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Brother HL-630: Vintage Laser Printer Review

This EPA Energy Star-compliant printer can’t be totally shut off without pulling the power cord. Instead, it shifts from full alert mode, consuming 480 watts or less, to standby, consuming 60 watts or less. Finally, the unit eases into total sleep mode, using a meager 10 watts or less when idle for more than 15 minutes. In sleep mode, even the fan shuts off after the printer has cooled, and the HL-630 appears to be switched off until incoming data coax it back to life. The delay period can be set through the Windows printer driver or a DOS-based remote-control program.

Brother adds environmental friendliness in the form of an EconoPrint mode, which lays on a lighter coat of toner for drafts, saving up to 50 percent of the ink normally required. You can expect 3,000 text pages from each low-cost ($36.95 list price) toner cartridge. Printing graphics-dense pages will consume proportionately more toner, but at these prices, who’s counting? Yes, the toner printer cartridges are really cheap!

You can even print graphics using the stock 512K of RAM, thanks to three different compression schemes–selectable from the Windows driver–which squeeze the maximum amount of data into the available memory and help improve printing speed. For full-page 300-dpi graphics, however, a user-installable 1MB or 1.5MB RAM upgrade ($119.95 and $179.95, respectively) may be in order. Some–but not all–graphics pages would print using the built-in 0.5MB on our test machine.

Despite its low price, the Brother HL-630 is a solidly built machine with none of the flimsiness we’ve seen in recent low-end printers. At around 20 pounds and with a roughly 14×15-inch footprint, this printer could easily be mistaken for a unit costing twice as much.

Put to work in a mail-merge application involving nearly 150 individualized letters, the HL-630 pumped out several hundred pages at close to its 6-ppm rated speed. The input tray, canted off the top of the printer at a 45-degree angle, forms a near-straight line with the fold-out output tray. The bend-free paper path sidestepped any potential jams during our tests; we ran 150 No. 10 envelopes through the printer with nary a glitch. Even custom paper sizes and postcards can feed through smoothly.

The easy-to-load input tray holds 200 sheets of 8.5-inch paper stock, but just 10 envelopes. Single sheets of transparency film or label stock can also be guided through the printer manually, without removing the sheet feeder.

The output tray purports to handle 100 sheets, but our letters began spilling over onto the floor a bit sooner than that. However, unless you print lots of long jobs in an unattended mode, the HL-630’s paper handling should suffice.

The HL-630 is one printer that hasn’t forgotten the DOS user. It can switch automatically among Epson FX-850, HP LaserJet IIp, and IBM Proprinter emulations, and most settings can be made from a DOS-based remote printer console utility. A status monitor program that reports on current jobs can be loaded as a TSR, giving DOS users some of the flexibility of Windows’ Print Manager. Only two typefaces, a serif and sans serif in 12 different sizes and weights, are built in, but any HP soft fonts can be downloaded.

Both the DOS and Windows printer drivers support bidirectional parallel ports, so the printer can communicate detailed configuration and job-status information back to the user. If an optional Macintosh-compatible serial interface is installed, the printer can be connected to both a PC and a Mac, or two PCs simultaneously, and can alternate jobs between machines automatically.

While setup and installation of the HL-630 aren’t difficult, the process was a lot more involved than that required by most of the other laser printers we’ve tested. Separate drum and Brother toner cartridges must be installed, each with up to five numbered pull tabs that must be yanked, torn, or removed to free up moving parts. A final step involves opening a shutter on the toner cartridge, which proved a fairly messy procedure. Other printers in this price range we’ve reviewed recently–such as the Lexmark WinWriter 200–were faster and cleaner to set up, but most users will put up with the occasional annoyance to save a few more dollars.

Brother backs the HL-630 printer with a one-year warranty and toll-free technical support. We spent about 15 minutes in the queue the Monday after a long weekend before receiving courteous and efficient answers to some questions. A company BBS provides updated printer drivers and answers to commonly asked questions.

