How many times have you been at home and wished you had a copier? Chances are you can think of an instance when having a copier at home would have been nice. If you had had a copier you wouldn’t have had to leave the house and waste time, or even money making your needed copies.

Space

If you run a small business from home you may have the need not only for a copier and printer, but also a fax machine and scanner. If you have priced each of these items you know how expensive they can get. Buying each of these machines also takes up lots of room that you may not have.

Availability

The good news is that you can now purchase all in one printers that save both space and money. You can buy a machine that combines two, three or even all four functions into one. These machines are surprisingly small and are easy to install. You can purchase one of these machines at your local store without spending a lot of money. You may also want to check online before you make your purchase. The Internet tends to offer you a large selection at competitive prices.

Quality

When pricing these machines make sure you pay attention to any shipping and handling costs that may be charged. You also need to keep in mind the quality of the machine you are purchasing. You may need to spend a few extra dollars to get a good quality machine, but it will be worth it in the end. Whether you use your machine for running a business or even for personal use, you need a machine that is going to do its job well.

Three in One

When purchasing your all in one machine look at all your options. You can choose if you want three function or four all in one machine. Assess your needs to see which is more reasonable for you. A printer, scanner, copier tends to run around $100. The price may vary depending on the brand of machine you decide to purchase.

Four in One

If you can afford to spend a little more you can purchase a machine that includes a fax machine. If you are not sure if you will need a fax machine we suggest getting it anyway. You never know when you may need a fax machine, and it does not cost much more than the three in one machine.

Having a fax machine for a business would be helpful. Think of how much you spend to overnight documents to someone. Now think how much easier it would be to just fax them the information. Faxing the information would cost less money, and they would get it faster. Having the all in one machine would also save you time because you could do everything from home.

Gregg Hall
http://www.articlesbase.com/electronics-articles/how-to-find-printers-that-will-do-all-your-printing-jobs-in-one-machine-54146.html

Toner Spills, Clean Up and Prevention

Nothing is more aggravating then pulling the tab off of a toner cartridge and having it spill everywhere! In this article, you will learn what to do after a toner spill and what not to do. Also, we talk about prevention. This is really the object of the lesson. Preventing toner spills.

Using the Chicopee Stretch and Dust Towel These amazing yellow towels have a multitude of uses and can be used over and over again. Just stretch it and wipe up the toner spill. Use it to clean dust off of your copier, fax machine or printer, even your computer screen. Note: I am not trying to sell these towels, they just work so well! You can use a regular cotton towel if you would like.

Investment When a business buys a piece of equipment it is an investment. This investment should be cared for and maintained and it will give you many years of trouble-free use. In addition to having a qualified technician perform preventative maintenance on your equipment, I believe that the customer can play a key role in helping a machine run smooth and have a more trouble-free existence. Keeping your equipment clean on the outside and the inside can go a long way in doing this.

Big Spills Big spills may require that you call your service repair person. Some people try to vacuum the spill up but I warn against this. This is because of the small particle size of the toner. This will just blow through a standard vacuum bag and really cause a mess. A good technician carries a 3m vacuum designed for the small powder and traps it in the filter.

Toner Spills

Toner on the cover If you spill a small amount of toner on your cover and you think it’s a bit much for your Towel then I would do this. Get a piece of paper and use it like a dust pan. Use a small brush and you can just sweep it on to the paper and fold it up and throw it away in a trash can with a good liner. Afterward clean the rest with your towel.

Toner on your clothes If you get some toner on your clothes, don’t panic! DO NOT use any type of liquid to try and wipe it off. This will only make it smear and ruin your clothes. First, get your towel and hit the stain like you used to hit people with your towel at camp. Wipe the rest with a clean dry cloth and when you get home, throw it in the washer. The stain will come out.

On the Carpet If you get a small amount on the carpet go ahead and use your standard vacuum cleaner. This small amount won’t hurt anything.

Inside your Machine Use your towel to clean the paper path inside of your machine. Be careful not to break a sensor lever. You should use a flashlight to see if there are any that stick up. If you break one of these then you will need to call a repair person. Cleaning the inside is a good preventative measure. In a laser printer, paper dust and contaminates will get caught up inside the toner cartridge and lesson the life of the drum blade. This causes streaks and other problems.

