We have 3 network-printers to manage for about 50 users.
Until now we have used a Windows 2003 Server Domain Controller with print service as our print server, but we are migrating many services to the cloud (e-mail, file storage, databases, dns, web).
We will probably be eliminating Active Directory for user authentication as part of that migration, so I'm wondering if there is any reason to keep the Windows Domain Controller as a print server when network-printer drivers could be installed on each computer or we could use print service such as Google Cloud Print
As more general question: why do people use print servers instead of network print drivers?
Best Answer
You don't really need a print server in your situation, given the small number of printers you've described. You've justified it yourself. Nobody is forcing you to use one :)
But in general, people use print servers to streamline client deployment, offer central management and to ease print driver maintenance. It's all about scale.