| To make sure you continue to receive my e-mails in your Inbox (so they're not sent to a junk folder), please add kimstipreply@lyris.komando.com to your address book or safe sender list. |
 |  | |||||||||||||
 | Kim's Club |  | Shop | | Listen | | Columns | | Cool Sites | | Tips | | Buying Guide | | Video of the Day |
Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008 
|  |
Why do my printers die so quickly?
It's true that printers aren't the most durable machines. After all, anything with moving parts will wear out over time. But your printers last less than a year. This is not common. An inkjet printer should last about four years. A laser printer would have a significantly longer lifespan. However, some people continually face problems with printers. The problem isn't really with the printer. Rather, you may be overloading the printer with work. It's all a big mystery! You're not to blame for this, though. Manufacturers usually don't give you enough information. So, it's difficult to make an informed buying decision. You see, a printer has a maximum duty cycle. This is the expected number of pages a printer will print in its lifespan. There's also a monthly duty cycle. This is the maximum number of pages you can print in a month. To confuse matters more, there's also a recommended monthly maximum. This will be less than the monthly duty cycle. Stick within this number to get the most from the printer. As I said, manufacturers aren't usually forthcoming with this information. But you can often find the monthly duty cycle in printer specifications. How about a lifetime number? Unfortunately, the monthly duty cycle isn't very helpful on its own. You won't be able to deduce the lifespan. It only tells you that the printer will break if you exceed this number. For example, say two printers have a 2,500 monthly duty cycle. But, one printer may have a 50,000 maximum duty cycle. The other may have a maximum duty cycle of 75,000 pages. Clearly, one printer will last much longer—even at the monthly maximum. Manufacturers may not list all the information you need. But let me give you a little advice. First, estimate how much you print in an average month. Buy a printer with a monthly duty cycle three times this number. You should also remember the golden rule of shopping: You get what you pay for. A low-end printer simply isn't going to last. So, spring for a more expensive model. It is a better investment in the long run. Buy two printers As I mentioned, a laser printer will outlive an inkjet. If you can afford it, buy two printers. Get a black-and-white laser printer for your documents. Buy another specifically for printing photos. Your budget may not allow for this. That's certainly understandable. In that case, forego the photo printer. Instead, have prints made at a local photo shop or online. Most photo-sharing sites will sell you prints. My handy column will help you find the perfect photo-sharing site. Believe it or not, this will save you money. Printing at home is quite costly. Professional print services are relatively inexpensive. Of course, you can also scale back on your printing. There are a few ways to do this. First, you could print to a file instead of using paper. How do you do that? My money-saving tip covers all the details. Don't print extraneous stuff You could also condense what you print from the Internet. Get rid of the ads and extra pages. This will prolong the life of your printer. I have a great free tool that will help you condense your printing jobs. You'll love it! There's an added bonus to scaling back your printing: You'll save a bundle on ink! Speaking of ink, I have another must-read tip to help you use less ink. (There I go again with my pet peeve!) Before you buy a printer, head over to my buying guides. They will help you avoid making a costly buying mistake! KEEP YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS UP-TO-DATE  Every day, Team Komando produces some of the best content you'll find anywhere on the Internet. Here is a sampling of what's new on our site today! • $16,000 in Prizes Left to Give: My 13th Annual Great Giveaway Sweepstakes has ended. But if you entered, you could still be the lucky winner of one of our Grand Prizes! Listen to my show this weekend to find out if you won. I will be awarding over $16,000 in prizes on-air! Click here to find me on a station near you. • Video of the Day: Being snowed in isn't much fun. That is, unless you're Bailey the dog. Watch this, and you'll want to play in the snow. • Cool Site of the Day: The economic news seems bleaker and bleaker. Maybe you're worried. This site can help you get a grip on your finances. • Digital Minute, on your radio: You can now make some cash from the videos you post to YouTube. And you won't believe how much! • Free Download of the Day: Web browsers make surfing the Internet easy. But it could be easier with mouse gestures. • Tip on the site: Some iPods hold hundreds of songs. Others manage many thousands. That sounds expensive. But there are ways to save. See you tomorrow! Kim :) 
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I got my first computer about two years ago. The computer is still going strong. However, I am on my third printer! All of the printers have been made by different manufacturers. I mostly just print articles I read online and digital photos. I've heard you complain about the price of ink. Sure, it's expensive. But why aren't you complaining about the ridiculously short lifespan of printers? They're bad for the environment—and the checkbook.
Let me answer your question with another question. How do you afford all that ink?
Copyright © 2009, The Kim Komando Show. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of The Kim Komando Show is prohibited and strictly enforced. Newsletters may contain links to sites on the Internet owned and operated by third parties. The Kim Komando Show is not responsible for the availability of, or the content located on or through, any such third-party site. Information in this document is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and freedom from infringement. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document. We will not be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of this information, including, but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and consequential damages. You may also unsubscribe by sending a request via postal mail. Please include your name, e-mail address and a printed copy of your Newsletter e-mail. Send to: |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for understanding that we need to prevent the nasties.