Lexmark questions

[curiousconsumer]

I am looking into buying a Lexmark printer. I've heard that Lexmark
printers use technology that disables the ink cartridges to prevent
refilling. Is this true? Are there models I should avoid?

 

[measekite]

Yes, You should avoid all of them. They are the worst of the worst.
Buy a Canon, HP or an Epson. They are all basically good, however, the
Canon IP4000 is the best value and more than satisfactory for both
business needs and photos. I think the very best narrow carriage
printer in the high end consumer price range is the Canon IP8500. The
best wide carriage is the Canon i9900. This can be confirmed by
independent reviews.

If you are thinking of using non OEM inks you should have no trouble
filling any Canon cart. Thus far I am sticking with Canon ink but if I
decide to go 3rd party I would try MIS first. Before I get into
refilling I would buy their prefilled carts at $5.00 a cart. I would
also try Ilford paper. Canon carts and Ilford paper are sold at
Costco. The carts are $9.00 and the paper is $20 for 120 sheets.

 

[Miss Perspicacia Tick]

I am looking into buying a Lexmark printer.

Why? You some kind of masochist? Or a troglodyte, perhaps?

Are there models I should avoid?

Yes - every inkjet they have ever produced, are producing now and will
produce in the future, until the end of time. Their lasers aren't bad,
however. There are several manufacturers whose inkjets you should avoid: -

Lexmark
Brother
Xerox

But they all produce reasonable lasers.

 

[Douglas]

Well,I for one have had very good luck with their older models! I still have
an Optra 45 going strong.I also had a 5700 which worked well.I currently
have 17 printers online.I have Epsons(R800&4000),1 HP(2210) and the
Optra45.These are the inkjets.I have installed newer LMs for clients,but
only at their request! I usually install Canon inkjets,although I did sell
my only Canon (i9900)to go with my new Epson 4000 Pro.

 

[Brendan R. Wehrung]

Well,I for one have had very good luck with their older models! I still have
an Optra 45 going strong.I also had a 5700 which worked well.I currently
have 17 printers online.I have Epsons(R800&4000),1 HP(2210) and the
Optra45.These are the inkjets.I have installed newer LMs for clients,but
only at their request! I usually install Canon inkjets,although I did sell
my only Canon (i9900)to go with my new Epson 4000 Pro.

Yes.

I currenlty have a Z65 and a working Z52 on my backup computer. I cna't
say much beyond that, except that if you are in North America their
Mexican-made carts have a reputation for being a little variable.

I don't know what it is with Lexmark-haters, but they are VENEMOUS. On
the other hand Lexmark sells a reasonable number of laser printers and I
don't see very many complaints here, not compared to what the haters like,
such as Canon (whose product seems to be improving).

One thing that is true is that Lexmark's per-page cost is on the high
side, but I solved that by bying a cheap laser for all routine like e-mail
and correspondence, saving expensive Lexmark in for color and card stock,
which it prints when most can't take the thickness.

Brendan

Why? You some kind of masochist? Or a troglodyte, perhaps?

Are there models I should avoid?

Yes - every inkjet they have ever produced, are producing now and will
produce in the future, until the end of time. Their lasers aren't bad,
however. There are several manufacturers whose inkjets you should avoid: -

Lexmark
Brother
Xerox

But they all produce reasonable lasers.

--

 

[user]

I also have an Optra 45. Been rock solid too. I am wondering if
you have flashed your optra 45's bios? I found an update a long
time ago and have only seen that one upgrade. Had any issues
with yours?

Well,I for one have had very good luck with their older models! I still have
an Optra 45 going strong.I also had a 5700 which worked well.I currently
have 17 printers online.I have Epsons(R800&4000),1 HP(2210) and the
Optra45.These are the inkjets.I have installed newer LMs for clients,but
only at their request! I usually install Canon inkjets,although I did sell
my only Canon (i9900)to go with my new Epson 4000 Pro.

 

[zakezuke]

I don't know what it is with Lexmark-haters, but they are VENEMOUS.

Look at the Lexmark X1150 / Dell A920. (10N0016 / t0529). The black
cart claims to have a page yield of only 410pages yet costs $30.00 at a
local store. I've been told it only contains 10ml ink then the price
per gal for the black ink alone is $11,355/gal.

The HP Deskjet S740 which takes the NO 95 cart is also $30.00 at the
local store. It has twice the yield of the 10n0016.. about 800 pages
and about 21ml of ink. This is good deal less at about $5407.14/gal.
And this isn't even a great deal, it's an average deal at best.

Canon's bci3b was $13.99 for 15ml and about $3530.14 /gal the last time
I worked it out.

The Epson T048120 for the r200/r300 is $17.00 or so at my local store
with a page yield of 450 / 13ml, slightly under the Canon bci3b. This
brings the price to 4949.62/gal which is close to the price for the HP
NO 95 despite the fact that it's just an inktank.

Note, it's hard to be positive on the ml in each cart so feel free to
correct me. Based on their estimated yields the values I have are not
out of bounds.

One thing that is true is that Lexmark's per-page cost is on the high
side, but I solved that by bying a cheap laser for all routine like e-mail
and correspondence

On the high side is an understatement. In all fairness the 10N0026
color cart is $30 and claims a 275p yield... on par with the Canon set
of bci3c/m/t in terms of price/page.

People have a very good reason to dislike the Lexmark as the black ink,
pound for pound, is 1/3 the price of gold.