Prevention

Opening Toner This is when a lot of spills occur. The manufacturers of all toners recommend that you shake it well before installation. (I am not saying not to shake it. In fact if you don’t shake it on some models it is possible that you might break the augers inside of the cartridge.) This loosens up the toner so that it flows well into your machine, but it also causes the toner to expand. When you release the tab (Only on some models) the toner will shoot out. Next time try to hold the cartridge over the trash can with a good liner. Then if any shoots out it will be in the trash can.

Remove toner with a towel underneath Another spill I see a lot of is toner spilt on the front cover of copiers and other office equipment. What I recommend is putting your towel down on your cover where the spill occurs. This is likely right under the area that the toner slides in. Then, after you’re done, take the towel away and it’s nice and clean. Something about toner, if you leave it on covers and don’t clean it, it then gets embedded in the cover because of the heat of the machine. The toner actually fuses to the cover and you can’t get it off.

Conclusion Just taking a little preventative action can really keep your machine looking and running like new.

Bill Tucker
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/dont-cry-over-spilt-toner-112377.html

Welcome to Part II of our three part series on service contracts. This article covers service contracts on high volume laser fax machines. Service contracts on high volume fax machines are much different than service contracts on a copy machines.

The difference is that fax machines are not billed by cost per copy. If you read my previous article “Service Contracts on Copiers,” then you know that cost per copy means that you are billed each time you make a copy. Fax machine service contracts are billed differently.

Understanding what is covered and what is not covered is very important to find out before you purchase a service contract on your fax machine. Most fax machine service contracts are billed annually and the supplies are normally not covered. Many service contracts do not include toner, drums or heat rollers. Many service companies will sell you supplies at a discounted rate as long as you are continuing to keep your machine on contract. They also may add an additional charge to cover circuit boards.

You can also purchase a “cleaning only contract.” You can purchase two or three cleanings or service calls per year in advance at a discounted rate. This way you keep your machine clean and if you run into trouble and you need to place a service call you will save money.

I always recommend installing a high quality surge protector on all copiers, fax machines and laser printers. This will protect your machine from power surges that could destroy your machine. Some surge protector companies have a guarantee that covers your machine if their surge protector does protect your machine against a high voltage surge.

Service contracts are similar to an insurance policy. They may or may not save you money. Many companies do not purchase service contracts on fax machines because they don’t cover everything as copier contracts do. They service their machine(s) on a per call basis. You will have to decide for yourself or your company if you will purchase a service contract for your fax machine.

Look for my next article in this series. “Service Contracts – Part III, Laser Printers.”

Bill Tucker
http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/service-contracts-part-2-fax-machines-139063.html

Most people buy a camera to take pictures – which is what it is for. Photographs of family members, portraits, landscapes, animals, magazines, newspapers, etc. are the main purposes, to either put on the Web, business purposes, or just family stuff. However, there are many other ways and purposes the camera can be used – and lots more fun.

One of the innovative ways the digital camera can be used is for many areas of education purposes. Lectures use them for discussion clarity, such as traveling to Italy or to see the inside of a chemical. Many digital photos are used for medical teaching, such as diagnosis and treatments.

Building reference collections of a chosen field or interest is an excellent way to categorize things. Photographs are used for encouraging critical thinking skills, illustrating case studies, enhancing creative skills, emphasize visual communication abilities, analyze practices, to document an event, or to access knowledge or observations.

Insurance companies use digital photography techniques for substantial savings. When their field inspectors go out for claim inspections, they take photos with their digital cameras. After this, they immediately download them into their laptop computers, tagging each photograph with text information, including the policy and claim numbers. When this is done, they send the information back through a wireless server, where the server confirms their receipt and closes down. Next case is onboard for the inspectors within minutes. Statistics show that field inspectors who use digital cameras increase their caseload by 40%, with a savings of 70% in film and developing costs.

The possibility of taking digital photos of the home, trailer, or apartment, that is either for sale or one that has been damaged, is endless. The photo will reveal the actual need for repairs or replacements to the home insurance field agent, while also providing important locations of valves, location of utilities, or the general operations of things. If the front porch needs to be repaired, with estimates from carpenters, photos can be shot of the porch, while e-mailing them to several carpenters without leaving the home. You do not have to wait for them to visit you.

