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Should I Shut Down MY PRINTER? - i know computers you are not supposed to shut down until you are down for the day but is the same true for a printer? i have an HP officejet 6500, should i leave it on in power save mode while not using it or is it ok to shut it down multiple times per day??

Best Answer: Most printers do not work the same way computers do, especially inkjets. You can even shut down computers multiple times during the day if you like, the only issue (depending on the operating system software) is that it can take a several minutes for the computer to completely boot back up to the point where you can use it again. Some printers can have the same issue, especially if they are the larger laser multi-function business printers. Even some inkjet printers have to go through a routine in order to print or after power on that can take a few minutes. I don't know what your printer has to go through, if anything, to get ready after being powered on, but if it does go through some motions and if it doesn't bother you waiting for it, then you should be fine. A few printers will actually do a calibration routine when powered on which consumes ink that could be an issue as that's using ink unnecessarily each time you power on. Your printer does NOT do that, so that is not an issue with yours. As long as you use the printer's power button to shut it down, there should be no problems as this allows the printer to park the heads correctly so that there is minimal chance of the ink to dry out. Some, not all, printers when left on will periodically run a routine to push ink through the printheads to help keep them from clogging (yours does not). This of course consumes more ink. I have an HP Business Inkjet 2250 that I leave off all the time (for weeks at a time) and turn it on only when I need to print something in color, and never have had a ink clogging problem, other printers are not so good at that. Leaving a printer on or off (on most printers) will not have an affect on if the printheads clog or not, it is more about how well the printer mechanics are designed to keep the ink from drying out and sometimes how often it is used. Best of luck. - Denver Al

Leave it on unless you don't have it plugged into a surge protector like you should. Turn it off at the end of the day.

inkjet printers should be left on all the time. shutting it down increases the chances of head clogs. it also wastes ink because the printer will do a cleaning the next time you turn it on. read http://www.ccs-digital.com/inkjetcare.asp for details

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