Instead of buying a new ink cartridge when your printer runs [...]]]> The Instant Cartridge Printer, by designers Yuexun Chen and Chia-Chen Hsiao, is a striking concept that is not only a neat idea, but makes you think about just how much your printer really does for you, acting as a middleman between you and ink cartridges.

Instead of buying a new ink cartridge when your printer runs out of ink, the cartridge itself is the printer. That’d make buying a “printer” the same as picking up a disposable camera. Need to print something during your lunch break? Go pick one up. On vacation but want to print out some photos for the family? Same thing.

The size of the printer cartridge would also determine what kind of paper you’d need. With today’s cameras and digital storage able to talk directly to printers without the need of a computer, something like this could be really awesome. Sure, they make some portable printers nowadays, but disposable ones?

The designers also envision the Instant Cartridge Printer as recyclable, which is a nice thought.

Via: yankodesign.com

enacted in cities and states nationwide. Glen Friedman, owner of Cartridge World-Astoria, is looking to help schools in Astoria combat these serious challenges by encouraging them to reuse their printer cartridges, rather than buying new.

“Although school systems have cut back [...]]]> The recession continues to take an extraordinary toll on school systems as sweeping budget cuts are

enacted in cities and states nationwide. Glen Friedman, owner of Cartridge World-Astoria, is looking to help schools in Astoria combat these serious challenges by encouraging them to reuse their printer cartridges, rather than buying new.

“Although school systems have cut back on many things, the demand for ink is a necessary aspect of the everyday educational curriculum,” Friedman said. “We look forward to working with school administrators in Astoria to help them reduce their operating expenses and budgets during this economic downturn.”

With 650 locations throughout North America, Cartridge World, a printer cartridge retailer, has struck a chord with schools nationwide for its ability to save significant money on printer cartridge costs. “School administrators can either bring their empty ink and toner cartridges into our store at 36-09 Ditmars Blvd. or have them picked up and exchanged for remanufactured and refilled cartridges,” Friedman explained.

“Refilling and remanufacturing printer cartridges are becoming an indispensable service for schools looking to save money on supplies,” Cartridge World CEO Tom Fricke said. “Some local schools saved thousands of dollars last year in printer cartridge costs, and one of our university customers saved more than $10,000.”

Besides being an affordable alternative for schools to stay “ahead of the curve” when it comes to increasing budget constraints, reusing printer cartridges also teaches students the importance of reusing and recycling to protect the environment. In North America alone, more than 350 million cartridges are discarded in landfills, and that number increases by 12 percent annually. Switching to remanufactured cartridges not only keeps empty cartridges out of the landfills, but also reduces carbon emissions by an estimated one million pounds per year and conserves half a gallon of oil for each laser cartridge that is reused and recycled.

Via: qgazette.com

- Dell hardware is pre-configured for medical practices, verified to work with Practice Fusion and can be rapidly implemented.

- Packaged solution connects small and mid-sized medical practices with latest technology for improving healthcare efficiency and patient care; [...]]]>

- Practice Fusion’s free, web-based EMR is bundled with Dell desktop, laptop, printer, scanner and networking systems.

- Dell hardware is pre-configured for medical practices, verified to work with Practice Fusion and can be rapidly implemented.

- Packaged solution connects small and mid-sized medical practices with latest technology for improving healthcare efficiency and patient care; eliminates the traditional cost and technology barriers faced in EMR adoption.

SAN FRANCISCO and ROUND ROCK, Texas, June 3 /PRNewswire/ — Practice Fusion and Dell today announced that they will deliver affordable, easy-to-use EMR technology to doctors around the country.  The Dell/Practice Fusion packaged solution uniquely serves the needs of the small medical practices, especially those in primary care, that make up almost 80 percent of the physician landscape(i). These medical practices are traditionally the hardest to reach with new technology, even though they are the foundation for preventative and specialty health care across the US.

The Dell/Practice Fusion packaged solution combines Practice Fusion’s free, web-based Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system with Dell’s EMR technology hardware suite including desktop and laptop computers, specialized broadband hardware, scanners and printers.  The package is ideal for small practices looking for an affordable turnkey EMR solution that is easy to purchase and use.  With Dell and Practice Fusion, medical offices can easily replace paper systems with electronic charting, scheduling, prescribing and lab orders, improving the efficiency of the care delivered to patients as a result.

By teaming with Dell, Practice Fusion is giving physicians an easy and convenient way to acquire the hardware they need to use EMR.  And Dell continues its focus on improving the accessibility and affordability of information technology particularly at the front line of the healthcare system.

Doctors can acquire the packaged solution easily by:

• Visiting Practice Fusion to order Dell laptops and desktops tested by Dell’s verification lab and tailored to the size and needs of their practice.
• Calling Dell specialists at 1-866-DELL-EMR to determine the right combination of computers and wireless systems and choosing Practice Fusion’s free EMR as the system component of their order.

When a Dell and Practice Fusion package is ordered by a medical practice, it will receive:

• Three months interest-free financing on the order for qualified users.
• Quick online access to the fully-enabled EMR account for every member of the practice.
• Fast delivery of practice-ready hardware from Dell.
• Assistance with EMR training and setting up e-prescribing, lab connections and a Personal Health Record portal for patients.
• Phone support from Practice Fusion and Dell.

