Computers CHAT - 2021

mzmc · May 14, 2025, 06:54:57 PM

New to me (used Ebay purchase

).

I'm happy with the hardware. Though I never use it in tablet mode, it might as well not have a touch screen.

I love Linux Mint.

12_Gauge_Chimp · May 21, 2025, 04:03:28 PM

Not sure where this belongs, but I figured since it has to do with electronics, I'd post it here.

Made a bit of a mistake today. I went to Walmart to pick up a USB charger hub because I've got a bunch of stuff that uses USB cords to charge and ended up buying a USB-C charger hub instead.

I meant to pick up the Anker USB charger, but grabbed the USB-C one by mistake. Now I'm screwed because I don't feel like driving 30 minutes to return it and get the right one instead today.

So I'll have to wait until the next time I have to go to that particular Walmart and hope they have the regular USB one.

NT2C · May 21, 2025, 06:08:02 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on May 21, 2025, 04:03:28 PMNot sure where this belongs, but I figured since it has to do with electronics, I'd post it here.

Made a bit of a mistake today. I went to Walmart to pick up a USB charger hub because I've got a bunch of stuff that uses USB cords to charge and ended up buying a USB-C charger hub instead.

I meant to pick up the Anker USB charger, but grabbed the USB-C one by mistake. Now I'm screwed because I don't feel like driving 30 minutes to return it and get the right one instead today.

So I'll have to wait until the next time I have to go to that particular Walmart and hope they have the regular USB one.

I'm trying to mentally picture what the problem is, and what I can bring with me next week to correct it.

Can you text me a picture of what you got vs what you need?

12_Gauge_Chimp · May 21, 2025, 07:39:24 PM

Quote from: NT2C on May 21, 2025, 06:08:02 PM
Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on May 21, 2025, 04:03:28 PMNot sure where this belongs, but I figured since it has to do with electronics, I'd post it here.

Made a bit of a mistake today. I went to Walmart to pick up a USB charger hub because I've got a bunch of stuff that uses USB cords to charge and ended up buying a USB-C charger hub instead.

I meant to pick up the Anker USB charger, but grabbed the USB-C one by mistake. Now I'm screwed because I don't feel like driving 30 minutes to return it and get the right one instead today.

So I'll have to wait until the next time I have to go to that particular Walmart and hope they have the regular USB one.
I'm trying to mentally picture what the problem is, and what I can bring with me next week to correct it.

Can you text me a picture of what you got vs what you need?

Texts inbound.

NT2C · May 21, 2025, 08:19:28 PM

Added to laptop case.

Anianna · May 23, 2025, 05:31:32 PM

@NT2C A while back we had a discussion about printers and you encouraged me to go laser, but Handy Kid ended up fixing my ink problem with the old inject printer I had and I never did get a new one. It has now gone to the great scrap heap in heaven and I apparently need a new printer. Prices on some of these laser printers is looking really nice right now, but, holy shit, the toner!

If I only print every now and then, the toner lasts, right? Like a long damn time? I'd like to maintain an ability to print in color, but that's four toner cartridges which, together, cost more than the printer costs. Is there any problem putting different brand toners in it and do they generally still print B&W if the color toners are not inserted or have run out?

NT2C · May 23, 2025, 08:36:20 PM

Quote from: Anianna on May 23, 2025, 05:31:32 PM@NT2C A while back we had a discussion about printers and you encouraged me to go laser, but Handy Kid ended up fixing my ink problem with the old inject printer I had and I never did get a new one. It has now gone to the great scrap heap in heaven and I apparently need a new printer. Prices on some of these laser printers is looking really nice right now, but, holy shit, the toner!

If I only print every now and then, the toner lasts, right? Like a long damn time? I'd like to maintain an ability to print in color, but that's four toner cartridges which, together, cost more than the printer costs. Is there any problem putting different brand toners in it and do they generally still print B&W if the color toners are not inserted or have run out?

My Xerox WorkCentre 6027 is about 9 years old now, has printed just shy of 72,000 pages (according to its permanent job memory), gets about 2,000 pages from one of the three color cartridges, and about 4,000 from the double-sized black cartridge. It's currently in desperate need of a drum cleaning/replacement but my Xerox service agreement on it ended when Xerox itself did. I suspect it will need replacing this year and I'm currently considering a Brother printer.

