Results of Comparison Study: Lexmark X73 vs Canon PIXMA

Executive Summary:
There is no comparison. Lexmark is a piece of garbage. There
is a reason they start the model number with an "X." Canon
starts up first time, every time.

Conditions:
Windows 98SE, 128MB RAM

Detailed Results:
(a) Lexmark X73 -- Installed per mfr instructions. Fails to
print. Re-installed. Fails to print. Contacted Lexmark India
tech support. They re-read the instruction book to me, then
had me fiddle around with un-install programs, clear cache
programs, re-install. Fails to print about 1/2 the time and
only prints if I boot the computer first, then power up and
connect the USB cable. Otherwise fails to print.

(b) Canon PIXMA -- Purchased refurbished model for $26.99 at
Fry's Electronics. Plugged in, installed per mfr
instructions. Went thru alignment procedure in a snap.
Printed first time, every time. Fast, fast, fast. No monkey
business.

Researcher's Conclusion:
Canon is good. Lexmark X73 is a piece of garbage. On the
box is clearly says "Windows 98", yet it doesn't work with
Window's driver OR with the drivers from the Lexmark CD or
website. If you can't read the manual for yourself, then
tech support is good because all they do is read the manual
via a 2 second delayed connection from India.

Canon PIXMA -- Purchased refurbished model for $26.99 at Fry's
Canon is good. Lexmark X73 is a piece of garbage. On the
box is clearly says "Windows 98", yet it doesn't work with
Window's driver OR with the drivers from the Lexmark CD or
website. If you can't read the manual for yourself, then
tech support is good because all they do is read the manual
via a 2 second delayed connection from India.

I had no idea that they were so cheap at Fry's. The ink alone is worth
$40-$50ish. Tell me if that deal is common, if so i'll have to run up
to fry's and buy one. Even without ink i'd buy one for that price.

While I own a couple of canons now.. it's not like there have not been
reports of them not working out of the box... but those are pretty rare
from what i've seen.

The Lexmark X73 is a multifuction unit... not exactly a fair contest.
I would be more keen to compare the x73 to at least another
multifuction. For example the mp750/mp760 lacks fax support where even
the most lame lexmarks, the ones that come free with your dell
lexmarks, have great fax support and find their springboard software to
be more versatile. I don't know the x73 personaly, it sounds like an
older model though.

Drivers though are fair comment though it's been years since i've used
win98se. In this day and age one might consider upgrading to win2k at
the very least provided your system can deal with it. 98 was at one
point classed as an end of life product and support for it is
dwindling. XP isn't a bad option but it doesn't run very well on
128megs of ram... 2k works sluglishly on 128megs from what I remember.
But even with a current generation OS expect some drivers to crap out,
destroy the print spooler, not uninstall properly, leaving you with a
huge mess to clean up. Lexmark isn't alone in this regard.

Thanks for the info, ZZ. Yep, they were still there at
Frys - now at $29.99. They're refurbs, but I can't tell mine
from new - I bought 2 of them. I would be that when this
batch is gone, that would be the end of them. However, I
bought another Canon refurb directly from Canon years ago,
so just give Canon a call. The Canon stuff is all top rated
in my book and reasonably priced, compared with similar
units.

Only drawback for these Canon's that I've seen so far -- and
probably the reason they're so low cost... the ink
cartridges are extremely small and run out of ink fast. And
I mean FAST! But the garden variety ink-refill kits (Fry's
also has a good one for $10 that fills a half dozen times)
work just fine. I have already refilled mine once - only
had to enlarge the vent hole a little to get the syringe
down into it.

And one more thing... Lexmark is CRAP! Hopefully they'll
self-destruct one day before they annoy too many other
folks. (Again, I never ask for more than is advertised by
that worthless company and what they themselves printed on
their box. Yep, they're a bunch of moronic buffoons if you
ask me!)

Fred

"zakezuke" wrote in message
oups.com...
Canon PIXMA -- Purchased refurbished model for $26.99 at
Fry's
Canon is good. Lexmark X73 is a piece of garbage. On
the
box is clearly says "Windows 98", yet it doesn't work
with
Window's driver OR with the drivers from the Lexmark CD
or
website. If you can't read the manual for yourself, then
tech support is good because all they do is read the
manual
via a 2 second delayed connection from India.

I had no idea that they were so cheap at Fry's. The ink
alone is worth
$40-$50ish. Tell me if that deal is common, if so i'll
have to run up
to fry's and buy one. Even without ink i'd buy one for
that price.

While I own a couple of canons now.. it's not like there
have not been
reports of them not working out of the box... but those
are pretty rare
from what i've seen.

