time for a new printer

[cellio]

It's a new millenium; I can upgrade hardware.

My mostly-trusty HP LaserJet 5L has fussed at me one too many times. (It's ok; it's a senior citizen. I think I bought it in 1993.) Every now and then it decides it doesn't want to correctly feed paper; sometimes it just wants different paper or a dusting-out, and sometimes it wants a more thorough cleaning. I've done all the usual things this time short of breaking out the screwdrivers. It's been a good printer, but new ones are $100 and there's a lot to be said for lower hassle levels. I wonder if I know anyone who places the time/money balance-point in a different place, or who likes playing with hardware. It's not dead, just cranky.

I took today off to deal with assorted errands before leaving for Pennsic tomorrow morning. One of those errands was printing some stuff to take to Pennsic -- hence this post. So since I was home anyway, I ran over to Best Buy to pick up a new one. For old-times' sake, I got a modern HP LaserJet. Time to first print (from when I left the house) was just over an hour, which is pretty good.

(Reminder to self: I didn't have a spare USB cable after all, so right now the printer is hijacking the scanner cable. I should fix that after Pennsic.)

Comments

[indigodove.livejournal.com]

Goodwill might be a place to take the senior citizen printer. They have a computer store -- I don't know if Goodwill refurbishes the stuff, or if it's a place for those who have the skills to make things go get great deals. But, it beats just pitching it :-)

[cellio]

Good idea. I know that Goodwill trashes some huge percentage of the clothing they get; I don't know what their track record is on equipment. But it beats just trashing it, if I don't find a friend who wants it.