admin – Generic Care https://genericcareincs.com Best Place to Buy Online Digital Products & Accessories Tue, 12 Jul 2022 21:29:15 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.3 https://genericcareincs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cropped-cropped-abc-removebg-preview-32x32.png admin – Generic Care https://genericcareincs.com 32 32 How Long Should a Printer or Copier Last? https://genericcareincs.com/how-long-should-a-printer-or-copier-last/ https://genericcareincs.com/how-long-should-a-printer-or-copier-last/#respond Tue, 12 Jul 2022 21:02:46 +0000 https://genericcareincs.com/?p=5844

Is it time to buy a new printer or copier for your business? Before making this big purchase, you’ll want to know how long the machine is likely to last. Also, what should you know prior to purchase that’ll help ensure your device can survive as long as possible?

Frequently, manufacturers like to say a printer should last around seven years, give or take, depending on the specific model. However, as with most things in life, it’s a little more complicated than that. That’s because a printer’s lifespan is tightly tied to how well you care for the device itself, as well as by choosing the perfect printer for your specific needs.

Ultimately, many variables contribute to the lifetime of your device. From the machine’s overall quality to prioritizing proper maintenance to important security features, countless factors come into play—and most are wholly in your control.

How Is a Printer’s Lifetime Determined?

As mentioned above, all devices arrive with an estimated longevity. Often, manufacturers will suggest around a seven-year lifetime (more on that in a bit). Within the industry, however, a lifetime estimate is actually determined by the number of clicks per month a machine is capable of—a click meaning how many single pages are printed or copied. 

Usually, the larger and more robust your device, the more clicks it can take. Just like a car, the bigger the engine under-the-hood, the stronger the machine as a whole. Therefore, a more powerful printer or copier can comfortably take more clicks than a more modest device. In contrast, forcing a modest device to carry out more jobs than it was designed for can cause excessive wear-and-tear. 

Say your company chose a machine designed to handle 2,000 prints per month, but you’re sending it 3,000 prints per month. In the short-term, the printer may be able to carry out those jobs. In the long-term, however, the machine’s total lifespan will be significantly reduced—not to mention the additional and avoidable maintenance.

Lastly, also like a car, the more power within your machine will almost always equal a higher price tag. 

It’s integral to choose the perfect device for you and your organization’s particular needs. For example, don’t buy the Super Duty Ford F-450 pickup truck with every bell and whistle if a Honda Civic can perfectly meet your needs. But at the same time, if your company pushes your print quantities to the limit, that higher up-front price will likely pay off in the end.

To determine what your new printer’s capabilities will need to be, start tracking how much your company currently prints at a comparable machine each month. A data collecting software or managed print service representative can help you find these numbers.

If you don’t have a data collecting software available to track these metrics, here’s an extra tip—watch how many reams of paper the machine goes through each month and use that to find the number. Your accounting team can also be a great resource as they’ll likely know how often paper is purchased, and in which quantities.

How Do I Make My Printer Last Longer?

For any machine to last for the long-haul, there’s no such thing as setting it up once and forgetting about it. Even if you never exceed your monthly clicks, you or your managed print service team must conduct regular and preventative maintenance. An alert within your device will let you know when that support is necessary. 

Also, whether it’s for regular maintenance or an unexpected repair, it’s always best to use parts and materials created and approved directly from the manufacturer. Within the industry, these parts are called original equipment manufacturer—or OEM—parts. Specially designed for your device, OEM parts will significantly boost your printer’s longevity.

Is It Time to Get a New Printer or Copier?

Even for the most diligent teams, a printer’s lifetime will eventually come to an end. 

Concluding if your machine’s time has come involves more than the printer literally falling to pieces. It also goes back to that seven-year timeline which relates to more than the physical survival of the printer. It also concerns the availability of those broken—and all-important—OEM parts.

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Seven years after a device has been discontinued, the manufacturers have the right to stop producing its parts. If your equipment breaks down after these parts no longer exist, then it’s likely time to retire the machine. 

Also, just like OEM parts, a printer’s security and firmware update features can be discontinued after seven years. In today’s world where data protection should always be a top priority, it’s critical to stay up-to-date with the latest security best practices to protect your network, your business, and your customer’s sensitive data. 

