Only Get What You Need

So when is it time to get a new printer?

When you're dealing with digital technology, the answer isn't always clear. On the one hand, it's always tempting to upgrade to the latest and greatest, especially when a new photo printer comes out, or when you see an all-in-one that can also bake bread.

On the other hand, as with any technology, you don't want to fix what ain't broke. My mother has an old HP inkjet printer that is so old that it can only use one ink cartridge at a time -- if you're prinitng with black ink, and you want to use color, you have to replace the black cartridge with the color. So, you'd think she'd have gotten a new printer long ago, right?

But why should she? The printer works perfectly well for her, and since she only prints out text (and the occasional Web page), she doesn't need color. Even if a new inkjet would cost her, say, $90, that's $90 that she doesn't have to spend.

So if you really need a new printer or scanner, get one. But if you're happy with what you've got, don't worry that you're falling behind the times. If it works for you, then it's the right technology for you.