, PNG, and PCL formats, which can be printed on any office- or departmental-grade laser jet. The software runs on Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and, now, Windows Vista. In addition to these features, it includes an interface that allows administrators to manage System i IPDS devices and spool files from within a Web browser, a feature announced about a year ago.

In addition to Vista support, ExcelliPrint version 3.2 brings enhanced job handling, increased tray selection options, improved font, overlay, text, and image rendering, the company says.

There are two versions of ExcelliPrint. ExcelliPrint Standard costs $495 per output destination and is best suited as a replacement for hardware-based IPDS DIMM devices. ExcelliPrint Premium, which costs $795 per output destination, includes the System i IPDS interface and adds support for PDF and TIFF. For more information, visit ipds.brooksnet.com