In short, the lifetime of a printer really comes down to proper maintenance and choosing the perfect machine for your company.

Think it might be time to purchase a new printer or copy machine? Have questions about your current office printer environment? We’d love to help! Schedule a free, 15-minute consultation, and the Generic Care team will show you the way.

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What is the Difference Between an Ink Printer vs. a Laser Printer? https://genericcareincs.com/what-is-the-difference-between-an-ink-printer-vs-a-laser-printer/ https://genericcareincs.com/what-is-the-difference-between-an-ink-printer-vs-a-laser-printer/#respond Tue, 12 Jul 2022 20:54:15 +0000 https://genericcareincs.com/?p=5835

It’s enough to make you wonder why these frustrating printer problems happen in the first place. After all, you’re likely using a home ink printer far less than those laser printers back at the office.  

Sure. They can have problems too. But if busy businesses, government agencies, and larger organizations can use the same printers for years, why can’t our smaller at-home versions last as well? 

Before answering these printer questions outright, it’s better to first understand how laser and ink printers work and the major differences between the two.  

What is an Ink or Inkjet Printer? 

An inkjet printer uses liquid ink stored in a cartridge to print images. If it is a black and white printer—also often called a mono printer—it will only have a black cartridge. 

However, most ink or inkjet printers are color printers. Color inkjet printers contain black, cyan, magenta, and yellow ink cartridges. The printer will create an image on each page by injecting droplets of ink through nozzles to make tiny dots on the paper.  

These dots are so small and spaced so closely together that the pictures or text look like a solid image. By combining these colored dots, they can be used to make every color within the color spectrum. 

What is a Laser Printer? 

A laser printer uses a very different process than an inkjet printer.  

First, the image is created on a drum. This drum is then given a charge which applies around 600 volts to the drum with a static field and allows light enough objects to be attracted to the drum. Imagine it as similar to how hair floats towards a plastic comb after the comb has been rubbed dry on a sweater. 

Next, a laser writes the image onto the drum. A roller covered in powdered ink, which is also called toner, then applies the toner to the drum’s surface. A static charge makes the toner stick to where the image should be on the drum. The toner is then transferred onto a piece of paper.  

In the last step, the paper is fed through hot rollers, also called a fuser. The fuser acts like an iron to melt the toner onto the page and permanently set the image onto the paper. That’s why copies are warm to the touch when they come out of the printer.  

In a color laser printer, each color that’s used within every printed image is individually transferred from the drum to a belt. The color is then overlaid over the previous color. This completes the image before it’s finally transferred onto the paper itself. 

Why Are Ink Printers More Affordable? 

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The reason inkjet printers are so inexpensive is because the technology necessary to create the image is much simpler than what’s needed in a laser printer.  

Essentially, for basic home use, inkjet printers can sufficiently get these more sporadic and lower-volume jobs done. However, this also means that they can’t keep up with more complex jobs without the potential of running into problems—if they can be done at all.  

Aside from consumable supplies such as ink and paper, ink printers are not typically designed to be serviced or have their parts replaced. This helps to keep them cheap. However, manufacturers count on selling more replacement ink and pricing them high as they still want to make a profit in the long run.  

The most common cause of failure in these printers occurs when the liquid ink dries in the nozzle and plugs them up. The second most common reason is when the plastic parts within the paper’s path break. Once this happens, most people choose to throw the entire printer out rather than try to find a way to repair it. 

Not only does making these printers so disposable feel like a waste for consumers—it’s not good for the environment either. Unfortunately, trashed printers generate literal tons of e-waste every year leading to a less sustainable world. 

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How to Troubleshoot Your Own Printer Problems Before Calling IT https://genericcareincs.com/how-to-troubleshoot-your-own-printer-problems-before-calling-it/ https://genericcareincs.com/how-to-troubleshoot-your-own-printer-problems-before-calling-it/#respond Tue, 12 Jul 2022 20:44:09 +0000 https://genericcareincs.com/?p=5829 When it comes to fixing common printer issues, many problems can actually be resolved by YOU! By not calling in a formal job ticket, you’ll save you and your IT department’s time. Why wait for a printer repair specialist to squeeze you into their busy schedule if it’s easily fixable?

