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Articles of Interest
  03/01/2024 - Epson's Buy 3, Get 1 Free Media Rebate
  03/01/2024 - Fast PC Notebooks
  03/01/2024 - Fast PC Desktops
  03/01/2024 - Great Rebates on Epson P700 and P900 Printers
  01/07/2024 - How Often Should You Use Your Inkjet Printer?
  11/13/2023 - The Best Epson Printer for Screen Printing
  11/05/2023 - We Offer Remote Support
  09/06/2023 - Epson Wide Format Printers for Education
  06/13/2023 - Epson Firmware Update for Select P-Series Printers
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Rice Is a Food, Not a Tool.
06/25/2019

(Top)
Another interesting article from iFixit - "Rice can transform an economy, save a boring meal, and stop winter drafts. One thing it absolutely, positively cannot do is save a wet cell phone. In fact, submerging your phone in rice makes the problem worse, especially if it’s still powered on...Dry, uncooked conventional rice was the worst of the seven options we tested. It absorbed the least water in 24 hours, losing out to silica gel, cat litter, couscous, instant oatmeal, classic oatmeal and instant rice."



Most of the content for this article came from repair shops, and the moral of the story is to use a repair shop rather than rice (or cat litter or couscous). But, it's useful to know that using rice to repair water damage can do more harm than good. Click this link to read the iFixit article.


Christine Frechard Gallery in Pittsburgh
06/12/2019

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The gallery is featuring a photography and video installation titled Memories running from June 25 through July 30, 2019, with artwork from Victor Grauer, David Aschkenas and Masha Tatarintseva.



The gallery is located at 5126 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201, phone 412-407-9319.


Can That Canned Air
06/11/2019

(Top)
We received an interesting news article from iFixit - a self-help repair website - about the downsides of using canned air to clean electronics and other stuff. Per iFixit: "Canned air, or gas duster, is what you probably reach for when there’s hard-to-reach gunk inside your gear. It’s easy to find at big-box stores or online, it’s relatively cheap (if you don’t think about paying for air), and it moves dust. It seems like the right tool for the job. But you shouldn’t use it." And, here is a list of cautions provided by one of the prominent canned air suppliers:

  • NEVER shake or tilt can before or during usage.  Use in upright position only.
  • NEVER spray into an enclosed space, such as a trash can or paper shredder.
  • NEVER use on camera mirrors.
  • AVOID skin contact with product in a liquid form, may cause frostbite.
  • AVOID contact with product in liquid form, may cause plastic to discolor.
  • ALWAYS use only in accordance with directions on this can.
  • ALWAYS use with adequate ventilation.
  • DO NOT store in direct sunlight, enclosed vehicle, or expose to temperatures above 120°F (49°C)
  • DO NOT pierce or burn, even after use.  Contains diffluoroethane.
  • KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. 
  • THE INTENTIONAL MISUSE BY DELIBERATELY INHALING MAY BE FATAL.  Contact physician if such contact occurs.

Click this link to check out the iFixit article. Or, if you want to clean stuff with an electric air blower, check out the MetroVac DataVac Electric Duster/ Cleaner ED-500. We've used one for a few years and it does a great job.


Epson Out-of-Warranty Service for 24 and 44 Inch Printers
05/24/2019

(Top)
Epson has just announced an out-of-warranty One-Time Service Plan for Stylus Pro 7900 and 9900 and SureColor P7000 and P9000 printers. As a member said on the Luminous Landscape forum: "For instance it would put them in the ballpark of what the replacement of an out of warranty Canon print head would run, though with the Canon you do it yourself. 90 days is plenty of time to evaluate the quality of the part and workmanship. I mean for me it might make the difference between choosing an Epson over a Canon for my next 44” and keep people buying Epson ink rather than jumping ship to another brand is smart."

For the Stylus Pro 7900 and SureColor P7000 24 inch printers - $995.00.

And, for the Stylus Pro 9900 and SureColor P9000 44 inch printers - $1,395.00.


Don't Use Google Chrome with Windows 7
03/10/2019

(Top)
From an article that just appeared in Forbes: "Now a Google security engineer, Clement Lecigne, has warned that another zero-day vulnerability that is also being exploited, impacting Windows 7 users, was being used together with the Chrome exploit to take over Windows systems." (A link to this article).

According to this article, Windows 7 and Google Chrome combine to allow hackers to use this exploit. Google Chrome has the highest market share for browsers (up to 50 percent), but it seems like dropping it (by switching to FireFox or Opera) if you are running a Windows 7 computer is a good idea (or, follow Google's advice and upgrade to Windows 10).