The Brother HL-630 printer proves that even the lowest-cost laser printers can offer enough speed, print quality, economy, and flexibility to meet all the needs of the average user. If you’ve shied away from upgrading to a laser because you thought decent models required major cash outlays, Brother is set to change your mind.

Looking for ink? Eezytrade

Eezytrade is here to give customers an easy and hassle free way to simply buy ink cartridges and have them shipped. To make the experience better, we even pay for the shipping! There’s no catch, we just believe in reliable partnerships in business that gets the job done faster and more efficiently. When ink runs out we know you need it by yesterday, that’s why our inventory is awaiting shipment orders and ready to go; orders placed by 4:00PM are usually delivered by the same day. We work very quick because the world of business moves faster than ever today.

We believe great customer service also ties into our prices, which we’ve found a way to offer great prices on all of our quality products, we carry both original and compatible ink cartridges at incredible prices which could save you up to 80% off.

Great customer service is at the focal point of our business, we pride ourselves on providing the best customer experience. The customer is the highest priority and we are also open to any changes you need made in order to satisfy.
Find brands such as: Brother, Epson, HP, Canon, OKI, Dell, Kodak, Lexmark, Samsung and other brands. We are the UK based provider of printer consumables and stand by our products and services. Eezytrade is SafeBuy certified.

We’re excited to work with you, look no further you’ve found your fast and reliable source for ink cartridges, and we’re sure you’ll be satisfied with our customer oriented business. You can contact us here.

Printer Cartridges Of The Future Could Be Filled With Cookie Dough

The future of printing is currently focused on the amazing world of the 3D printer.  While the concept of 3D printing has been around for decades, it is just now that the production costs of these fantastic machines is low enough that it is actually making it possible for you and I to own one.

These printers look like your typical printer but instead of the injectors just printing side-to-side, they are also capable of printing up and down. The inks are then applied layer by layer until the 3 dimensional form is completed.  Now, just think about these “inks” being made of plastics, silicone, human cells, sugar and yes, even cookie dough.

The media has been quick to publish the possibilities of printing things like food, guns or human organs.  These are now very real possibilities and with a company like MakerBot who is currently offering a 3D printer for around €1550, it is putting this technology within reach of many more buyers. There are replicas out there that are even less expensive.

It still remains to be seen how the typical consumer would handle this kind of technology as it could, possibly, change the way we currently think about our “stuff”.  One of the most promising possibilities for 3D printing involves the creation of things to enhance human health and well-being. According to Phil Reeves of Econolyst, a UK-based consultancy in rapid manufacturing:

“Glasses frames are easy to change in the western world, but in developing countries, they are expensive or impossible to replace.  Often lenses outlive the frames in developing countries,” he says. If a village, or nearby town, has a 3D printer and access to some basic polymer raw materials, a new set of frames – custom made to fit the lenses – could be knocked out in no time.”

There may come a time in the future that we will be offering cheap replacement printer cartridges filled with cookie dough but until that day comes, Eezytrade is focused on bringing you the compatible printing consumables and larger toner cartridges you need today, delivered to your door as fast as possible, often within 24 hours of ordering.  Contact us to find out how we can become your preferred cheap printer ink cartridge source.

How To Save On Printer Ink

Printer ink is quite literally one of the most expensive things per unit that the average household has to spend money on. Many refer to oil as black gold, but one NPR story on “All Things Considered” suggests that ink for printers is the other black gold of the modern world. In an interview on the program, a man named Eduardo Porter gave this answer to exactly how expensive printer ink is:

$4,731 a gallon of printer ink. And that was more expensive than a 1985 vintage Krug champagne.

He goes on to say that the companies that make printer ink and even the printers themselves often design these products to trap customers into one particular model of something (in this case a printer) and then charge high rates for the small things that go along with it.

You have likely experienced the squeeze of paying for printer ink yourself. If so, you want to escape this reality as soon as possible. The fact is that no one should pay more than they absolutely have to in order to obtain the printer ink that they require.