If you’re wondering whether to call IT or troubleshoot a printer problem on your own, read through these expert insights first. If it’s on the list, we’ll guide you through how to troubleshoot the issue so you can get back to work fast.

Fix a Paper Jam On Your Own

Paper jams inside a printer, copier, or multifunction device is a frustratingly common office problem. However, they often can be fixed without having to get the IT department involved. 

First, before jumping straight into action mode, take a second to read the instructions on the device’s screen (if it has one). Many models have images or a description of where the device detects a printer jam. They may even show an animation or illustration that points out where the jam is and which door has easy access to it.

Adjust Your Tray Settings

The next common probably that you should try to troubleshoot before contacting IT involves paper tray settings. 

Does the print device give an alert that it needs the “correct paper size” to be loaded into, say, the Bypass Tray (or Tray One on some devices)? But you’re pretty sure that the paper size in the normal tray is correct? This is usually caused by small miscommunications and picky paper trays.  

Most printers detect the size of the paper based on the adjustable tray guides, and these guides can be very finicky. Just a centimeter off and the printer often interprets the size as incorrect and will refuse to utilize the tray.

If All Else Fails…Reboot!

Still experiencing irksome issues after trying to troubleshoot a printer? Then it’s time to try the tried-and-true reboot:

  • Turn the printer off
  • Unplug the power cable for 30 seconds
  • Plug it back in
  • Turn the device back on

The power button/switch is normally accessible on the front or side of the device. If you can get to it, go ahead and reboot the printer. Once everything is up and running, try printing or scanning again. Oftentimes, this alone does the trick.

However, if you’re still experiencing the same, stubborn issue, it might finally be time to call up the trusty IT department. They’ll be glad that you tried tackling the problem on your own before filling out a ticket.

Whether it’s clearing a print jam or upgrading a fleet of MFPs, the Generic Care team is proud to print repair and management experts! See how we can help your business run more efficiently and save up to 30% on print costs by scheduling a 15-minute, no-strings-attached consultation.

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Fix The 4 Common Reasons That Your Printer Might be Jamming https://genericcareincs.com/fix-the-4-common-reasons-that-your-printer-might-be-jamming/ https://genericcareincs.com/fix-the-4-common-reasons-that-your-printer-might-be-jamming/#respond Tue, 12 Jul 2022 20:30:32 +0000 https://genericcareincs.com/?p=5825

Few things are more infuriating than a printer jam problem. You’re finally ready to print out a big project or important document only for some pesky paper to get stuck somewhere deep within the machine. But frustrating as it is, most paper jams can get fixed rather quickly.

Oftentimes, all it takes is locating the main screen on the printer itself. This is always the first recommended step for a print jam issue. Once detected, many printers will provide clear, on-screen instructions prompting users on how to clear the jam. A graphic or text will show you where the jammed paper is stuck and guide you in safe removal.

If you’ve checked the screen to no avail, don’t panic. Take a deep breath and try our easy troubleshooting tips on fixing a paper jam.

Reason #1: Bad, Old, or Warped Paper 

With the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have required employees to work from home for long periods of time. Once they return to the office, it’s likely that some paper has been sitting in printer trays for quite some time, and old paper can cause a printer jam.  

Reason #2: Pages Are Stuck Inside the Printer 

For various reasons, perfectly good sheets of paper occasionally get stuck somewhere within the printer. Getting paper out might sound like a challenge that requires a call to the IT department, but it’s usually a pretty quick fix that even less tech-savvy people can handle.  

Reason #3: Incorrect Paper Size 

Incorrect paper size can quickly cause a printer to jam up. Printers are extremely picky about size. One can stop even if a page is less than a millimeter off from what the device expects. Usually, an on-screen message will pop up as soon as it occurs alerting you of the problem. Then it should walk you through how to clear it. If not, follow the steps in Reason #2 to clear it manually. 

After a paper size-related jam is cleared, figure out exactly why the discrepancy occurred so you can remedy the issue and finally print your page. 

Reason #4: Printer Part Repair

After trying and troubleshooting everything above with no success, it might be time to call in the printer experts like your IT department or managed print partner. Throughout the lifetime of any printer or copier, parts go bad and sometimes need to be repaired or replaced. Repeated paper jams can be an indication that it’s time for such maintenance. 

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