Simple ways to get more out of your ink jet printer--for less. Kirk Steers Printers--notably those econo-box ink jets that cost less than a couple of replacement ink cartridges--can be finicky beasts. Here are some tips to minimize the pain of your publishing experience. Be a quick-change artist. If you frequently switch orientation (landscape or portrait), paper size, or print quality, configure a separate copy of your printer's driver for each group of settings. When you print, pick the driver whose settings you need from the drop-down menu under Printer in the Print dialog box (see FIGURE 1). In Windows XP, click Start, Control Panel, Printers and Other Hardware (in XP's Category view), Printers and Faxes, and double-click Add Printer. In 98, 2000, or Me, click Start, Settings, Printers, and double-click Add Printer. Step through the wizard, and when prompted, select your printer and the settings you prefer. When you're asked to enter a name, give the driver a title that reflects its settings, such as Flip the right switch. Turn off your ink jet printer via its own power switch, not the switch on its surge protector or on some other device. Many ink jets automatically clean and park the printhead only after the on-board power switch is thrown. Get the latest and greatest. Download and install the latest drivers for your printer from the vendor's Web site. This will help improve its performance, enable new features, and fix any bugs. Keep it clean. Dust, dirt, and paper scraps can cause all kinds of printer problems. Keep a can of compressed air handy--it costs less than $10 at your local computer store. If your printer sits in a dirty or dusty environment, cover it with a piece of plastic when you aren't using it. To keep your printheads clear, run the head-cleaning program that came with the device. If that doesn't work, soak the printhead in warm water and then gently dab it with a dry, lint-free cloth. As a last resort, brush it lightly with a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol, but take care not to spill any of the liquid on other printer parts. Use the right paper. Most ink jets print well on standard, 20-pound copier paper, but they tend to jam when loaded with heavier-weight paper. Some types of paper absorb too much ink, resulting in blurry or too-light images. Use different paper brands and weights, especially those recommended by your printer's maker, until you find the best mix for your machine. Avoid paper jams. Before inserting paper in the printer's tray, even up the edges by placing them against a flat surface. Don't mix paper of different weights or types. In humid climates, store paper in an air-tight container to keep it from absorbing moisture, which can lead to paper jams. Get a faster connection. If your printer connects to your PC's parallel port, use an IEEE 1284a??compliant printer cable (if you bought the cheapest cable available, it's probably not 1284-compliant). Next, enable ECP or EPP in your PC's Setup program. These features are often disabled by default. Either technology can boost your parallel port's data throughput. To enter your Setup program, strike the key you're prompted to enter when your PC starts but before Windows loads. Look for an option labeled 'ECP' or 'EPP'. Use it or lose it. If you don't use your printer very often, print a test page once a week. And if you have a color printer but print mostly in black and white, print a color image once a week. If you switch between color and black ink printheads, store the cartridge you're not using in its factory container or in a sealed bag. Don't waste wood. The FinePrint utility lets you print multiple documents on one sheet of paper. The program is free to try and $50 to keep. Download a copy of FinePrint 5.04. For more tips on reducing your printer costs, see "The Cheapskate's Guide to Printing."
Watch Your PC's Pulse
Is your PC tired, overworked, and maybe running a bit torpidly? The first step in diagnosing the cause of a pooped PC is to monitor its CPU, RAM, and virtual memory as it performs various tasks. The Cool Beans System Info utility does just that--displaying all this information in a small, unobtrusive box the size of a couple of postage stamps. And best of all, the program is free. Get your own copy of Cool Beans System Info 2.0.0.4.
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