Strangeness in the matrix.
Once, a few years back, I needed to print a form, I don't remember why but it was something typically UKland government so faxing, emailing and suchlike were obviously ten centuries too futuristic for them. On this day, my printer chose to run out of one of four colours of ink. At the time, the inks came in packs of four cartridges for £70 or more.
I wandered round the town, found a little known computer peripherals purveyor called "PCWorld", entered the store and found a fully functioning scanner-fax-printer, complete with slightly-full cartridges for £14.
This machine sits proudly on my desk to this day. It doe not, however, print. The ink boxes dried up through years of non-use and the machine complains that there is no ink. This is a lie as it sloshes around when they are shaken. I've tried the "wet-the-wick" remedies, none worked. Still, I'm relatively happy with the outcome as I now have two dead printers and I didn't spend a fair fraction of a hundred quid to print one form.
Two dead printers and a fully working scanner.
As an interesting thing, at about this time, I jestingly mentioned to anyone who brought up the subject that eventually printers would be given away free and the companies would charge only for the inks.
I present https://www.morgancomputers.co.uk as validation of my unerring accuracy as a visionary. (https://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/product_detail/20765/Brother-HL-L3230CDW-Colour-Laser-Printer-1-set-of-IJT-Toners-1-Set-of-Brother- as an example. Free printer, large price for toners.)
I am sure there are others but I'm far too lazy to bother looking. Maybe if I need to print another form? ,
Biting the hand that feeds IT
