HP reaches settlement over lawsuits

Posted in: OEM, blog by CW on 18 November 2010 | No Comments

A Proposed Settlement has been reached in three class action lawsuits involving certain HP printers. The first lawsuit (Ciolino) claims that certain HP inkjet printers used “low on ink” messaging technology to indicate that replacement of a cartridge is needed when the cartridge is not empty and is capable of additional printing, and that this technology confused customers into prematurely replacing their inkjet cartridges. The second lawsuit (Rich) claims that certain HP color inkjet printers used color ink in addition to black ink when printing black text and images without disclosing this to consumers and without providing consumers with the option of disabling this feature, that HP misrepresented and/or failed to disclose the actual page yield for the products at issue (including the true basis for the page yield and cost per page information provided to consumers), and that HP failed to disclose its use of color ink when printing black in connection with stating its page yields. The third lawsuit (Blennis) claims that HP designed certain inkjet printers and cartridges to shut down on an undisclosed expiration date, and that at this point consumers are prevented from using any ink remaining in the expired cartridge and from using all of the printer’s functions until the expired cartridge is replaced. HP denies all these claims. The Court did not rule in favor of either party. Instead, the parties agreed to a Proposed Settlement in order to avoid the expense and risks of continuing the lawsuit.

If you are eligible, the Proposed Settlement may provide an e-credit for future purchases of printers and printer supplies offered at www.shopping.hp.com. Any e-credits received as part of the settlement can only be used atwww.shopping.hp.com.
	You are a Class Member if you purchased or received as a gift in the United States an HP printer that is listed hereduring the period of September 6, 2001, to September 1, 2010. See questions 5-6 for further information

If you purchased and registered an HP printer during the period covered by this suit, check your email.

Related articles

• HP inkjet printer lawsuit reaches $5 million settlement (blogs.consumerreports.org)
• Why Inkjet Printers Are A Scam (phoneboy.com)

Registry Cleaners-Proceed with Caution

Posted in: Tips & Tricks, blog by CW on 16 November 2010 | No Comments

It’s inevitable. The longer you use your computer the slower it seems to run. And that impression is not entirely false. Over time Windows builds up a lot of junk, applications that fail to remove all their system entries when deleted and software that bloats your system. Even something as simple as adding a new printer to your system can leave behind orphaned drivers and manufacturer-specific software that the new printer cannot use. Eventually Windows slows to a crawl, overburdened with useless software and invalid entries in menus and the registry. Applications like Ccleaner can remove references to deleted programs from your system and improve overall performance. But when asking an application to remove entries from the registry, caution is required. Removing an empty folder from the C:\ drive won’t hurt a thing, removing a necessary key from the registry can make it impossible to even get Windows to boot up.

So what is the registry and why is it so critical?

Microsoft describes the registry as a “central hierarchical database used in Microsoft Windows 98, Windows CE, Windows NT, and Windows 2000 used to store information that is necessary to configure the system for one or more users, applications and hardware devices.

The Registry contains information that Windows continually references during operation, such as profiles for each user, the applications installed on the computer and the types of documents that each can create, property sheet settings for folders and application icons, what hardware exists on the system, and the ports that are being used.” (Microsoft) Microsoft’s TechNet adds, “In much of Microsoft’s documentation, the Microsoft® Windows® Registry is considered a central repository for configuration data. Just what does this mean? Well, I can’t think of any better way to put it than by stating that it’s simply a database for configuration files. The structure is hierarchical, meaning that configuration data is stored in order—much like a simple outline would be structured. Furthermore, each piece of data is stored in the outline as an order pair—that is, it has an associated name and a value assigned to it. It’s very much the way all of your online transactions are conducted. You’re assigned an account number (the name), and when you order, you’ve created a balance (the value).

The Registry serves dozens of innovative purposes, allowing features that were difficult, at best, to implement in previous versions of Windows. It keeps track of the software you install on the computer and how each program relates to the others.” (TechNet)

It would seem that cleaning out orphaned keys and unnecessary entries in the registry would be a worthwhile step in making a Windows system meaner and leaner. Yet because the registry is such a vital part of the Windows operating system extreme caution should be exercised when making any changes to it, whether you are adding or removing entries.

You can access the built-in Windows registry editor by typing regedit into the Command Prompt program. Before you do anything else, go to File/Export and save a backup copy of the registry to your desktop. That way if by any chance something corrupts your registry you can go to File/Import and with some luck, restore your system to its current configuration. One very important thing to know about regedit: any deletion you make to any entry in the registry is committed immediately. There are no warnings and there’s no undo. For this reason we strongly advise people not to make any changes to any entry within the registry unless you know exactly what you’re doing.