One trick to getting better prices is to buy the ink from online stores. Not only do these stores have lower overhead than a traditional retail store, but they have also purchased the ink in bulk. This means that they have received a discounted rate on it, and they are able to pass those savings on to you.

This is exactly what we do at eezytrade. We offer all of the major brands as well as other printer products that one might like to have. By doing this, we hope to be your one stop shop for all of the printer products that you require. We hope that you will take a look around our site today and compare prices. We are confident that you will like what you see.

If you have any questions or any trouble finding something on our site, contact us and let us know about it. We will be happy to help.

Your Connection To Cheap Ink Cartridges

Printer ink has often been known as one of the most expensive things that the average person needs to have. While everyone wants to be able to print off all of their documents and anything else from their computer, $22 per ounce for Hewlett-Packard colored ink is outrageous. That is the current average price according to pcworld.com.

Instead of simply agreeing to these sky high prices, many are looking for ways to get cheap ink cartridges. One option is to use eezytrade as your provider of all ink cartridges and related products.

All of the top brands are available for purchase as well as other products that one can use in their printer. The option to buy in bulk is available as well, and this can be one way to start saving money immediately. Those who run their own businesses in particular might find this option to be appealing.

Small business owners that use a laser printer can also enjoy next day delivery on all of their printer products from us if they so desire.

Our customer service is a top priority at all times. We want anyone who does a business transaction with us to feel as though they have received the highest quality of service possible, and we feel that this is what we offer.

In the event that you find that you are unable to find any product that you need from us, feel free to contact us to let us know how we can better help you. We want to do whatever we can to provide you with the products that you require to keep your business running strong.

The Secret To How An Image Is Created With Laser Jet Printer Ink

Have you ever wondered just how that laser printer creates an image on your paper? Have you tried to imagine how printer ink and lasers can work together?  This is a world that very few know intimately.

Let’s explore the world of the laser printer starting with it’s development by Gary Starkweather at Xerox PARC in 1971.  The laser printer was the answer to the problem of slow printing speeds.  For larger institutions, like schools or corporations, time can represent money.  Not many people know just exactly how a laser jet printer works, except the engineers that create them, so here is a bit of understanding to share:

  • The first step a laser printer takes when it receives a new print command, is to clean the prior image detail, along with the toner, from the drum.
  • Next, a negative charge is applied evenly to the drum.
  • The sources of light, such as the Liquid Crystal Shutter, the lasers or the LEDs, then write to the drum which discharges the negative potential where the light has indicated.
  • Next, the toner is ionized with a negative charge which creates an attraction to the previously discharged areas on the drum.
  • A transfer then occurs between the drum and the paper by way of a positive ionized field which is created by a transfer corona wire or transfer roller.
  • Finally, pressure and heat are applied to the toner and paper which is similar to the process of an iron-on transfer.

Perhaps a diagram would be helpful?

We may not completely understand how laser printers work but when it comes to printer cartridges, we consider ourselves to be experts.  When your supplies are running low on printer inkcontact us to find out what convenience means when ordering your replacement cartridges.

Will Replacing Your Printer Cartridges Solve Your Printer Problems?

Imagine, one day when you arrive at your office, or home office, you find that your printer does not want to cooperate when you simply must print that important document.  There are many different things that can go wrong with electronic devices full of tiny, moving parts.  Thankfully, there are some basic steps that you can take before you make that call to the printer maintenance hotline.

Step 1

  • Confirm that your printer is powered on.  You can usually find an indicator light that will verify this for you.
  • If you do not see a light then check to see that the printer is connected to a power source.  Follow the cable, insuring a proper connection to the back of the printer, as well as the connection to the wall socket.
  • If you still do not see any indication of power then it is probably a problem that would be best addressed by a printer technician.  You can contact the printer’s manufacturer for further instructions.

Step 2

  • If you do have an indicator light and are still experiencing no response after a print command, check to ensure that your cables are correctly installed.
  • You should have a data cable as well as a power cable.  The data cable can be either USB or a parallel cable.  Make sure both cables (4 ends) are all securely attached.

