Cheap Netbooks

Posts Tagged ‘printer ink’

1. Ecofont

This year, a Dutch company developed Ecofont, which is designed to save printer ink and toner. It looks like typical Arial font, but it has tiny holes in it which can reduce you ink and toner usage by 20%. The font looks a little faint on the screen, but with a small enough size it looks just fine printed. It’s perfect for printing in-house home or office documents.

2. Draft mode

Most modern printers have a variety of print settings that vary from high quality, slower prints, to quick low quality drafts. Draft mode can save you small amounts of ink every time you print. It’s also a great way to see beforehand how a document is going to look on paper, or provide a physical copy for quick hand revisions.

3. Revision/print preview

One of the easiest ways to save on ink and toner costs is to carefully re-read and revise documents before printing. How many times have you sent a document to the printer, only to realize afterwards that a small typo requires you to print it again? Print Preview will also let you view your document before it prints, so you can change any page attributes you don’t like before printing.

4. Turn it Off

When you’re not using your printer, turn it off. This one is better for the planet than anything, but it can also help keep your ink cartridges from drying out.

5. Refill

This isn’t so much an ink saving tip, as it is an in replenishing tip. Do some research on the cartridges your printer uses. If you can find a decent refill kit, give it a try. InkTec makes really good refill kits that are easy to use. Many HP cartridges can be refilled up to 7 or 8 times. This will save you tons of money, and might even save a few cartridges from sitting in a landfill for the next thousand years.

· I am trying to print in color but it only prints in one color. What can I do to fix this?

Oftentimes, when a printer printer sits without being used for a long time, it can cause the cartridge nozzle to dry up. Which can cause the cartridge not to print or colors to be skewed. The best way to alleviate this problem is by Soaking the cartridge. *ONLY for remanufactured ink cartridges

· How much printer ink is in a remanufactured cartridge compared to a name cartridge?

Many companies’ compatible and remanufactured cartridges are weighed out to match the weight of a genuine cartridge. Make sure your vendors weigh the cartridges to ensure that the remanufactured and compatible cartridges match the weight of a genuine cartridge.

· If I buy remanufactured ink cartridges, how long can I keep them without opening them?

Most products have a shelf life of about one year. When you are ready to use the cartridge, if you notice that the prints are faded or streaked it might not necessarily mean the cartridge cannot be used. The problem could be a clogged nozzle. The best solution to this problem is soaking the cartridge.

· What is a printer driver and why do I need one?

A printer driver is software that acts as a translator so that the printer can understand data and instructions from your computer. The driver describes the text, image, etc. to be printed and translates it into the printer language of the printer. You need a printer driver to print.

You can use the driver to change the printer settings such as printing in color and the paper size.

You should update your printer driver on a regular basis because having the latest printer drivers installed will greatly improve your printer’s performance.

· How can I setup my printer on a network?

When adding a printer the Add Printer Wizard will ask you to select a printer, select Connect to This Printer and enter the name of the network printer. If you don’t know the name, select Browse for a Printer to search through a list of shared printers.

If the network printer uses an Internet address, select Connect to a printer on the Internet and enter the address in the URL box. The Add Printer Wizard will navigate you through the installation process.

· How do I update my printer driver?

The majority of printer manufacturers provide current drivers on their websites free of charge.

Updating Instructions:

1. Click on Start and scroll to Settings or Control Panel (depending on your version of Windows)
2. Select Printers folder
3. Right-click the printer whose driver you wish to update.
4. Scroll down to Properties and then click the Details or Advanced tab. Click on New Driver.
5. If a warning box pops up, click Yes.
6. Click Have Disk, and click Browse to get access to the folder containing your updated drivers.
7. Follow the on-screen installation directions. (It’s best to reboot your computer when you have finished installing).

A UK company, PrintDreams, is currently preparing to release a new product called the PrintBrush. The handheld printer is to be the smallest printer in the world and can print full size formats (A4 or letter size). It’s about the size of a modern mobile phone and weighs in at roughly 12 ounces. The device uses Bluetooth technology to receive documents from a variety of mobile devices. Then, you simply wave your hand above the printable media and the PrintBrush gets to work, accounting for inconsistencies in your hand movement while it prints.

