CompanyX upgrades all its printers to lasers. The printers report to the manufacturer, automatically ordering supplies when they run low. An e-mail is sent when the devices report a toner cartridge running low, then the tech takes a replacement to the printer and leaves it for the users to replace.

This way, if the tech is unable to be there when the toner runs out, users can change it out themselves. This works well for all of the printers, even in the administrative area where users are not very technical.

But one area seems to have a problem: the engineering department.

Case in point: The tech returns from a brief vacation to discover that an engineering department printer has stopped working days before. First clue as to the problem: The printer is flashing "Toner out."

And right where he left them next to the printer are two clearly labeled but unopened boxes -- the replacement toner cartridges.

As he mutters to himself about tasks that are simple enough for secretaries but too complicated for the engineering staff, one engineer walks by and grumbles, "Are you guys still working on that printer? It's been down since last week."

The Tech points out the toner cartridges and the display that clearly says "Toner out." Did it occur to anyone to replace the cartridges?

The response the tech got was, "I told Ted about it. We've just been using another printer."

after replacing the cartridge, two days' worth of queued jobs began spitting out.

Another engineer walked by and grabbed one, then remarked, "I've been waiting for that" -- and walked away.