We are excited to (Finally!) tell you about the new upgrades to our Printme1.com site.
We designed our site back in 2008 to be a simple, low cost alternative to the big box print guys like FedEx Kinko's and Staples. For the last year, we have been working on major pdf reading improvements (completed!) and now installing some upgrades that would provide useful features to the site.
We just added a color printing option. You can choose to print in color for 24¢ per page. Color printing uses a heavier 24# white paper to make heavy coverage more opaque. It uses a dry toner process and has a resolution of 2400 equivalent dpi x 600 dpi at 256 gradations. It's great for typical color uses.
We also just added premium binding options. Coil, Wire-O, & Velo. Coil is a "spun-on" plastic coil. Looks nice and lays flat. Wire-O is a a metal wire comb that looks great and also lays flat. Velo binding is for docs that need to be super-sturdy and do not need to lay flat.
In additional to our standard GBC binding comb option, we are adding the option to substitute Three Hole Punch (3HP) or no binding on the checkout page. These substitutes are for our users who have combined many different PDF's into one file and want to re-collate them on their own.
We moved all of the order/job details to page 2 of the order process where you can see them in one place.
We still use Paypal as our payment processor and ship to the address you use there, so we do not have to ask you for that info in our process.
Starting with this site update, the price for B&W is 3.9¢ and the minimum order is $13.99. We've done our best to keep prices down over the last two years, but we've seen increases in our materials and shipping since we opened for business (remember, basic shipping is always included in out price), so we hope you understand that any change in prices from us are just from us trying to keep up with our costs.
That's it. We hope you like it. We invite you to try it out, and give us any feedback here, or also on our Facebook page.
Thanks!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Why One file= One Job
We had someone ask yesterday how they can include multiple pdf's in one order, and have them bound separately. It's a very reasonable question that comes up from time to time. We thought we would post the answer here for reference.
The short answer right now from us is just to keep it simple. One Job=One File.
The long answer is that the site was originally designed to print large manuals, where most jobs would be large enough to be worth it to pay at least the minimum to print a job with us.
We later added the capability to allow multiple copies. That was pretty easy to do without adding much complexity. One Job = (still) One File. Now we just vary how many of that same file. In this case, the same download and the same machine programming exist for the same job, plus it's the same binding comb. We have lots of box sizes, so that's not a problem either.
But, it gets trickier if multiple files come in for the same order. We suddenly have an undetermined amount of files, different programming instructions, and binding sizes- for each job. That's alot of extra handling to try to work into the system, and for the minimum price.
Hopefully with your continued support, we can further automate this process in the future and consider adding a multiple file feature. It's possible, and something we will consider tackling in the future.
But for now, keeping it simple for us means we can keep the costs down for you.
Cheers!!!
The short answer right now from us is just to keep it simple. One Job=One File.
The long answer is that the site was originally designed to print large manuals, where most jobs would be large enough to be worth it to pay at least the minimum to print a job with us.
We later added the capability to allow multiple copies. That was pretty easy to do without adding much complexity. One Job = (still) One File. Now we just vary how many of that same file. In this case, the same download and the same machine programming exist for the same job, plus it's the same binding comb. We have lots of box sizes, so that's not a problem either.
But, it gets trickier if multiple files come in for the same order. We suddenly have an undetermined amount of files, different programming instructions, and binding sizes- for each job. That's alot of extra handling to try to work into the system, and for the minimum price.
Hopefully with your continued support, we can further automate this process in the future and consider adding a multiple file feature. It's possible, and something we will consider tackling in the future.
But for now, keeping it simple for us means we can keep the costs down for you.
Cheers!!!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
File sizes for Printme1.com
The code update we made yesterday has really improved the reliability for all pdf's that had previously been unable to use Printme1.com.
The question we've been asked now is what is the maximum filesize that can be uploaded?
We've successfully tested 50mb, 100mb, and 130 mb files.
The important thing to remember if you have a very large pdf is that our progress bar is a little wonky with large files. The indicator bar may say 100% uploaded, but the screen stays unchanged for 15 or 20 minutes. That's normal if you have a big file. Just be patient.
In our tests, the 94 mb file too 15 minutes, and the 130 mb file took 22 minutes. That's going to vary for everyone depending on the connection type you have. The point is that it's probably going work if you are under 200mb, but will take awhile.
So like the note on the site says, "Relax. Kick Back. It's working."
The question we've been asked now is what is the maximum filesize that can be uploaded?
We've successfully tested 50mb, 100mb, and 130 mb files.
The important thing to remember if you have a very large pdf is that our progress bar is a little wonky with large files. The indicator bar may say 100% uploaded, but the screen stays unchanged for 15 or 20 minutes. That's normal if you have a big file. Just be patient.
In our tests, the 94 mb file too 15 minutes, and the 130 mb file took 22 minutes. That's going to vary for everyone depending on the connection type you have. The point is that it's probably going work if you are under 200mb, but will take awhile.
So like the note on the site says, "Relax. Kick Back. It's working."
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Improved, but not new
Wow..finally!