A registry cleaning program scans the registry for keys that refer to programs no longer installed on the system or keys that point to outdated versions of programs. If the program is well-written, like Ccleaner mentioned above or PC Pitstop’s PC Matic, it will show you a list of invalid and unnecessary keys it has found in the registry and offer the option to delete them or change them to the correct settings. The best rule to follow when deciding which keys to let these programs delete is this: if you don’t recognize the key as relating to a program you know for sure you’ve deleted from your computer leave it alone. Unnecessary registry keys are small files and in most cases will not interfere with the normal operation of your computer. It’s better to leave a key that you aren’t sure about than to remove a key that might prove to be essential to the system.

Fax machines can expose personal information

Posted in: Security, blog by CW on 9 November 2010 | No Comments

We have quite a few customers who use fax machine that take the type of film roll shown below.

Film is a fairly common medium used in fax machines. There are machines that use ink or toner cartridges but they are less common. Panasonic and Brother both still use film in their fax machines.

The film rolls are convenient and easy to install. You can either buy them as a single roll mounted on a frame or two rolls with no frame. The frames are reusable, so once you’ve purchased a frame and roll combo save the frame and buy the 2-pack from then on. This is more economical since both the one-roll-plus-frame and the two-roll pack are usually the same price.

There is one serious problem with film fax machines that users of ink or laser-based fax machines don’t have to worry about, and that’s the potential of these films to compromise your personal information.

Think of this film as a roll of carbon paper. Those of you too young to remember what carbon paper is, ask someone from my generation. While fax film isn’t composed of the same materials as carbon paper, the manner in which it transfers an image onto paper is nearly identical. The black coating on the film is transfered to the paper to create the faxed image or words. This means that everywhere the coating has been transfered to the paper the clear film backing is exposed. This produces what in effect is a negative image of every fax your machine has printed out. Read from the back the film preserves a perfectly readable copy of each printed fax. If you have ever exchanged faxes with your mortgage broker or bank your account numbers, Social Security number, address, phone number, the names of your family members, all sorts of personal information will be easily readable on the film. Fished out of your trash, this would be a goldmine of information to a would-be identity thief.

We are still looking into methods to destroy these rolls of film once they have been used completely. So far we haven’t come up with a fool-proof method. If you have any suggestions we’d love to hear them in the comments. For now our best advice is to keep the used rolls in a bag or shoebox, stored away from the prying eyes of crooks.

Related articles

• threatpost: Anti-Phishing Group Targeting Fax-Based Scams (boxofmeat.net)
• Thermal vs. Laser Printing: Which is Greener? (brighthub.com)

Looking for a printer?

Posted in: Printers, blog by CW on 8 November 2010 | No Comments

Nearly every day a customer will tell us they’ve had it with their old printer and want to buy a new one, or that their inkjet printer has broken, no one will repair it, and so they’re in the market for a replacement.

When shopping for a printer, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you need a printer that does photos and can print in color?
• Does it need to be able to duplex (print on both sides of the page)?
• Do you need a printer that can be connected to an ethernet or wireless network at home or at work?
• Do you need a portable printer for your laptop?
• Do you want to buy just a printer, or do you prefer an all-in-one scanner/copier/fax/printer?
• How often will you be printing?
• What price range are you considering?

Buy a printer based on your needs. There’s no reason to overpay for a machine that performs a ton of functions you’ll most likely never need. Consider what you’ve printed in the last year. If you’ve primarily printed only documents and rarely pictures or color images, consider a personal laser printer. A laser printer is also worth considering if you don’t print very often. Ink cartridges dry out if not used frequently.

Since you’ll be replacing cartridges more often than you’ll be replacing printers, you may want to start by considering which cartridge gives you the best value then searching for a printer that uses that cartridge.

Finally, don’t think that the only place to shop for printers is your local office supply store. They will only carry a few of the newest models. Even Frys only has so much space on their shelves for printers. Go online and check out the deals on NewEgg or Amazon. If you prefer to shop locally, see what’s being offered on eBay’s local classifieds or Craigslist San Diego.

Related articles

• Choosing the Best Windows 7 Compatible Printer for Your Needs (brighthub.com)
• The Best Wireless Printer for Windows 7 (brighthub.com)
• What’s a good monochrome laser printer? (ask.metafilter.com)

Sleep in tomorrow

Posted in: Customer Service, blog by CW on 6 November 2010 | No Comments

Daylight-savings time officially ends tomorrow morning at 2am, but if you’re like me you’ll be changing your clocks back an hour tonight before you go to bed.

Don’t forget that you may also need to change your watch and the time settings in your camera or other digital device that doesn’t automatically adjust itself.

This is also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke/fire detectors and your TV remote controls.

Don’t forget or you’ll find yourself an hour early for your first appointment tomorrow.