They can even e-mail the estimates back after looking at the pictures. When something major has occurred to the home – a hurricane or a flood – have the inspector arrive at the damaged property. Photographs can be taken by the inspector or by the homeowner of visible damaged areas, accessible items, heating systems, central air condition systems, plumbing, etc. upon which a hard copy of the inspection report will be handed over, corresponding to the matching photographs.

Try using the digital camera as a copier or scanner, with high-resolution camera for documents, important paper work, pictures, etc. If needed, use a tripod and lots of lighting to ensure the works will be clear and legible. To remember the address, or phone number on a billboard or yard sign, you can click a digital photo.

If we tend to forget where we park our car, a photo will help us to remember. We can also shoot photos of the back portion of computers, stereo sets, etc. This will help us to have a record of the serial numbers, the jacks, and ports, looking at how they are connected.

Using the digital camera for memory work, back ups, or proof and verification adds more value to the camera. It will also take time off insurance paper work for auto wrecks, home repair, or important paperwork if lost. It is simply a matter of getting into the habit of using it for personal benefits, instead of just leisure. The digital camera is not just another pretty face!

Mike Singh
http://www.articlesbase.com/electronics-articles/creative-ways-to-use-your-digital-camera-learn-to-never-leave-home-without-it-76984.html

The iRC102­1i was released by Canon in late October last year (2008). It has been designed specifically to provide small businesses and workgroups with the means to produce high quality co­­lour prints and copies without the expense of having to opt for a full size colour photocopier. With the current unstable economic climate­, many business are needing to find a way to have tighter controls over their print costs. However, it is still vital for most businesses to create professional documents. A powerful multifunctional colour device like the iRC1021i could help businesses keep a tight control over print costs whilst still being able to produce high impact colour prints.­

The iRC1021i has been­ made to help bridge the gap between desktop and colour printing, making it a favourable choice for offices that require features and colour printing that is more advanced than a desktop machine but do not have the need for a large A3 device. This device is also the first Canon photocopier of its size to include an embedded click counter, making it available for lease or rental contracts.

It is clear that at present many businesses are becoming cautious in their spending and trying to cut out any unnecessary costs. Choosing a device that is fully multifunctional can help manage printing costs as all necessary functions can be run from one device. Paper use can be more easily monitored and this can also prove to be more cost effective than running a printer, photocopier, fax machine or scanner all from separate devices. The iRC1021i has the ability to copy, scan, print and send, with an option to add a fax function. The send function is powered by i-send which allows documents to be scanned into the device and then sent electronically to an email address, fax, network folder­ or i-fax, helping to cut down on paper use.

The iRC1021i is also a favourable device for small offices wishing to reduce their power consumption. It has the lowest standby power consumption of any model in the colour photocopier range, just 1.2 watts stand-by power. This device also takes only 60 seconds to warm up from cold, something that cou­ld encourage people to switch the device off completely when not in use, helping to further save on energy costs. This new model, despite being so compact also contains the technology that has made the larger scale models so popular. Auto colour sensing can be found in the iRC1021i, which means that only the colour toner that is used is paid for.

It seems that the iRC1021i will be useful in reducing the gap between desktop and full colour printing to help small businesses and workgroups to find a way of producing professional A4 prints when they are needed from a space saving and affordable device.

Jennifer Chilton
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-ideas-articles/the-irc1021i-copier-bridges-the-office-gap-735956.html

If you are a professional in the printing business, you may very well be looking for a high-qualify wide format inkjet photo printer. Although there are a number of choices on the market, you’ll find that a few possess features which are going to give them an advantage and which would be an excellent choice for your specific needs. Below are some details of those different printers.

HP Z3100

This Hewlett Packard model is one of the most popular printers. For one, the printer is fairly easy to use. It comes with a great deal of documentation to make problem solving a cinch. Additionally, the HP is extremely fast at handling print jobs. In fact, the HP’s speed is about double that of the Epson’s (see below). However, when it comes to color, the HP can provide some great color but there are some weaknesses in the palette. Orange colors aren’t quite as vibrant, for example, while the yellows look amazing.