The New Epson SureColor T3170 Is a Great Printer!
03/02/2019

(Top)
We have been putting an Epson SureColor T3170 printer through its paces - and the results are in - as Epson says, it's brilliant by design. It's compact (it prints 24 inches wide but it's not big and bulky), has a separate sheet feeder, provides the best color print quality that we've seen from a 4 color printer, and it's economical to buy and reasonably economical to use. The SureColor T3170 and T5170 (36 inches wide) printers are designed for architects, engineers, educators, and for anyone with in-house poster production needs.

Epson SureColor T3170 / T5170 Printer Features:

• Easy to Set Up and Operate
• Compact, Clean Design
• Replace Ink Less Often with High-Capacity Cartridges (50ml Color, 80ml Black)
• Print from Virtually Anywhere in the Office
• Performance You Can Count On
• Durable, Vibrant Prints
• Versatile Media Handling
• Precise, Sharp Detail for Engineering Drawings

You can download a T3170 data sheet or a T5170 data sheet. Or, you can check out our special T3170 bundle with a high-capacity ink set at this link. Or, you can call our office and get a copy of the print samples that we've done with the T3170 printer.


Now, This is Fun!
02/17/2019

(Top)
Or, is it?

Local photographer David Aschkenas is doing a one night show of his photographs of the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance matches in Millvale, PA, that he has taken over the past 10 years. The KSWA has been entertaining their fans, the "Krazies," since 2000 - and it's a labor of love, not one of wealth and fame.






The show will take place at the studio of Mark Gualtieri, 179 43rd Street, Lawrenceville, PA 15201, on Friday, March 1, from 6 to 9 PM. One hundred photographs will be on display, and will be specially priced for this one night only event. Have fun, meet the wrestlers, become one of the "Krazies," and enjoy the great photography!



More KSWA photographs and David's other collections can be found at David Aschkenas Photography. And, here's a link to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette about David Aschkenas, his work, and the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance.


Microsoft Seems to Have a Different Focus
02/11/2019

(Top)
And, it doesn't seem to be on the users of their operating systems and software.

A few days ago, we ran Windows updates on a customer's Windows 7 computer and the updates broke Windows file sharing (The Register article).

We also found an announcement from Microsoft describing how bad Internet Explorer is (Forbes article). According to Forbes, the problem is that Internet Explorer is still the second most popular browser. So, is Microsoft saying that they really don't care about you - get over it, and move on?

And, for die-hard Windows 7 users (like most of the business world, and about 37 percent of PC users per Computerworld), support for Windows 7 is ending in January, 2020. Get over it and move on to wonderful and robust Windows 10.

Oops, that might be a problem, too - Techradar points out problems with Windows 10 updates.


 Get over it and move on...


The Best and Worst Computer Warranty Support
12/23/2018

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The Best: HP Omen support. We sold an HP Omen notebook that had a broken Omen Command software module that would crash at start up. HP support was relentless at fixing the problem - they immediately escalated the ticket to their engineering group, and had a very quick fix for the issue. Their follow-through and communication regarding this issue was the best - they were extremely responsive and completely dedicated to fixing this problem.

Thank you to the HP Omen Premier Customer Success Team.

The Worst: Lenovo Warranty Support - Depot Repair. We are handling a repair of a customer's ThinkPad 13.3 inch notebook. The machine was pristine - no scratches, perfect screen, etc., but it had a broken hinge - it was very clear from looking at the ThinkPad that it was a defective part - caused by opening and closing the notebook from normal use.

Problems:

-11/28: it's difficult to find the correct phone number to call, once you find it, be prepared to wait an hour on hold, and then be transferred 3 times (and remain on hold again and again) to get to the right department.

-11/30: once the notebook arrived at the repair depot, we were told that it was accidental damage even though it clearly wasn't, and we had to fight to resolve that problem.

-the case restarted on 12/6 after it was escalated for review by a Lenovo case manager.

-we tried repeatedly to email and call Lenovo to get the status of the repair without any results - no returned emails or returned phone calls. There is an online case update link that only responds with "Error Occurred" since 12/19.

-12/28: still no response from the Lenovo case manager, and the notebook is still sitting in the repair center with no activity, and our customer still does not have his computer (although we did give him a Dell loaner notebook).

Successes:

-12/28 later in the day: the Lenovo case manager approved the case as a no cost repair.

-12/29: the notebook was repaired and shipped back to us and is due to arrive at our location on 12/31.

-1/2/19: the repaired notebook was returned to our shop - a successful conclusion to this support case. Thank you Lenovo for completing this repair.


The Less You Pay for a Printer, the More You Pay for Ink.
12/18/2018

(Top)
A review of Epson inkjet photo printers is a great example of this.