Social Media and the Franchise

Posted in: Business to Business, blog by CW on 4 November 2010 | No Comments

There are many books and websites dedicated to helping business owners use social media to their advantage. Zappos is often offered as a shining example of how to use the internet to spread your brand and reach new customers, and rightly so. As a company with a world-wide market, the internet is a perfect venue for Zappos. They have used sites like Facebook and Twitter to provide customer service, advertise specials and offer discount coupons and bolster their image as a hip, cool, 21st century retailer.

But what if your business is a franchise? The franchiser may have a global reach, but each franchisee is usually limited to a set geographic boundary. It isn’t directly profitable for me with my ABC Diapers franchise in San Diego to promote ABC Diapers nationwide. What value does it bring my individual store and my employees to garner a following of faithful customers in Baltimore? Conversely, of what interest is it to those folks in Baltimore that I’m running a “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” sale this weekend at my store?

All businesses in general, but franchisees in particular, need to ensure the time, effort and money they put into advertising are well spent. For a franchise this means making sure that your efforts are going toward reaching local customers and potential customers. This is all the more important if you do not sell your product online. Selling online increases your potential customer base and makes your business more like Zappos than my ABC Diapers service. At ABC Diapers I only sell to walk-in customers and those within  a reasonable distance from my store to whom I can deliver. Selling online provides your business with a nation-wide if not worldwide audience. For my ABC Diapers service, I am only interested in reaching local families.

So is Twitter and Facebook of no use to me? Is it a waste of my time to set up and maintain a Facebook page or a website specifically for my store?

It is a waste of time if you don’t take the time to plan how you are going to reach the audience you want and need to reach.

I would encourage any business, even a small home-based one, to consider buying a domain name (yourbusiness.com for example) and setting up a website that promotes your business to the internet audience. Websites cannot be as easily targeted as other marketing tools, but through the use of specific keywords and linkbacks you can ensure that the audience you want to reach has a good chance of finding your site. Mentioning your site’s URL on your business cards, answering machine message and in your email signature will help potential customers know where to go to learn more about your business. That’s a good start.

According to a lot of online pundits and “SEO gurus” (people who claim to have mystical knowledge of how to ‘leverage’ social media through the application of Search Engine Optimization, a field that has much in common with voodoo), Twitter and Facebook are “where it’s at” these days. What these “experts” often fail to mention (or perhaps don’t even take into consideration) is that not every social medium is the best possible venue for everyone.

While not targeted at a specific group of people or geographic location, Facebook does provide an excellent place in which to interact with your customers. They can comment on your product or service and recommend your page to their friends. A Facebook page can contain pertinent information about your business like directions, hours of operation and contact info.

Twitter offers far less in the way of publicizing your brand. What it does offer is an easy, almost “instant message” like means to communicate with your customers and employees. It’s a practical way to provide and follow up on customer service calls. While it does require your customers to register an account with Twitter if they don’t already have one, it doesn’t require them to download or install software on their computer. All your conversations can take place on Twitter’s website.

Still, neither of these provide a way to reach people specifically in your area, your potential and actual customers. You should consider complimenting your Facebook and Twitter accounts with accounts on sites that allow you to focus on your local area like Yelp and Google Places. In addition you can cross-link to other small and medium sized businesses in your area. Two ways to do this are to contact the person at that business and see if they are willing to host a link to your website if you do the same for them or to leave a comment on an story on their site making sure you provide a link back to your site when you register to comment.

It may not involve social networking exactly, but another easy way to ensure your business gets exposure are business cards. In this digital age business cards may seem old-fashioned but they still have their uses. Many local businesses around here have bulletin boards for announcements of local events. Pin one of your cards to the board. Scan your business card and include it as an HTML signature on your email. Exchange cards whenever possible with other local business people and try to set up a cross-referral program with them.

A franchise owner is the ultimate local business person. They are often restricted to a geographic area and are not allowed to advertise or do business out side it. It is vital to the success of their business to find ways to reach their local audience without wasting their time or advertising money reaching those whom they cannot serve.

Support Marc Bay on his Walk for the Cure

Posted in: Community, blog by CW on 22 October 2010 | No Comments

Please join CW San Diego as we support Marc Bay in his amazing journey in the fight to end breast cancer! The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure is a 60-mile walk over the course of three days. Net proceeds from the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure™ are invested in breast cancer research and community programs.

We are putting up for bid $200 in store credit. Go to Marc’s support page and register as a donor. Donate as much as you can afford. It all goes to a great cause.