Epson Stylus Pro 9800

While the Epson does have a good deal of documentation to help users get a feel for the equipment, it doesn’t come close to the amount found with the HP. As mentioned above, the Epson is also about half as fast as the HP model. When it comes to the color delivery though, Epson printer is about equal to that of HP’s. The difference is in which colors are the most vibrant. For instance, the Epson model seems to have much more realistic green colors.

Xerox 8264E

While Xerox is a more common name for copiers, the company does a great job of producing wide-format color printers that can deliver exceptional results. Not only does the Xerox model do its magic quickly but the equipment has been specifically designed to be eco-friendly and to minimize ink usage. That means you’ll actually save money while also helping to save the planet. You won’t find that type of benefit if you choose the HP or Epson printers.

Canon ImageProGraf IPF5100

Finally, you can’t discuss amazing graphic printing without mentioning at least one Canon product. In fact, Canon produces several wide-format printers for a variety of needs. One of the nicest part of the printer is that it uses a 12 color system which can provide a wide range of brilliant shades and hues in the printed documents. The printer comes with automatic recalibration to make sure you get the best results every time you do a print job. This Canon model also works well with some of the top photo-related software, such as PhotoShop, which could be extremely useful for print shops.

John C. Arkin
http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/best-wide-format-inkjet-photo-printers-for-print-shops-689274.html

Business people planning to set up a home business or home office have a huge variety of business systems to choose from today. Anyone starting out may be confused regarding which systems to purchase and whether they should purchase service insurance. We will cover the basics of what every business should consider that is focused on Internet related home based businesses.

Working efficiently from home is an important element of any business, especially if you are planning to conduct any internet related business. Business owners should surround themselves with high quality systems to ensure that they are efficient at what they do every day as well as having sufficient backup systems to avoid lost time due to equipment failure.

A high speed access line by cable modem or DSL is a priority, as is a router with a built in firewall and Ethernet hub. The firewall will provide you with some protection against other users from the internet hacking into your own computer and network. The Ethernet hub will allow you to connect several computers if needed to the same access line. Many business owners are opting for wireless routers and hubs to allow them to place their computers anywhere in the home without having to worry about adding wiring. Users are cautioned to set up their networks with the security option enabled. Otherwise your neighbors or even strangers near by can use your wireless network to connect to the internet.

A high speed computer with the latest hardware and software is also recommended. It is amazing just how fast technology is evolving. Six months after you have made your purchase and set up your system, it will be out of date. Note that it will function and deliver service to you for many years, however it will just not have the latest features etc. available.

Depending on your business you may need multiple telephone lines, a fax line and several printers. Today for a relatively low price, you can purchase all in one systems that include a printer, copier, fax machine and scanner. Most printers that are ink jet deliver excellent quality and print a sufficient number of pages per minute, however if you will be doing a great deal of printing, you may want to consider a laser printer.

One final comment about the systems you purchase. If you cannot tolerate down time, many business owners will always ensure that their data is backed up daily to avoid any significant lost of information. In addition they will also purchase a service package, which will guarantee repairs or replacement of their systems within a specified time frame. Finally many owners will also have a 2nd or 3rd system available so that they do not lose productivity if one were to fail.

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-opportunities-articles/home-business-systems-you-may-require-97245.html

There is a variety of ways to make a substantial income on eBay. Here are the best ways to find product to sell on eBay.

#1 Sales and Clearance

Most people start here with sales items and clearance. There are a few great ways to find product on sale that will make you a profit on eBay. First you want to make sure that the product is marked down at least 50% to allow yourself a decent profit after eBay fees. People will generally purchase an item on eBay for 30% below manufacture’s suggested retail price.

Department stores are a great place to find product to sell. Quite often department stores will have days where there is an additional 30-40% off sale items which is the best time to buy up for eBay since quite often this product is still current too.

Another way to get a great deal is to talk to a manager about getting a discount on entire clearance rack in a clothing store such as Abercrombie. Quite often they will give you an additional 50% off the sale price if you will take the entire rack off their hands.