We added some new code to Printme1.com that fixes the most common failures from newer PDF's. The old "white screen of wasted time" error should be gone for good.
We've tested it using the worst files from our "Problem File" archive, and every one worked this time around.
(H/T to both Marc Fleischmann and Hostgator's staff for the help.)
Give it a try, upload some pdf's to print, and let us know!
Cheers
We added some new code to Printme1.com that fixes the most common failures from newer PDF's. The old "white screen of wasted time" error should be gone for good.
We've tested it using the worst files from our "Problem File" archive, and every one worked this time around.
(H/T to both Marc Fleischmann and Hostgator's staff for the help.)
Give it a try, upload some pdf's to print, and let us know!
Cheers
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Updates for Printme1.com & Govprint.us
Ok, so the Printme1.com revision isn't ready yet. Here's what happened. Just as the initial site revisions were completed and ready to go live, we found the solution to the Adobe 9 pdf problem.
This solution was quite complex, and rather than knock ourselves out uploading the revision, with the Acrobat 9 files still failing, we decided to incorporate a revision that includes this solution. So all that means is it's just a little longer. We are still looking for beta testers and will email out to all of you regular users when that's ready.
Over on govprint.us, not much new there, except that Senate 3590 is the one that everyone is trying to pass now through the budget reconciliation process, so if you need to read up on the current health care bill, Senate 3590 with the managers amendment is the one you want.
More later..
This solution was quite complex, and rather than knock ourselves out uploading the revision, with the Acrobat 9 files still failing, we decided to incorporate a revision that includes this solution. So all that means is it's just a little longer. We are still looking for beta testers and will email out to all of you regular users when that's ready.
Over on govprint.us, not much new there, except that Senate 3590 is the one that everyone is trying to pass now through the budget reconciliation process, so if you need to read up on the current health care bill, Senate 3590 with the managers amendment is the one you want.
More later..
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
What We've Been Up To
It's been busy behind the scenes here. Here are a few tidbits.
First, the good news. We have a beta that's nearly ready. We are including some new options like color printing and some additional binding choices. The look of the site is changing a bit from our scrappy-looking style as well.
Second, the bad news. Files made with Acrobat 9 won't work right now. Acrobat 9 uses a new pdf structure that currently fails in our pdf reading code. While other pdf's work fine, the site will show an error if you attempt to upload a PDF created in Acrobat 9. You can check to see if your file is an Acrobat 9 file by opening the file in your PDF viewing software and selecting "Info" or "Inspector". If it says its created in Acrobat 9, then you know.
Now, more good news. We figured out what's going on, and found a solution for it. This solution will be worked into the beta and unfortunately will take a little longer because we have make some heavy duty changes to the current code.
When it's ready, we will have the new beta site working concurrently with the site we have now. Anyone following us on our blog or twitter will get the notification when it's ready. Or just send an email with "Beta Me" in the subject line to us here.
Cheers!
First, the good news. We have a beta that's nearly ready. We are including some new options like color printing and some additional binding choices. The look of the site is changing a bit from our scrappy-looking style as well.
Second, the bad news. Files made with Acrobat 9 won't work right now. Acrobat 9 uses a new pdf structure that currently fails in our pdf reading code. While other pdf's work fine, the site will show an error if you attempt to upload a PDF created in Acrobat 9. You can check to see if your file is an Acrobat 9 file by opening the file in your PDF viewing software and selecting "Info" or "Inspector". If it says its created in Acrobat 9, then you know.
Now, more good news. We figured out what's going on, and found a solution for it. This solution will be worked into the beta and unfortunately will take a little longer because we have make some heavy duty changes to the current code.
When it's ready, we will have the new beta site working concurrently with the site we have now. Anyone following us on our blog or twitter will get the notification when it's ready. Or just send an email with "Beta Me" in the subject line to us here.
Cheers!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Govprint.us Store Update
Just a quick note. Over on Govprint.us, the Senate 3590 bill now includes the 383 page Manager's Amendment.
If you are keeping track, Sen. 3590 is 2,074 pages all by itself. With the Manager's Amendment, the document is 2,457 combined pages.
We are also offering a "2-up" version of this document. This version reduces the weight (and price!) of these high page count documents. When we print it "2-up", we reformat the document so two pages of the bill appear side-by side on the same page. We punch them for use in a binder.
The 2-up pages are aligned "heel to toe" (aka "Tumble" format), so they can be read without turning the binder when you turn the page. (Binder not included.)
Here's a sample video of this type of format used on the House version of the health care bill, H.R. 3962:
If you are keeping track, Sen. 3590 is 2,074 pages all by itself. With the Manager's Amendment, the document is 2,457 combined pages.
We are also offering a "2-up" version of this document. This version reduces the weight (and price!) of these high page count documents. When we print it "2-up", we reformat the document so two pages of the bill appear side-by side on the same page. We punch them for use in a binder.
The 2-up pages are aligned "heel to toe" (aka "Tumble" format), so they can be read without turning the binder when you turn the page. (Binder not included.)
Here's a sample video of this type of format used on the House version of the health care bill, H.R. 3962:
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