Epson Expression Photo XP-960 11 inch wide multifunction printer - $243.99 - ink cost per ml - $2.49

Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 13 inch wide printer - $319.99 - ink cost per ml - $2.47

Epson SureColor P400 13 inch wide printer - $419.00 (after rebate) - ink cost per ml - $1.39

Epson SureColor P600 13 inch wide printer - $549.00 (after rebate) - ink cost per ml - $1.24

Epson Expression Premium ET-7750 EcoTank 11 inch wide multifunction printer - $649.00 - ink cost per ml - $0.18 (average cost)

Epson SureColor P800 17 inch wide printer - $895.00 (after rebate) - ink cost per ml - $0.73

Epson SureColor P5000 17 inch wide printer - $1,395.00 (after rebate) - ink cost per ml - $0.46

Epson SureColor P6000 24 inch wide printer - $1,995.00 - ink cost per ml - $0.34 (700 ml cartridges)

Epson SureColor P10000 44 inch wide printer - $5,495.00 - ink cost per ml - $0.28


The Epson Print Academy
12/16/2018

(Top)
A website that I frequently visit is the forum on Luminous-Landscape. A couple of days ago, in the Printing: Printers, Papers and Inks discussion, they mentioned the Epson Print Academy channel on YouTube:

"Introducing the Epson Print Academy YouTube Channel. Videos include how-to detailed explanations of workflows, from monitor calibration, color management through to printing. Additional footage celebrates the craft of printing with visits to photographic festivals, workshops, and renowned studios. The Epson Print Academy is a central resource for how-to print with Epson Professional Imaging products."



The videos feature R Mac Holbert, who, according to Luminous-Landscape, "helped to invent fine art digital printing". They are definitely worth checking out.


Fast and Affordable Desktop and Notebook PCs
08/20/2018

(Top)
We've identified a few PC desktops and notebooks that provide excellent performance at a reasonable price. They have either AMD Ryzen or Intel 8th generation processors. And they all have solid state drives that give an extra performance boost.





A new workstation class tower with lots of free bays and PCIe slots is the Lenovo ThinkStation P330 - that includes an Intel i7-8700, with a CPU Benchmark rating of 15,222, 16GB of memory, a 512GB SSD and a 3 year warranty. It's currently priced at $939.00.

Another inexpensive desktop in this list is a small form factor computer - the Lenovo ThinkCentre M715 - it includes an AMD Ryzen 7-1700, with a CPU Benchmark rating of 13,813, 8GB of memory, a 256GB SSD and a 3 year warranty. It's currently priced at $1009.00.

A faster workstation class tower is the Lenovo ThinkStation P330 - that includes an Intel i7-8700K, with a CPU Benchmark rating of 15,974, 16GB of memory, a 512GB SSD and a 3 year warranty. It's currently priced at $1139.00.

A small form factor PC with an 8th generation Intel i7 processor is the HP EliteDesk 800 - that includes an Intel i7-8700, with a CPU Benchmark rating of 15,222, 16GB of memory, a 512GB SSD and a 3 year warranty. It's currently priced at $1,239.00.

A tower PC with an 8th generation Intel i7 is the Dell Optiplex 7060 - that includes an Intel i7-8700, with a CPU Benchmark rating of 15,222, 16GB of memory, a 256GB SSD and a 3 year warranty. It's currently priced at $1,239.00.

A tower PC with an 8th generation Intel i7 is the HP EliteDesk 800 - that includes an Intel i7-8700, with a CPU Benchmark rating of 15,222, 16GB of memory, a 512GB SSD and a 3 year warranty. It's currently priced at $1,269.00.





Lenovo ThinkPad E580 that includes an Intel i7-8550U, with a CPU Benchmark rating of 8,114, 8GB of memory, a 256GB SSD, a 15.6 inch 1920 x 1080 resolution display and a 1 year warranty. It's currently priced at $929.00

HP ProBook 450 G5 that includes an Intel i7-8550U, with a CPU Benchmark rating of 8,114, 8GB of memory, a 256GB SSD, a 15.6 inch 1920 x 1080 resolution display and a 1 year warranty. It's currently priced at $1,009.00

HP ZBook Mobile Workstation 15V G5 that includes an Intel i7-8750H, with a CPU Benchmark rating of 12,549, 8GB of memory, a 256GB SSD, a 15.6 inch 1920 x 1080 resolution display and a 1 year warranty. It's currently priced at $1,239.00

Dell Latitude 5590 that includes an Intel i7-8550U, with a CPU Benchmark rating of 9,175, 8GB of memory, a 256GB SSD, a 15.6 inch 1920 x 1080 resolution display and a 1 year warranty. It's currently priced at $1,369.00

HP ProBook 650 G5 that includes an Intel i7-8850H, with a CPU Benchmark rating of 13,293, 16GB of memory, a 256GB SSD, a 15.6 inch 1920 x 1080 resolution display and a 3 year warranty. It's currently priced at $1,589.00

Click this link for a listing of these computers.

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