the stupidest fucking thing that has happened today

[xfer]

My printer went on the fritz--continually blinked the Ink Empty light and wouldn't print no matter if I put in a new black ink cartridge or not. I print stuff all day (black and white), so it was a serious issue. Tech guys came over and played with it for an hour, then left, then came back again and couldn't fix it still. Suggested replacing the printer.

I had the idea to try switching round the COLOUR cartridges with my co-worker's. It FIXED it. The tech guy said that the printer must be checking the colour and b/w cartridges to make sure both are full before it allows you to print, and despite having used the colour cartridge maybe four times ever, it was empty. Must have dried up or something.

So, because of HP's design, we have to buy a NEW colour cartridge I will never use, just so I can print in black and white. Christ.

 

[xfer]

It makes me feel like an ugga-bugga savage using a $4000 computer to crack open clamshells against a rock.

 

[FrostGiant]

Won't a black and white cartridge fit in that slot?

 

[xfer]

nope. black cartridges are narrower and the colour ones are fat.

i KNOW this is PURPOSELY done to make people buy pricey HP ink cartridges for no reason.

 

[avi]

those carts are BANK, too. lame.

 

[FrostGiant]

Well, can't you just inject something into the color cartridge to make to computator think it's full?

 

[xfer]

i could try? could be catatrophic if i accidentally do print something in colour, though.

 

[lizard]

I've HEARD that printers actually are sold for pretty close to cost, the profit is in the cartridges. I don't know if this is true.

 

[FrostGiant]

Oh yeah. That could be a problem.

 

[xfer]

it's true!

 

[FrostGiant]

I'm currently deleting a bunch of files from my c drive. They gave me a computer that was used as a sort of mini server so it's full of useless crap. It was actually full. 4 Gigs of useless crap. I couldn't even save a simple letter.

 

[deadair]

trust me... it's true (about the printers)

and don't try to rig it alex... you end up frying something. again, trust me.

 

[lizard]

I'm about to get a new Gateway to replace my Dell. My problem is with my organizational skills (or rather lack of them), I have to make sure everything I want to transfer is in centralized places so I don't miss anything I'll regret.

p.s. edit: I've also heard that the initial cartridges that come with a new printer are often not even close to being full, so you have to turn around and buy replacements almost immediately. I also don't know if this is true.

in fact, today, I don't seem to know much of anything.

 

[deadair]

oh... and your tech guys sound like idiots...

 

[FrostGiant]

Well, if the printers are sold at cost then what's the big deal if you fry it? I mean, how expensive can they be without markup?

 

[xfer]

deadair, the laserfax voice of reason on this thread.

 

[lizard]

well with the circuits and sensors and NIC card and shit, you are talking about some fairly sophisticated equipment.

 

[lizard]

oh... and your tech guys sound like idiots...

cause most help desk people like me are on the lower end of the tech totem pole, the guys with more knowledge get moved over to server support and such?!?!

 

[deadair]

...just sayin, that's why people should (and do) farm out their printer work. most IT people know zero about the inner workings of a printer...

 

[avi]

I never thought I would say this but JAKE IS THE VOICE OF REASON here