Although the world of office technology is slowly making the leap into a paperless world, there are few things more ubiquitous than the office printer. Every office needs one, has one, and curses at one when it doesn’t work the way it should. This can be because it is too slow, doesn’t print quality copies the way it used to, or simply can’t handle the volume of requests coming in. While both inkjet and laserjet printer technology have come a long way in the past twenty years, as has the ability to make long-lasting and functional printer ink cartridges, there comes a time when every printer needs to bow out to a newer, sleeker model. Here a few ways to know when it’s time to upgrade.



Before the old printer gets blamed, make sure it isn’t the ink. Many companies mistakenly put their old inkjet printer out to pasture, or send their laserjet printer to the dump because it seems as though the quality level of the copies has dropped dramatically. When this happens, complete a quick printer ink cartridge check. In the case of an injket printer, make sure that the ink is still liquid and that the printer heads are not clogged. In the case of toner, make sure there is actually some left, and the toner drum hasn’t deformed or otherwise been offset. Once it’s been established that the printer ink cartridges are fine, it is then time to consider actual printer failure.



One of the first signs of true printer failure will be a slowdown in pages per minute. Once this has decreased by half or even a third, it’s time to start considering a new machine. Check to make sure that nothing has become jammed in the printer, and that the type of paper being used is not causing any issues. If everything seems to be working as it should, it is likely that the printer’s mechanics are simply aging, and that it will never be able to regain its former speed.



Another indicator that it may be time for a replacement laser or inkjet printer is when jobs take an exceedingly long time to get from the input device to the printer. This may simply be a network issue, but it may also be indicative of larger problems. If a network reset, cable changes and other hardware-based solutions fail, it is likely a sign that the printer should be retired. Treated properly, printers can see years of use, and go through multiple printer ink cartridges before needing replacement. Once it has been identified that the printer, not the cartridge, is to blame, it is key that a company acts quickly to ensure productivity is maintained.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 at 12:21 pm and is filed under Buying Tips.