2 chapters across the catalog
A technical issue with an Epson printer cutting off text leads to a discovery that the device was defaulted to European A4 paper settings. This prompts a discussion on the failed 1960s and 1970s initiatives to convert the United States to the metric system. The use of A4 paper is characterized as an early globalist move that failed to gain traction in American offices.
The discussion opens with an analysis of the printer ink industry and the tactics used by manufacturers to prevent the use of third-party or counterfeit cartridges. Manufacturers often use firmware updates to reject non-official ink, forcing users to acknowledge that using such products may void their warranties. Despite these warnings, the cost-saving benefits of bogus ink often outweigh the risks for consumers using inexpensive printers.