Step 3

  • If you have a flashing light, and all of the above have been checked, the likely culprit is a paper jam, low ink warning or no paper warning.  It is also possible that the flashing light could indicate a more serious problem.
  • Check your owner’s manual or visit the manufacture’s website for a copy if the light does not give you a clear explanation of the problem.

Step 4

  • The flashing light could mean a paper jam or an empty feed tray.  First verify the status of the paper supply, then, if you are comfortable, proceed to check the inner workings for jammed paper.
  • If the indicator light is still not resolved, there may be an additional piece of paper that cannot be seen easily.

Step 5

  • If the error light is related to a problem with your printer cartridge, you can try uninstalling the cartridge and then visually inspecting it and if it appears to be in working order, then reinstalling the cartridge.
  • Additionally, most printer software programs have a supply manager that can verify properly functioning printer cartridges.

At Eezytrade, we want to be your source for helpful information as well as the source for the best way to shop for replacement printer cartridges.  Our cartridges are available at the best possible price with no additional charges for VAT, packaging or postage.

Contact us and try our service and we promise you will never look elsewhere for your printer cartridge needs.

Maximum Service with Minimum Clicks with UK based Provider of Printer Consumables

No Fuss. That’s our mantra. Our name says it all, “eezytrade” and from our homepage, you can click two times and viola! Your product is awaiting shipment to your place. And shipment is free, too. See, eezytrade’s purpose is to be your partner when it comes to printer and laser ink. We want you to rely on us to get the ink to you fast, because we know that is when you need it. And we have affordable pricing. We have both original and compatible ink cartridges at prices up to 80% off.

We walk the talk, we understand what great customer service is all about and we are constantly working to be the best at customer service too. We listen to you, our partner, and if we need to change something to make you happy, then consider it done. Our goal is your satisfaction and we won’t rest until we know that has been achieved.

So, you name it: Brother, Epson, HP, Canon, OKI, Dell, Kodak, Lexmark, Samsung or other brands and yes, paper, we are the UK based provider of printer consumables. And we are budget friendly too. And if you place an order by 4:00 pm, it is delivered the same day. As a customer, you are assured of our highest ethics by SafeBuy, which governs our code of business practice.

So whether you are a UK business or home based user why don’t you give us a try? We know you’ll be happy with our fast, friendly service. You can conact us here.

What Do Printer Cartridges And Wine Have In Common?

Hundreds of years ago, specifically around 1452, a gentleman by the name of Gutenberg designed the very first mass printing press.  He utilized an old wine press and outfitted it with moveable letters.  He also used an oil-based ink for printing.

Before Mr. Gutenberg’s invention most books were hand written on vellum which was treated lamb skin or calf skin.  You can still find some of these amazing manuscripts in museums today.  Many religious writings were also done on vellum and the holy men of that day were appointed guardians of this work.  They thought these books were very precious and the “common man” was not allowed to even handle these manuscripts.

Mr. Gutenberg decided that he should use his new invention to print up a few copies of the Holy Bible.  He had visions of bringing the written word of God to the common man and making a lot of money in the bargain.  He failed to consider the fact that most common folks of that day could not even read.  He did not consider how he would “advertise” his bibles for sale either and eventually he found himself broke with a few copies of the bible for his efforts.

Fast forward to today and the invention of the LaserJet printer that we all rely on at work and at home.  It was Hewlett Packard, in 1984, that invented the first desktop laser printer.  It was this machine that saw the end of the dot matrix printer.  With high resolution and super fast printing speeds, it meant that the dot matrix printer had seen the end of the road.

Now the big boys became excited at the possibilities and Canon, Epson, Apple, IBM, Brother and others quickly brought their own printers to the market. With so many companies competing for your business and releasing new and improved models constantly, it became apparent that the real winner in this race was the consumer.

