Peeve-black plastic peripherals

A lot of electronics these days have black plastic cases, but also of
course jacks for connections and such. They have raised lettering for
identification, but that doesn't show up well! I suppose in this
price-sensitive era, white silkscreened letters would cost too much :-
(

The latest struggle is even worse. We got a new Epson R280, which
prints on CDs and DVDs. However, unlike the model it replaces, you
must take a tray out of two slots and stick it in two other slots.
This is inside the exit tunnel. The slots are nearly invisible in room
light- no markings at all- just slots in black plastic! One needs to
grab a flashlight every time you need to switch the tray. Bad human
factors engineering!

Don Stauffer in Minnesota wrote:
> A lot of electronics these days have black plastic cases, but also of
> course jacks for connections and such. They have raised lettering for
> identification, but that doesn't show up well! I suppose in this
> price-sensitive era, white silkscreened letters would cost too much :-
> (
>
> The latest struggle is even worse. We got a new Epson R280, which
> prints on CDs and DVDs. However, unlike the model it replaces, you
> must take a tray out of two slots and stick it in two other slots.
> This is inside the exit tunnel. The slots are nearly invisible in room
> light- no markings at all- just slots in black plastic! One needs to
> grab a flashlight every time you need to switch the tray. Bad human
> factors engineering!

Can you dab a bit of glow-in-the-dark paint on the slot openings? Or
maybe use one of those new silver Sharpies?

I have a big box of various and sundry power cords, and had no idea
which ones went to which devices. I finally figured them all out, and
wrote on each transformer brick with the silver pen. Now I just look at
the brick and it says "camcorder" or "Impact" or "D200" and I don't have
to puzzle it out anymore.

On Dec 26, 5:14*am, Don Stauffer in Minnesota <stauf...@usfamily.net>
wrote:
> A lot of electronics these days have black plastic cases, but also of
> course jacks for connections and such. *They have raised lettering for
> identification, but that doesn't show up well! *I suppose in this
> price-sensitive era, white silkscreened letters would cost too much :-
> (
>
> The latest struggle is even worse. *We got a new Epson R280, which
> prints on CDs and DVDs. *However, unlike the model it replaces, you
> must take a tray out of two slots and stick it in two other slots.
> This is inside the exit tunnel. The slots are nearly invisible in room
> light- no markings at all- just slots in black plastic! *One needs to
> grab a flashlight every time you need to switch the tray. *Bad human
> factors engineering!

Black plastic is going to last longer then lighter colors. Just about
anything made of white plastic will turn yellow in just a few years
here, and much of it will loose all strength and break apart.

Scott

In article
<d1b3599c-20b9-48bd-ad6f-4d87c26e2b86@s48g2000hss.googlegroups.com>,
Don Stauffer in Minnesota <stauffer@usfamily.net> wrote:

> A lot of electronics these days have black plastic cases, but also of
> course jacks for connections and such. They have raised lettering for
> identification, but that doesn't show up well! I suppose in this
> price-sensitive era, white silkscreened letters would cost too much :-
> (

I've experienced the same problem with some musical equipment. I've got
a JV-1080 (synth module), and have to keep a small flashlight nearby to
get to the buttons when I need them.

On Dec 26, 9:17 am, Cynicor <j...tru.p....@sp.eake.a.sy.net> wrote:
> Don Stauffer in Minnesota wrote:
>
> > A lot of electronics these days have black plastic cases, but also of
> > course jacks for connections and such. They have raised lettering for
> > identification, but that doesn't show up well! I suppose in this
> > price-sensitive era, white silkscreened letters would cost too much :-
> > (
>
> > The latest struggle is even worse. We got a new Epson R280, which
> > prints on CDs and DVDs. However, unlike the model it replaces, you
> > must take a tray out of two slots and stick it in two other slots.
> > This is inside the exit tunnel. The slots are nearly invisible in room
> > light- no markings at all- just slots in black plastic! One needs to
> > grab a flashlight every time you need to switch the tray. Bad human
> > factors engineering!
>
> Can you dab a bit of glow-in-the-dark paint on the slot openings? Or
> maybe use one of those new silver Sharpies?
>
> I have a big box of various and sundry power cords, and had no idea
> which ones went to which devices. I finally figured them all out, and
> wrote on each transformer brick with the silver pen. Now I just look at
> the brick and it says "camcorder" or "Impact" or "D200" and I don't have
> to puzzle it out anymore.

Sounds like a good idea to me, though I am unsure what is meant by
"exit tunnel".

Or just use white tape and a marker. That's how I label the jungle of
cables, connectors, and transformers around my computer area.

Or try whiteout/liquid paper.

Whiteout is Forever: I used whiteout to scrawl "Don't ask me; I'm
lost too." on the back of a leather (leather!) jacket some twenty
years ago, and the lettering has survived almost better than the
flippin' jacket itself, which has traveled extensively with me through
most of western Europe and the eastern US. I doubt that your printer
will ever suffer such abuse as that jacket has over the years.

--
YOP...

Cynicor wrote:
> Don Stauffer in Minnesota wrote:
>> A lot of electronics these days have black plastic cases, but also of
>> course jacks for connections and such. They have raised lettering for
>> identification, but that doesn't show up well! I suppose in this
>> price-sensitive era, white silkscreened letters would cost too much :-
>> (
>>
>> The latest struggle is even worse. We got a new Epson R280, which
>> prints on CDs and DVDs. However, unlike the model it replaces, you
>> must take a tray out of two slots and stick it in two other slots.
>> This is inside the exit tunnel. The slots are nearly invisible in room
>> light- no markings at all- just slots in black plastic! One needs to
>> grab a flashlight every time you need to switch the tray. Bad human
>> factors engineering!
>
> Can you dab a bit of glow-in-the-dark paint on the slot openings? Or
> maybe use one of those new silver Sharpies?
>
> I have a big box of various and sundry power cords, and had no idea
> which ones went to which devices. I finally figured them all out, and
> wrote on each transformer brick with the silver pen. Now I just look at
> the brick and it says "camcorder" or "Impact" or "D200" and I don't have
> to puzzle it out anymore.

I have begun taping a label to the bricks so I don't wonder later what
brick goes with what device. I guess it would be too much trouble for
the manufactures to put contrasting lettering on the brick specifying
exactly what device it goes with. sigh.