WIFi printers

[peter halle]

Off topic slightly, years ago when I was working for a retailer as a project manager, as the most computer astute of our department, we were in the days before laptops. Heck, 1 year earlier when I started purchase orders were still being typed until I brought them forward a few years. Anyway, in a test they gave me a laptop to travel with - if successful we would all be carrying one. The laptop was actually a Lexmark. Serial number 00000002. It was a good laptop except fore the power adaptor. The strain relief failed and so did the cord while I was preparing for a pre-bid meeting the next morning in Shirlington, VA. I had to leave the hotel and find a Radioshack for emergency supplies to rectify the situation. Mission accomplished. We were issued IBM laptops - not Lexmark.

Peter

 

[luvmytoolz]

Off topic slightly, years ago when I was working for a retailer as a project manager, as the most computer astute of our department, we were in the days before laptops. Heck, 1 year earlier when I started purchase orders were still being typed until I brought them forward a few years. Anyway, in a test they gave me a laptop to travel with - if successful we would all be carrying one. The laptop was actually a Lexmark. Serial number 00000002. It was a good laptop except fore the power adaptor. The strain relief failed and so did the cord while I was preparing for a pre-bid meeting the next morning in Shirlington, VA. I had to leave the hotel and find a Radioshack for emergency supplies to rectify the situation. Mission accomplished. We were issued IBM laptops - not Lexmark.

Peter

I recall very well the exciting days with laptops early on spent trying to get the PCMCIA Dial-Up and Ethernet adaptors working!

And the dongles would always end up broken!

 

[Sparktrician]

Epson EcoTank are probably the only inkjet I'd consider, though I haven't used any nor sold any.

I used to have an Epson photo printer that cost ~$1,200 new. I rarely used it because most of my photos go online, not in print. A few years back I had a need for a few prints and fired up the Epson only to find that it would not print and threw an error code. I called a repair shop nearby and was told that the print head had died and its replacement was $500, but was also discontinued. That was my forever last Epson printer.

 

[Packard]

I recall, in about 1978 - 1980 when the company I worked for added computerized billing. They hired an IT “professional”, though the term “IT” was not yet in use and “professional” was a loosely applied term.

He reminded me of my 7th grade history teacher, who was one chapter ahead of the class throughout the year. This guy would read up on the install the night before and work with the manual open the entire time.

In any case, he proudly said when he was done with the setup, “Within 6 months you won’t have to buy any paper. Everything will be done on the computer’s screen.”

The reality: It became so easy to make additional copies our paper consumption probably tripled.

 

[Chainring]

I used to have an Epson photo printer that cost ~$1,200 new. I rarely used it because most of my photos go online, not in print. A few years back I had a need for a few prints and fired up the Epson only to find that it would not print and threw an error code. I called a repair shop nearby and was told that the print head had died and its replacement was $500, but was also discontinued. That was my forever last Epson printer.

Rarely used and inkjet is generally a combination leading to disaster. Those print heads get gummed up and even if they can be cleaned, it's often not worth it, at least with the throw away printers today.