E161-403F (Coincidentally, this is also the launch code for several ICBM's)
Turn on printer, insert new yellow ink cartridge (one of twelve). Printer mocks me with blinking orange light. Slow realization that this will be a frustrating and expensive experience. Must make cup of tea….
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 
Printers are a constant source of frustration, as we all know ;-)!
And at the same time, the changes in the printer world are nothing but amazing. For the same amount of money spent fifteen years ago, and today, you then got a monochrome inkjet, handling A4, and now you get a 8-9 colour wonder, that takes at least twice as big papers, and the end results are so very much better, in every way, even if you just do B&W prints, but you still are faced by printer heads gumming up.
Laser printers don’t have these head problems, of course, and you can get a very good laser printer for the same price, or even less, but refills for a modern colour laser printer are very expensive.
But not everything has changed, as just as in the ol’ good days, sometimes, when you press the print button, nothing happens!!!
We now have three printers in use, one pro-style Canon ink-jet (cost us about $1000), one Samsung colour laser printer (very cheap, but one set of refills costs about as much as the printer itself), and one Canon Selphy sublimation printer (I think it is called that). The latter has been a delight, but the printouts are expensive, but never a printout lost into limbo.
The big Canon 9500 Mark II is connected to the network wirelessly (as it is in another room), while the Samsung CLS-315 is attached to the iMac itself, via USB. When the refill for the Samsung runs out we’ll go back to a monochrome laser, for everyday use, that’s for sure! Our last one was a HP 1200, which still is doing sterling service, with it’s new owner, my sister.
You have our sympathy.
E161-403F (as a quick check on google will tell) means left printhead problems. Talked to the people at Canon and it looks like I’ll have to replace the printhead. It will cost several hundred dollars, but should be back online in a few days.
Replacement print head is now on its way.
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