We purchased a Brother DCP-L2640DW monochrome laser printer for my wife a few months ago and it impresses me. Gets about 3,000 pages per cartridge and accepts generic replacements (though Brother, like most manufacturers, would prefer you use their own toners at 4x the cost) which is currently $60 for a two-pack. The printer itself was $199. Brother has color lasers starting around $250 for a home unit, though I do suggest going for a business-class unit around $100 more.

Anianna · May 23, 2025, 10:03:40 PM

Quote from: NT2C on May 23, 2025, 08:36:20 PM
Quote from: Anianna on May 23, 2025, 05:31:32 PM@NT2C A while back we had a discussion about printers and you encouraged me to go laser, but Handy Kid ended up fixing my ink problem with the old inject printer I had and I never did get a new one. It has now gone to the great scrap heap in heaven and I apparently need a new printer. Prices on some of these laser printers is looking really nice right now, but, holy shit, the toner!

If I only print every now and then, the toner lasts, right? Like a long damn time? I'd like to maintain an ability to print in color, but that's four toner cartridges which, together, cost more than the printer costs. Is there any problem putting different brand toners in it and do they generally still print B&W if the color toners are not inserted or have run out?
My Xerox WorkCentre 6027 is about 9 years old now, has printed just shy of 72,000 pages (according to its permanent job memory), gets about 2,000 pages from one of the three color cartridges, and about 4,000 from the double-sized black cartridge. It's currently in desperate need of a drum cleaning/replacement but my Xerox service agreement on it ended when Xerox itself did. I suspect it will need replacing this year and I'm currently considering a Brother printer.

We purchased a Brother DCP-L2640DW monochrome laser printer for my wife a few months ago and it impresses me. Gets about 3,000 pages per cartridge and accepts generic replacements (though Brother, like most manufacturers, would prefer you use their own toners at 4x the cost) which is currently $60 for a two-pack. The printer itself was $199. Brother has color lasers starting around $250 for a home unit, though I do suggest going for a business-class unit around $100 more.

I feel a little better about getting a few thousand pages out of a cartridge, especially if it doesn't dry up like inkjet can if only used sporadically.

I was looking at Brother, but some of their wording on their listings was throwing me. "Digital Color All-in-One Printer with Laser Quality Output" instead of "All-in-One Color Laser Printer". What's up with the odd double-speak. Is it not actually a laser printer?

I'll probably get either a Brother model or a Canon model designed for small business.

Thanks for the info.

Anianna · May 26, 2025, 03:57:45 PM

I was looking at a pair, each going for $399. The Canon went on sale for $299, but the Brother didn't, so I snagged the Canon.

Anianna · May 28, 2025, 05:31:03 PM

This thing is huge.

Also, it came with a part carefully packaged with the power cord that is not mentioned anywhere in the set up guide and I have yet to find it in the 699 page manual. I don't see anywhere that looks like it needs a part or even anywhere that looks like it would fit.

ETA: Oooooh, I found it on page 113! It's a cover if extending the paper drawer for legal paper.

This printer is pretty damn fancy.

NT2C · May 28, 2025, 05:53:41 PM

Quote from: Anianna on May 28, 2025, 05:31:03 PMThis thing is huge.

Also, it came with a part carefully packaged with the power cord that is not mentioned anywhere in the set up guide and I have yet to find it in the 699 page manual. I don't see anywhere that looks like it needs a part or even anywhere that looks like it would fit.

ETA: Oooooh, I found it on page 113! It's a cover if extending the paper drawer for legal paper.

This printer is pretty damn fancy.

I think you'll be happy with it.

Anianna · May 28, 2025, 08:04:29 PM

Quote from: NT2C on May 28, 2025, 05:53:41 PM
Quote from: Anianna on May 28, 2025, 05:31:03 PMThis thing is huge.

Also, it came with a part carefully packaged with the power cord that is not mentioned anywhere in the set up guide and I have yet to find it in the 699 page manual. I don't see anywhere that looks like it needs a part or even anywhere that looks like it would fit.

ETA: Oooooh, I found it on page 113! It's a cover if extending the paper drawer for legal paper.

This printer is pretty damn fancy.
I think you'll be happy with it.

The print is so crisp. No more annoying slightly off-kilter lines. And it automatically printed double-sided without having to put the single-side printed stack back in to print the other side. Now I wish I needed to print more frequently.