QuickTips Index

Should You Buy Ink Cartridges In Bulk?
You can save money by buying your ink cartridges in bulk. However, before you do that, make sure you'll use all of them before time runs out.

Memory Card Readers
A memory card reader can get your photos to your photo printer without having to hook up your camera.

Changing A Feature? How To Make It Temporary/Permanent
When you want to change a feature in your printer/scanner driver -- make your printer always print in grayscale, for example, or always scan in a certain resolution -- you can make that change either one-time, or permanent. How? In a way that's not well documented.

Printing While Traveling
It can be a hassle when you're traveling, and don't have a way to print out your documents. Here are some tips for printing, scanning, or copying while traveling.

How To Protect Your Scanner When You're Scrapbooking
Scrapbooking using a scanner is fun and can make for some wonderful memories. But you don't want to damage your scanner in the process. Here are some tips.

Save Money and the Environment -- Buy Returnable Cartridges
Many printer manufacturers are offering lower-cost returnable ink and toner cartridges.

Don't Pay Too Much -- Check The MSRP
When you're preparing to buy a printer or scanner, it's wise to check the MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) and make sure you're not going to pay too much.

Printer Problem: Can't Print From DOS
However, if you use DOS apps, and you are shopping for a printer, be aware that there are a few printers that use a USB connection to your computer than cannot print from DOS -- specifically, some Epson Stylus Color and Stylus Photo series inkjet printers.

Extending Cartridge Life
How to make your laser printer's toner cartridge last longer.

Should You Use Third-Party Ink Cartridges?
Is it safe to use ink cartridges that aren't from your printer's manufacturer?

How to Find a Free Printer
So you want a new printer but don't want to pay for it? Check out these three methods for finding free (or almost free) printers.

Save Money: Buy Refurbished
A refurbished printer isn't just a used printer -- it offers the same guarantees and warranties as a new printer. And it's a lot cheaper.

Saving Paper and Pennies
There are some small but significant ways that you can save paper.

What Does 'Time To First Page' Mean?
Many printer specs today include a line that reads "Time To First Page.' What does that mean, and is it important to know when you're purchasing a new printer?

Perplexing Pictures: When Confusing Icons Lead To Hardware Problems
All those icons on your printer, scanner, or all-in-one are supposed to help you figure out how to make your device work. But sometimes they can make things even more confusing than they were before.

Unpacking Your New Printer -- Carefully
While we all like to think our new printers or scanners will work perfectly, sometimes they have to be returned. In that case, it's a good idea to know how to repack your device.

Getting Rid of Unwanted Software
Sometimes, printers comes with extras that you don't really need -- like promotional software packages that don't do much more than take up space on your hard drive. Feel free to uninstall them.

Fix It Up By Powering Down
Sometimes, a printer problem can be solved very simply -- by just powering down your printer and scanner and restarting your printer driver. However, it has to be done in the right order.

Save Paper: Ignore The Print Button
When you print a Web page, how many unnecessary pages do you print with it?

When In Doubt: Restart
Sometimes, the reason a new install of a printer driver doesn't work is because the old driver is still being felt. The effects of a printer driver sits in the memory of both your PC and your computer, and unless it is wiped from both, you have no way of knowing whether your newly installed driver is really working or not.

Is Your Printer Wasting Ink?
Have you noticed that you have to replace your color ink cartridges much more often than you'd think? Even if you use hardly any color ink? Well, that's not your fault -- it's the fault of the printer's construction.

Quick Tip: Delete Your Printer Drivers
When you replace your printer, it's very unlikely that your old printer driver will conflict with your new one. But why take the chance?

The Care and Feeding of Automatic Document Feeders
When preparing to purchase a multifunction or all-in-one printer, you may want to consider one with an Automatic Document Feeder, or ADF. Here is some advice on buying and using an ADF.

Quick Tip: Check Your Connections
Sometimes, when a printer or scanner misbehaves, it may simply be a shaky connection.

Quick Tip: Watching Your Ink Disappear
Replacing printer ink cartridges can be costly. How can you avoid the expense and inconvenience of constantly changing your cartridge?