A story for the computer geeks

LVSteve

LVSteve

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I have an old HP fax/printer/scanner that has been a faithful servant for 8-10 years. Tonight I was trying to print out a PDF document and the process kept dying after half a page. After much Google-fu and wasted paper trying various "fixes", I discovered that the problem was that I had recently rearranged my USB connections and had plugged the device into a USB 2.0 hub. USB 2.0 is allegedly backwards compatible with USB 1.0, but not for certain HP printers, it seems.

One guy on the Web said he had a similar issue and after updating his USB drivers (yeah, USB was supposed to fix that, too) he found it was all good provided he avoided the hub gadget.

Good fun, eh?:rolleyes:
 
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I thought about making a friendly jibe at you about your having a computer story that rivaled "Gone With the Wind" for excitement. The truth is I feel your pain. I had my computer probs in the past, present and I know the future. They can be exasperating to say the least. USB printers can be a nightmare.
I've got to "upgrade" from XP to WIN7 on my desktops pretty quick. In the meantime one of the Dells (the one I use daily) finally bit the bullet, which kinda complicates the upgrade.
 
See Windows 7 Repair Thread

A friend is having much bigger problems which I will address in more detail in another thread. Suffice to say that you have to wonder what sort of autistic lemurs Micro$oft has analyzing user requirements as well as product usability.
 
I have HP printers also. I like them. But what's the deal that they only die after you put in a new set of ink cartridges that cost $50 and you can't use them in the new printer you buy.:eek:
 
gdnagle said:
I have HP printers also. I like them. But what's the deal that they only die after you put in a new set of ink cartridges that cost $50 and you can't use them in the new printer you buy.:eek:
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I have a rule regarding HP printers:
  • If it costs $500 or more, it will probably work, and for a LONG time.
  • If it costs less than $500, it's junk and will either never work right in the first place or die relatively soon.
If you need a cheap printer, especially a laser printer, buy a Brother. They're generally reliable, and so cheap it's usually cheaper to just buy a new one rather than replace the drum.
 
cmort666 said:
If you need a cheap printer, especially a laser printer, buy a Brother. They're generally reliable, and so cheap it's usually cheaper to just buy a new one rather than replace the drum.
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100% correct. I have a Brother HL-5340D that has been going strong for many years.
Costco currently has a similar model (HL-2240D) on sale for $89.99. That is about the same as the cost of a cheap ink jet printer plus the first set of new cartridges.
 
On the cheap theme the big electronics store here had an ad for a new computer with mouse, keyboard, Windows 8 and 8 GB of RAM for $289. Speed wise it would probably be considered supernatural by the standards of just 10 years ago.

For comparison I paid about $1000 for my 450 MHz (?) PIII with a 17" monitor in 1997.
 
I don't find much use for a printer/scanner/fax these days.

I never fax anything anymore. I used to print discount coupons but now all I do is show them to the retailer or restaurant on my smartphone. Years ago I scanned all my old photos so no need for that anymore since all my picture taking is now digital. If I'm working on something that I need a diagram or step by step instructions from the Internet I'll use my iPad unless it's going to be a dirty job, then I'll print. When buying things online I get a kick out of those messages "Print For Your Records", who does that? Command + Shift + 4 and I capture the screen image of exactly what I want to a small icon on my desktop and then drag it to whatever a folder I choose.
 
ChattanoogaPhil said:
I don't find much use for a printer/scanner/fax these days.
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I pretty much haven't sent a single fax since I left my previous job where I used to have to fax QC documents to customers.

A scanner is pretty important, since I have a bunch of negatives which I don't particularly want to pay somebody else to scan. Also, I periodically had to can parking receipts so that I could get reimbursed by my employer.

I couldn't live without a printer. I need to print directions to customer sites frequently. A don't have (and don't want) a GPS in the car, and I'm certainly not going to try to read Google Maps on my phone while I drive. I print out proofs of payment, just in case. I also print digital photographs. My Canon S750 does REALLY good photographs, some of which I've framed. Finally, I hate trying to read instructions on a computer while I'm trying to work on it. This is especially so with configuration files and long command line strings while working on Linux.
 
cmort666 said:
I I need to print directions to customer sites frequently. A don't have (and don't want) a GPS in the car, and I'm certainly not going to try to read Google Maps on my phone while I drive.
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Printing directions... oh my... So you're the guy weaving all over the road reading paper maps and directions. :D
 
LVSteve said:
Is there a difference in the weave pattern between the map users and those using the head-down display called an iPhone?
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The iPhone gives me voice turn by turn directions. Never take my eyes off the road or have to look at the phone for any reason. Stays in my pocket. Try that with a paper map. ;)
 
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