Via: allvoices.com

This is the second year in a row that the Laboratory has received the award, which recognizes California businesses and organizations that have made outstanding efforts to reduce nonhazardous waste by [...]]]> Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has been named winner of a 2009 WRAP (Waste Reduction Award Program) award by the California Integrated Waste Management Board.

This is the second year in a row that the Laboratory has received the award, which recognizes California businesses and organizations that have made outstanding efforts to reduce nonhazardous waste by implementing resource-efficient practices; aggressive waste reduction, reuse and recycling activities; and procurement of recycled-content products.

LLNL regularly diverts more than 60 percent of all routine Lab solid waste generated, keeping approximately 2,500 tons out of landfills each year. In addition, LLNL saves more than $500,000 annually through sales of recyclables and reusable materials. The Lab also has a successful reuse program that accepts reusable materials sitewide and operates a “Second Time Around” store where employees can obtain reusable items at no cost for use in their work.

In the area of waste reduction, the Lab either reused or reduced waste in materials ranging from computers and televisions to cardboard boxes and office supplies. Waste reduction activities included the use of electronic forms and electronic circulation and review of documents. The Lab recycled many tons of materials, from lumber to batteries to copier and toner cartridges.

LLNL also has a formal program for Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, which includes preferential procurement of recycled content and biobased products ranging from office products to biofuels. The Lab also purchases other “green” products, such as cleaning products and energy efficient computers and appliances.

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a national security laboratory, with a mission to ensure national security and apply science and technology to the important issues of our time. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

Via: publicaffairs.llnl.gov

The General Services Administration thinks it can recoup that money — and more — by changing the way the government buys and uses printers, copiers and fax machines.

Scheduled to begin in fiscal 2011, this governmentwide [...]]]> Your printer is wasting more than $300 million a year in taxpayer dollars. Well, yours and a bunch of other ones.

The General Services Administration thinks it can recoup that money — and more — by changing the way the government buys and uses printers, copiers and fax machines.

Scheduled to begin in fiscal 2011, this governmentwide “strategic sourcing” initiative is one of several that GSA and the Office of Management and Budget are coordinating.

The goal is to consolidate agencies’ buying power and adopt the best acquisition practices of government and industry, in order to squeeze industry for better deals.

OMB says the government is already saving about $857 million in fiscal 2010 through other strategic sourcing initiatives — both government-wide and agency-specific in scope — and that number could increase in future years.

“There is enormous opportunity out there,” said Dan Gordon, head of OMB’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy. “I view this as an area ripe for future savings.”

Printers are just one area of opportunity:

• GSA in September awarded a contract for domestic shipping services to UPS. The deal is expected to save $1 billion over five years, with costs 6 percent lower than a previous shipping contract also negotiated using strategic sourcing.

• Agencies will save an estimated $192 million over four years through 12 office supplies contracts finalized earlier this month. Vendors agreed to deeper discounts on 400 products under a new version of a strategic sourcing deal signed in 2007.

• GSA is also trying to use strategic sourcing to change the way agencies buy cell phones, smart phones and other wireless services. Objectives for that contract include negotiating better rates, standardizing plan types and giving agencies better information on how to optimize their use of wireless devices. GSA is bringing federal acquisition and information-technology workers together to develop the wireless initiative.

Via: coburn.senate.gov

In a graphic comparing the “relative price of different liquids,” a single mL of HP black ink #45 runs about $0.70. That’s nearly [...]]]> We knew printer ink was expensive, we just never bothered to put it into perspective before. And now we don’t have to, because somebody else already did, and the comparisons are pretty eye-popping.

In a graphic comparing the “relative price of different liquids,” a single mL of HP black ink #45 runs about $0.70. That’s nearly twice as much as a mL of blood, which according to the data runs less than $0.40. It’s also almost 14 times more expensive than Penicillin, which runs a little over $0.05 per mL.

So there you have it. Assuming the numbers are accurate, penny pinchers may be better off pricking their finger and refilling those empty printer ink cartridges with their own blood (please don’t try this). Of course, there’s always generic ink, which while usually significantly cheaper than “genuine” ink from the printer’s manufacturer, have also been known to clog print heads.

Via: maximumpc.com

Doubleclick didn’t happen to have 13 grand lying around, but we really wanted that printer, since it, along with [...]]]> THE first laser printer Doubleclick ever acquired was an Apple LaserWriter. It weighed a ton, was deadly slow by modern standards, and cost in 1987 a mind-shattering $13,000: more than an average car at the time.

Doubleclick didn’t happen to have 13 grand lying around, but we really wanted that printer, since it, along with Aldus PageMaker software, launched the desktop printing revolution.

Laser printers no longer bust bank balances or require hefty financing deals, and over the past year or so they have become almost as cheap as inkjets.

In Australia in the past couple of weeks Hewlett-Packard and Dell have launched what appear to be extraordinarily good, fast mono lasers for less than $150.

If you have a small business or home office and don’t really need colour, a laser is much better value than an inkjet. It will last longer, produce better looking output in less time and the ink will usually cost less.

Via: theaustralian.com.au