According to their website, the PrintBrush will rival normal printers and other mobile printers for a variety of reasons. For example, the device will be able to print onto any media it can reach, meaning items like notebooks and other papers which couldn’t typically be fed through a normal printer. Additionally, PrintDreams claims their product is completely silent, allowing for discrete use, and uses no messy cables. No word on printer ink yet, though.

The printer will be an ideal product for people on the go. Students could potentially use the PrintBrush to print documents and notes in between classes (or even in class).  And the printer has lots of business applications. Imagine editing, then printing a contract out for a client in the middle of a restaurant, or printing out notes for an important meeting in a cab on the way to work.

Some preliminary product specifications, according to the manufacturer:

• Resolution: 600dpi monochrome

• Print technology: inkjet and RMPT™ Full

• Max. speed: 250mm/sec

• Volume: Approx. 200cc

• Weight: Approx. 250gm

• Interfaces: USB 2.0, Bluetooth, IRda

• Power supply: rechargable Li-Ion battery

PrintDreams says the PrintBrush will launch at the end of this year, or possible early next year. The preliminary retail price will be roughly $199 USD. Take look here.

Buying anything online, let alone printer ink, can be a risky and stressful process. It can be difficult finding your way through shipping options, return policies, and satisfaction guarantees, especially when there are so many vendors to choose from. This process becomes significantly more difficult when buying from online printer supply companies. The fickle nature of remanufactured and compatible products can compound the stress that comes with buying online. However, if you do your research, you can find a retailer that suits your needs and caters to what you’re looking for.

Perhaps the most important thing to look for when searching for online ink and toner vendors is a great satisfaction guarantee, coupled with reasonable return policies. Any company you deal with should be willing to stand by their products, and back them up with policies that remove risk from the equation. Many companies offer return policies up to 1 year after a cartridge is purchased, and most have a 3 year replacement warranty, meaning that faulty cartridges beyond the return deadline can be replaced. It is important to consider any additional costs you may encounter when returning a product as well. Most online vendors won’t pay for your return shipping. Finding a company that offers free shipping both ways is always a good thing, as it removes essentially all risk from the equation.

It doesn’t hurt to brush up on what you’re buying before making your purchase. There are three kinds of ink cartridges that you’ll find at most sites: OEM (brand name), Remanufactured (old cartridges which have been refurbished), and Compatible (new cartridges made to work like OEMs). Make sure the site you’re buying from has these differences clearly displayed. Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask a retailer about who their manufacturers are. There are many great third party cartridge manufacturers out there, and a little research can help you figure out whose products a potential retailer is carrying.

Lastly, determining the quality of an online retailer can sometimes be as easy as picking up the phone. An easily reachable customer service team is always a good sign that the company cares about its customers, and will probably do what’s necessary to keep them.

Most printer comapnies offer tons of new models every year. With such a variety of options, it can be difficult for consumers to decide which model is best for them. One factor to consider is the type of ink cartridges your printer uses. Many printers use a single tri-color cartridge for color printing, but some use single color cartridges which can be purchased individually. Which is better? There is no right answer, but knowing what your printing needs are can help you make the right decision.

For most people, price is the deciding factor. Single color cartridges can be more expensive. Rather than paying $25 for a brand new cartridge, you may find yourself paying $30 – $40 for three. However, because single color cartridges contain only one color, they often carry more ink than multicolor cartridges, where the ink volume is separated by three colors (ink volumes and page yields are additional factors to consider before buying a printer). Additionally, if you run out only color, you need only replace that one cartridge. This can be helpful, especially if you know that you will be printing more of a certain color than others. Many retailers also offer combo packs at a reduced price, which is essentially like buying a multicolor cartridge.

Multicolor systems do have their advantages. Many people like the convenience of only having to purchase and install one printer cartridge. Additionally, single color cartridges may pose a hidden cost; print heads. Many single color printer cartridges don’t have built in print heads, meaning you may have to replace them with time. Most tri-color cartridges have print heads built into them, so buying new cartridges is all that’s necessary.

Ultimately, the quality of a printer is a matter of personal preference. Check out the specs on the box, or do some research online and you’re sure to make a purchase you won’t regret.