Occasionally you can find hot sellers at discount stores like Big Lots so keep your eyes open.

#2 Product Available In Your Area, But Not Everywhere

You may have stores in your area that people do not have in other parts of the country such as outlet stores. For example, a top seller on eBay is Coach Handbags. The only place you can get Coach Handbags at a price discounted enough to make a profit on eBay is from a Coach outlet.

Specialty chain stores are also great sellers such as Pottery Barn clearance items. Many parts of the country do not have access to a Pottery Barn except through the catalogue and the miss out on in store sales.

#3 Classified Ads in Your Area

The first time we tried this we found a brand new sealed-in-box laser copier for $200 and we saw that it was going for $400 at Office Depot so we knew we could bank on this item. We hurried over and picked up the copier. The guy selling the copier could sense our excitement and made a comment that he might be underselling the machine. We sold the copier for $380 on eBay. Nice profit for an hour of work!

#4 Wholesalers

Once you start growing your business on eBay it will come to a point where purchasing from wholesalers makes the most sense because you can set up a standard operating procedure for your business that will keep it organized as you grow. Finding 10-20 top sellers on eBay through a wholesaler could easily ensure a six figure income without having to run around town and constantly create new ads. Pick a niche that you are interested in and that sells on eBay, and then look for wholesalers in that category.

You will need to be set up as a business to start purchasing from wholesalers with a valid EIN and Resellers Certificate.

#5 Buying Products Directly From the Manufacturers

China is by far the largest resource for product directly from the manufacturer. It can seem overwhelming purchasing from China for the first time. A good place to start to find product and manufacturers are the following sites:

www.Made-In-China.com

www.Alibaba.com

Just contact the company through email that you are interested in their product and they will guide you through the whole process. Usually there are large minimum order requirements, but most companies are willing to allow a few sample orders so you can test the market for the product before investing thousands of dollars. These companies will also guide you through shipping and customs. Be careful buying known brand names since many are fake. Ordering from China is best for product where people aren’t sold by the brand name but the function of the product.

Good Luck selling one eBay!

Ben Stevens

OnlineInstantProfits.com

© Online Instant Profits

Ben Stevens
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/top-5-ways-to-find-product-that-sell-on-ebay-91717.html

In an age when printers often act as copier, fax machine, and scanner and cell phones are not content to simply communicate, it would seem passé for a digital camera to rest on its laurels simply capturing and editing great images. With the challenge laid down, the digital camera has stepped up in the form of cross functional multimedia cameras.

First and foremost the multimedia camera offers great, high resolution still photography capabilities. The Samsung Digimax i6 and i70 as well as the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-M2 are examples which offer 6-7 megapixel resolution. Complete with sought after features such as optical zoom and a 2.5″ – 3.0″ LCD screen these cameras don’t give up much to accommodate their added functionality.

In addition to shooting photos, a multimedia camera can record high quality MPEG-4 video complete with stereo sound in some instances. With the Digimax i6 providing optical zoom and automatic macro focus, the filming capabilities are impressive. The Cyber-Shot version also provides video-editing and DVD-writing software for users to get creative in producing memorable films. Certainly, the efficiency of having a combined camcorder and still camera device in one is evident but the cost savings in some instances could be significant as well.

In addition to capturing great video, the Digimax i6 can play videos transferred from computer with TV quality images. Further encroaching on the domain of MP3 players, multimedia cameras live up to their name by offering MP3 download and play functions rounding out the entertainment experience.

The evolution of photography for the average home shutterbug has been vastly changed by the digital camera in the last decade, adding greater control over image quality and composition. With the introduction of the multimedia camera, it is clear the influence of digital cameras will continue well into the future.

Christine Peppler
http://www.articlesbase.com/electronics-articles/digital-cameras-that-kick-it-up-a-notch-110518.html

Take heart, this article isn’t going to try to sell you anything. Its goal is just to help you become better informed about your choices when it comes to digital printing.  One thing everyone agrees on is that digital printing is ideal for short-run garment decoration (although I do know of companies that use it to print jobs that run in the hundreds) and has opened up new markets and new profit opportunities for a lot of companies.

