Archive for March, 2012

Wide-format printers (or large-format printers) are less common than the typical home or office units many users are used to, but they can be used for a much wider variety of tasks, and can be used with a wider variety of media as well. For those who already have a wide-format printer, you may not even be aware of the many uses for your machine. Most of this uses don’t even require special ink cartridges. Continue reading “Uses for Wide-Format Printers” »

Have you received an email on your smartphone recently?  Have you ever taken a picture with your tablet?

All together now- YES!

In recent years, the sale of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have surpassed the sale of laptops and PCs.  The digital world has evolved, so the printing industry is designing new equipment and technologies that allow great integration with these devices.

It is estimated that the number of mobile devices being purchased around the world will double within the next 3 or 4 years.  In 2011 alone the number increased by nearly 200 million.  Following in the footsteps of frequent pioneer HP, software protocols are being developed by many companies to make it simple for consumers to print just about anything directly from a handheld device. The two major protocols are HP ePrint and Apple’s AirPrint.  There is also another protocol available, Google Cloud Print, which has its own unique features. Continue reading “Mobile Printing” »

March 22nd, 2012–Canon and Ink Technologies have resolved their pending lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York regarding Ink Technologies’ alleged infringement of Canon’s U.S. Patent Nos. 5,903,803 and 6,128,454, with Ink Technologies stipulating to a Consent Judgment and Permanent Injuction from the Southern District of New York, which will prohibit Ink Technologies from making, using, selling and  offering for sale in the U.S., and from importing into the U.S., the toner cartridges that Canon accused of infringement.

Certain offices would benefit tremendously from a laser printer that has finishing functions. Many big business printers offer these finishing capabilities as optional upgrades.  The price of a printer with built-in finishing features will be a bit higher than a standard laser unit, but the time and manpower that will be saved is priceless.  Finishing options go beyond printing and stacking documents and provide organizational capabilities that make it an essential investment for the appropriate offices.

Continue reading “Paper Finishing Options for Office Printers” »

As printers become more and more affordable, it seems that ink cartridges often become more expensive. This is somewhat by design, as manufacturers lower the price of the machine but hope to make it back on the increased cost of supplies. Many savvy consumers try to save money by refilling their own cartridges or purchasing third-party versions, but they may run into a problem with compatibility: microchips. Continue reading “Ink Cartridge Microchips” »

Printing is no longer limited to standard sheets of paper.  Most current models can print on a variety of paper types and different media types.  While there are a number of specialty media types, such as iron-on transfers, labels, and stickers, even traditional paper media comes in multiple types that can tailor the output to your specific needs.  Armed with a bit of information, you can expand your printing horizons and step away from boring, plain prints when the right occasion calls for it.

Typically, the thicker the sheet of paper, the higher the quality of the print and the more prestige it represents.  Especially for businesses that rely on printouts to represent the company, it is important to use paper that has more durability and flare than a standard sheet.  Here are a few options: Continue reading “Types of Printer Paper” »

What is an OPC drum?

OPC standards for Organic Photo Conductor Drum.  The OPC drum is a long piece of metal with a cylinder shape and a delicate outer coat, typically green, blue or red.  These drums can be found in many laser printers, such as the HP LaserJet 1320. They offer an environmentally-friendly alternative to older photoreceptors that were labeled hazardous.

Continue reading “What is an OPC Drum?” »

Scanners are used to turn paper documents into digital files that can be stored on a computer hard drive.  It is often essential in business and in your personal life to keep an accurate record of important transactions, and the ability to scan receipts, invoices, images, etc. into computer files helps to keep everything organized.

There are two standard types of scanners- flatbed and sheet-fed:

This is a standard flatbed scanner. This does not feature an automatic document feeder.

This is a sheet-fed scanner. Because of the paper path, only individual sheets can be scanned.

Continue reading “Benefits of Flatbed Scanners” »

Every printer comes with a certain amount of built-in RAM, or Random Access Memory.  This memory is generally used to store documents as they are being processed for printing.  Low-volume printers that were designed to handle infrequent printing needs in a home or small office will have a smaller memory that should suffice for the life of the printer.  However, printers that are designed to deliver complex graphics and images while maintaining a quick output rate or high-end office printers that print hundreds of pages each day could eventually require an upgrade. Multifunction and all-in-one devices also use this memory for temporarily storing documents when copying, scanning, or faxing as well, increasing the load. Continue reading “Why Upgrade Printer Memory?” »

Kodak is known for producing excellent cameras, and their photo printers are some of the best on the market as well. Even with the best-designed printer, however, problems can arise. Most modern Kodak printers give the user clear feedback about the problem in plain English, though some older models may use codes due to a limited screen size. Here are some of the most common error messages, and some possible solutions: Continue reading “Common Kodak Error Messages” »