Dell 720 Color Printer: Lexmark Cartridges?

[Sylvain]

My Dell computer came with this (cheap) Dell color printer #720. It
certainly looks like a Lexmark printer but I have read somewhere that Dell
printers were not compatible with Lexmark cartridges.

Is that true? Would anyone have used Lexmark cartridges in their Dell 720
printer? I would prefer to use Lexmark cartridges as they are more readily
available and probably cheaper. If I have to order cartrides from Dell for
the 720, I might as well buy another cheap Lexmark!

Thanks.



Dell 720:
http://configure.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=ca&CS=CADHS1&l=en&oc=OC720_RBP_DHS

 

[Miss Perspicacia Tick]

My Dell computer came with this (cheap) Dell color printer #720. It
certainly looks like a Lexmark printer but I have read somewhere that
Dell printers were not compatible with Lexmark cartridges.

Is that true? Would anyone have used Lexmark cartridges in their
Dell 720 printer? I would prefer to use Lexmark cartridges as they
are more readily available and probably cheaper. If I have to order
cartrides from Dell for the 720, I might as well buy another cheap
Lexmark!
Thanks.



Dell 720:
http://configure.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=ca&CS=CADHS1&l=en&oc=OC720_RBP_DHS

Correct. Dell units are rebodged Lexmarks and will only take Dell tanks.
There is no such thing as a "cheap Lexmark" - the Z615 costs £25, but new
carts will set you back nearly three times that.

OTOH, spend £100+ on the printer and the tanks are £5 each.

 

[Sylvain]

You mean there are more expensive printers that use less expensive tanks?

Would you have any examples? My primary printer is a Canon i860 and, like
the Dell, the tanks are fairly expensive too...

S.

 

[Miss Perspicacia Tick]

You mean there are more expensive printers that use less expensive
tanks?
Would you have any examples? My primary printer is a Canon i860 and,
like the Dell, the tanks are fairly expensive too...

S.

I should have added that there's no such thing as a good Lexmark either -
well a good Lexmark inkjet that is, their lasers are not bad.

1st Golden Rule of Printing - the more expensive the unit, the cheaper the
ink.

Example: - I have a Canon i9950 (cost, when new, £500) and the cartridges
are £6 each (or £32 for a set of 8). Compare that to the Z615 colour
cartridge which is roughly £30 and is tricolour, meaning that it's wasteful.
The printer itself can be bought for £25.

Tanks for the i850 are £6.50 each (or £24 for a set of four) which I do not
consider expensive - expensive is when a single cartridge costs more than
the printer.

 

[measekite]

That is NOT ENTIRELY true. The Epson R1800, the wide carriage mate to
the R800, that competes with the i9900 is more expensive but the
cartridges are also more expensive.

 

[Miss Perspicacia Tick]

That is NOT ENTIRELY true. The Epson R1800, the wide carriage mate to
the R800, that competes with the i9900 is more expensive but the
cartridges are also more expensive.

I said that the definition of 'expensive' was where a single tank (or the
both together) cost more than the unit.