Related articles

• Stein Mart Supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Breast Cancer Awareness (eon.businesswire.com)
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• AVENUE – Plus Size Retailer – Partners with Susan G. Komen for the Cure (prweb.com)
• Kroger and Yoplait’s 10-Year Partnership in the Fight Against Breast Cancer (prweb.com)
• La Madeleine Donates $25,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Continues “Card for the Cause” (prweb.com)
• Keep Going Blogger: I found a Walking Buddy + 2011 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure™ Schedule! (momblognetwork.com)

Buy a printer, get a tablet

Posted in: Printers, blog by CW on 14 October 2010 | No Comments

HP’s web-enabled printers already featured touchscreen control panels and wireless printing but now the company has gone one step further by including a detachable 7-inch Android with its new Photosmart eStation All-in-One printer. While the prospect of a printer with a free Android tablet might sound pretty tempting, there are some caveats. Although it’s possible to browse (and print) online content using the device’s web browser, there’s no access to the Android Market with apps and widgets limited to customized print-focused offerings from the likes of Yahoo, Facebook and Snapfish.

HP says it hasn’t included access to the Android Market on the device because applications in the market aren’t designed for 7-inch screens. Instead, users will be able to download additional applications through HP’s own application store. The company has partnered with 45 companies, who will develop print-centric applications for the device for printing specialized content such as weather reports, news, sports and finance info, recipes, maps and eBooks. Applications from the likes of Delta Airlines for printing boarding passes, Barnes & Noble for downloading and printing eBooks and NBA.com for accessing game schedules and information were just a few of examples named by HP.

The detachable Wi-Fi tablet is running a version of Android specifically retooled for the device and, although users won’t be able to play games, HP says the user interface is customizable and users will be able to access social networking applications such as Facebook, play music on the built-in music player, or use the device as an eReader. The tablet boasts 802.11n and, when undocked, will provide from four to six hours of battery life. It will also work with all HP wireless printers. The printer can also scan and fax documents without the need of a phone line.

HP obviously feels that allowing the control panel to be detached from the printer is the next logical step following on from its web-enabled printers released earlier this year that allow documents to be sent to the printer via email. By providing a tablet with the printer to allow for wireless printing, HP is no doubt aiming to make it as easy as possible for users to print anything at any time so it can rake in the cash from where it really makes its money – selling the ink. It is this business model that allows HP to bundle an (albeit hamstrung) tablet with a printer for a price comparable to some standalone tablets.

HP didn’t reveal a shipping date for the Photosmart eStation All-in-One printer but said it would cost US$399. Although the tablet will work with all HP wireless printers, the company didn’t say whether it had plans to sell the tablet independently. (Source – gizmag.com)

Related articles

• HP throws in a “free” detachable 7-inch Android tablet with new All-in-One printer (gizmag.com)
• HP’s New Printer Tablet Stays Away From Android Market (android-tablet.org)
• HP Shows off Tablet Device for Printer (pcworld.com)
• HP Photosmart eStation C510 printer / Android tablet now on sale (engadget.com)
• HP sticks an Android tablet into a printer (venturebeat.com)

Caring for your cartridges

Posted in: Tips & Tricks, blog by CW on 11 October 2010 | 3 Comments

We first posted this article back in January and thought it was worthwhile to post again. Whether you buy cartridges from us or from another retailer, treating and storing your cartridges properly will ensure you are getting the maximum in performance and output from them. Damaging the cartridge or allowing it to dry out will either shorten or end its usefulness.

Caring for your laser cartridge:

• Leave it in its packaging until you’re ready to install it in your printer
• Do not touch the drum or rollers with bare hands
• Do not store laser cartridges where they’ll be subjected to high humidity or direct sunlight
• Do not drop cartridge
• Store laser cartridges flat if at all possible

Caring for your ink cartridges:

• Leave cartridges packaged until you’re ready to install them in your printer
• Remove only the plastic clip and light-adhesive tape covering the print head. Do not remove the brass strip
• Do not touch the brass strip or the printhead with bare hands
• Store ink cartridges away from heat and direct sunlight. Ink, being a liquid, can dry and/or evaporate
• Store ink cartridges in an upright position with the label on top
• Ink tanks (Epson, Canon, HP 02) should be replaced as soon as possible. Leaving the top of the printhead exposed can lead to air getting into the printhead or the ink drying inside, both of which can damage the printhead
• Bring in cartridges for refilling as soon as possible. The longer they sit empty, the more likely the ink left inside will dry and make refilling more difficult
• On empty color ink cartridges, replace the plastic clip that came with it. This will help keep the printhead from drying out

And finally, don’t throw away any ink or laser cartridge. Even if you don’t purchase your cartridges from us we’ll gladly recycle your empty cartridges for you.

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• 5 Suggestions To Prolonging The Usefulness of Ink Laser Printer Cartridges and Cartridges for Laser Printers (animaltopics.com)
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How to save on office supplies

Posted in: Productivity, blog by CW on 7 October 2010 | No Comments