First of all, let’s define the technologies available today that are considered digital. In no particular order they are: Sublimation, direct to garment or ink-jet to garment, ink-jet transfers, CLC (color laser copier transfers), and print/cut. All of them have their advantages and their limitations. 
With sublimation, everyone knows that it won’t work on dark garments and that it is primarily designed for use on polyester or polyester-blend garments. Application on cotton is possible with some pre-treating. There has been progress made in the development of sublimation systems that permit more flexibility, but the technology has a reputation as being difficult to perfect. It remains an excellent method for customizing hard goods such as mugs, mouse pads, coasters and more. 

There has also been a lot of excitement over direct to garment printing and many people have invested in this ink-jet based system that prints directly on textiles. Some limitations of direct to garment technology include its cost, not all print successfully or easily on dark garments (so do your homework), the need for pre-treating on dark garments and sometimes on light colors to make them brighter, the lack of opacity and brightness, the length of time needed to complete a garment—especially dark garments, and the skill level needed to run the equipment. Some direct to garment printers are designed to print on tile, wood, golf balls and mouse pads, but not all of them.  Direct to garment printers achieve best results on cotton but can be used on silks, blends and some other fabrics but can’t really be used on polyester without a pretreatment. However, all that being said, it is still one of the most popular digital printing methods on the market today. 

Ink jet and CLC transfers are known as the most inexpensive, entry-level, anyone-can-do-it technology in the digital garment decoration arena. There are dozens of different papers available that can take artwork from your computer desktop to a t-shirt in minutes. Again, you are limited by the substrates to which the papers will apply, and it is still difficult to find a paper that does a fantastic job of printing on darks. There is also the issue of ghosting, unless one uses precise hand-cutting to trim the excess paper or uses paper in combination with a cutter that does it automatically. 

By taking that type of thinking to the next level, a list of digital garment decorating methods to consider would not be complete without print/cut technology.  While virtually unknown as a technology to the average personalization specialist, this technology has had years of proven performance in the garment manufacturing sector—you’ve probably encountered print/cut applications on brand name performance wear, shoes, nylon bags and more without even realizing it.  Print/cut technology is probably the best-rounded of all the digital technologies available today. It gives you all the advantages of the previously mentioned digital methods, with virtually none of the disadvantages. 

One of the biggest reasons for the excitement over print/cut technology is its versatility—not only can you print on a wide variety of garments with print/cut, you can also use it to print everything from helmet stickers and window clings to vehicle wraps and banners. Print/cut technology incorporates technology originally designed for use in the sign industry, a wide-format, eco-solvent printer that instantly prints and then automatically contour cuts full-color, photorealistic logos, designs and names in any quantity “on demand.” These images are printed on specially developed digital media that can be heat applied to any fabric, of any color. 

With a print/cut system, there is virtually no limit to the jobs you will be able to do.  In the textile world – literally anything that can be fit under a heat press can be decorated, from caps and nylon bags to performance wear and swimsuits. It even works on leather. There is no need to pre-treat the garment, there are no limitations as to the type of textile that can be printed and there are even specialty media available, such as puff and metallic that allow you to create full-color fashion effects that are not possible with any other digital printing method. The recent development and availability of new digital media is what is propelling this previously unknown garment decoration method into the spotlight.  
Better yet, the technology has been tested for many years in the sign industry as being durable and easy to operate. It’s just a matter of using the correct digital media for the job on hand. Its greatest limitation would be the cost of the equipment, but with more and more business owners ready to invest in something that can be used as an alternative to screen printing and embroidery, print/cut is becoming a popular choice, especially thanks to the introduction of more media designed specifically for use with the print/cut system. 

It’s probably only a matter of time before you invest in some type of digital garment decoration technology, if you haven’t already. Whether you’re a screen printer, embroiderer or plan to specialize solely in digital printing, there’s a method available that meets your needs. And if you still unsure about making a large investment, go on-line and join in an industry user -forum chat. Benefit from the experience of current users of the technology you are most interested in and weigh all the facts. I’m not promising you still won’t feel confused, but at least you won’t feel alone!  

Martin Borley
http://www.articlesbase.com/entrepreneurship-articles/getting-to-know-your-digital-printing-choices-724693.html