Today It’s easy to buy your top quality guaranteed, printer cartridges online and have them delivered to your door, in most cases, the very next day.  At Eezytrade our rapid and efficient response has earned us the praise of many of our clients, and we aim to continue offering this top-level service to our future office consumables customers.  If you are looking for the easiest way to buy your printer cartridges, please contact us to place your order today!

Where Does Paper Come From?

Where does paper come from?  Take some time to look around the space in which you are and take note of the number of items that are made from paper.  There will possibly be a few magazines, some books, printing paper and maybe even some wall posters made out of paper.  However, if you are aware that each individual in the United Kingdom utilises in excess of 300 kilograms of paper on a yearly basis, then you know that paper is available in quite a bit more forms than immediately meets the eye.

Global paper consumption has grown by 400 percent over the past 40 years.  Now almost 35 percent or 4 billion trees are used in the paper industries on all of the continents.  In addition to what can be seen around you, paper is available in various forms which include the following:

•             Cardboard Packaging

•             Tissue Paper

•             Stereo Speakers

•             Electrical Plugs

•             Home Insulation

•             Tennis Shoe Sole Inserts

How Does Paper Come About?

The majority of individuals are aware that trees are the main raw material of paper products.  However, fewer people know that cloth rags were the staple ingredient of paper up until the mid 19th Century.  Despite the fact that trees are now an essential element in paper creation, a number of manufacturers are opting to make use of tree pulp, along with recycled waste as a means of decreasing the amount of trees that have to be chopped down to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for paper.  In addition, a number of environmentalists are of the belief that in the global community, the forests are being destroyed quicker than new trees are growing.  As a result, they are recommending the promotion of wood-free paper that is made from plants such as hemp and kenaf, which is similarly fibrous.

The Evolution of Paper

The Egyptians are credited with inventing the earliest paper-like substance more than 6,000 years ago. This substance was referred to as papyrus and it is the root of the English word for paper.  It was made by intertwining reeds or similarly fibrous plants and beating them into a flat sheet.  This technique was used by the Romans and the Greeks as well.  However, paper makers from Ancient Greece were the very first to produce a type of parchment paper that is made from the skins of animal.  There is a great likelihood that Socrates, Aristotle and other notable Greek philosophers penned their books on animal skins originally.

However, paper as it is known today was not created until 105 AD.  Ts’ai Lun, who was a court official in China, mixed hemp and mulberry bark with rags, scraps of cotton and water.  This concoction was beaten into a pulp and then pressed into mats.  After which, they were placed in the sun to dry.  Over the next 1700 years, rags became the main raw material for making paper.

As the culture of the Chinese expanded and flourished beyond the edges of China, paper went along for the ride.  It first went to Korea and then to Japan.  After which it made its way to the Arab world, including Morocco and Egypt.  In 1009 AD, papermaking made its way to Europe via Spain; this is where the very first paper mill in Europe was set up by Arabs near Valencia.

Following that, the French and the Italians became noteworthy paper makers and controlled the European paper industry from AD 1250 to 1470.  The demand for paper to make books grew in 1453 after Johannes Gutenberg from Germany invented the moveable printing press, which was a long way removed from all the printer cartridges that are used by modern home based printer inkjets.  The demand also grew in the 16th Century after the boom in literacy rates.  Paper mills started to pop up all over Europe and finally got to the new world.  In 1690, the state of Philadelphia became home to the first American paper mill.  The increased demand and the rise in paper-making started to take a toll on the raw materials that were used in making paper and manufacturers embarked on finding suitable alternatives. In 1843, pulp or ground wood that was harvested from trees turned into the choice material for paper-makers.

The Modern Paper Industry

Nowadays, approximately 300 million tons of paper is consumed by the world on a yearly basis.  The majority of which is made out of virgin pulp.  However, recycled paper now makes up 38 percent of total fibre supply in the world and plants like kenaf or hemp accounts for 7 percent.

The paper industry has come a very long way from using mulberry bark and rags and has developed into a sophisticated science.  As soon as a tree is chopped down, it is taken to a mill, debarked, chipped into very small fragments and this should answer the question of where does paper come from.