The Lexmark X73 is a multifuction unit... not exactly a
fair contest.
I would be more keen to compare the x73 to at least
another
multifuction. For example the mp750/mp760 lacks fax
support where even
the most lame lexmarks, the ones that come free with your
dell
lexmarks, have great fax support and find their
springboard software to
be more versatile. I don't know the x73 personaly, it
sounds like an
older model though.

Drivers though are fair comment though it's been years
since i've used
win98se. In this day and age one might consider upgrading
to win2k at
the very least provided your system can deal with it. 98
was at one
point classed as an end of life product and support for it
is
dwindling. XP isn't a bad option but it doesn't run
very well on
128megs of ram... 2k works sluglishly on 128megs from what
I remember.
But even with a current generation OS expect some drivers
to crap out,
destroy the print spooler, not uninstall properly, leaving
you with a
huge mess to clean up. Lexmark isn't alone in this
regard.

Thanks again. I have Win2000Prof here on disk somewhere but
can't upgrade right now - memory and other hardware being
one reason, time being another. I'll just stick with Win
98SE as long as the programs don't require something better.


"zakezuke" wrote in message
oups.com...

Drivers though are fair comment though it's been years
since i've used
win98se. In this day and age one might consider upgrading
to win2k at
the very least provided your system can deal with it. 98
was at one
point classed as an end of life product and support for it
is
dwindling. XP isn't a bad option but it doesn't run
very well on
128megs of ram... 2k works sluglishly on 128megs from what
I remember.
But even with a current generation OS expect some drivers
to crap out,
destroy the print spooler, not uninstall properly, leaving
you with a
huge mess to clean up. Lexmark isn't alone in this
regard.

Fred wrote:

Thanks for the info, ZZ. Yep, they were still there at
Frys - now at $29.99. They're refurbs, but I can't tell mine
from new - I bought 2 of them. I would be that when this
batch is gone, that would be the end of them. However, I
bought another Canon refurb directly from Canon years ago,
so just give Canon a call. The Canon stuff is all top rated
in my book and reasonably priced, compared with similar
units.

Only drawback for these Canon's that I've seen so far -- and
probably the reason they're so low cost... the ink
cartridges are extremely small and run out of ink fast. And
I mean FAST! But the garden variety ink-refill kits (Fry's
also has a good one for $10 that fills a half dozen times)
work just fine. I have already refilled mine once - only
had to enlarge the vent hole a little to get the syringe
down into it.

And one more thing... *Lexmark is CRAP*! Hopefully they'll
self-destruct one day before they annoy too many other
folks. (Again, I never ask for more than is advertised by
that worthless company and what they themselves printed on
their box. Yep, they're a bunch of moronic buffoons if you
ask me!)

Fred

"zakezuke" wrote in message
roups.com...


Canon PIXMA -- Purchased refurbished model for $26.99 at


Fry's


Canon is good. Lexmark X73 is a piece of garbage. On


the


box is clearly says "Windows 98", yet it doesn't work


with


Window's driver OR with the drivers from the Lexmark CD


or


website. If you can't read the manual for yourself, then
tech support is good because all they do is read the


manual


via a 2 second delayed connection from India.


I had no idea that they were so cheap at Fry's. The ink


alone is worth


$40-$50ish. Tell me if that deal is common, if so i'll


have to run up


to fry's and buy one. Even without ink i'd buy one for


that price.


While I own a couple of canons now.. it's not like there


have not been


reports of them not working out of the box... but those


are pretty rare


from what i've seen.

The Lexmark X73 is a multifuction unit... not exactly a


fair contest.


I would be more keen to compare the x73 to at least


another


multifuction. For example the mp750/mp760 lacks fax


support where even


the most lame lexmarks, the ones that come free with your


dell


lexmarks, have great fax support and find their


springboard software to


be more versatile. I don't know the x73 personaly, it


sounds like an


older model though.

Drivers though are fair comment though it's been years


since i've used


win98se. In this day and age one might consider upgrading


to win2k at


the very least provided your system can deal with it. 98


was at one


point classed as an end of life product and support for it


is


dwindling. XP isn't a bad option but it doesn't run


very well on


128megs of ram... 2k works sluglishly on 128megs from what


I remember.


But even with a current generation OS expect some drivers


to crap out,


destroy the print spooler, not uninstall properly, leaving


you with a


huge mess to clean up. Lexmark isn't alone in this


regard.

Which Canon model are you quoting? From the description of the ink
cartridge, it sounds more like an iP1500 than the iP3000 and higher
printers.
--
Ron

"Fred" wrote in message
news:z5HQe.11414$qg2.7449@trnddc05...
Thanks for the info, ZZ. Yep, they were still there at
Frys - now at $29.99. They're refurbs, but I can't tell mine
from new - I bought 2 of them. I would be that when this
batch is gone, that would be the end of them. However, I
bought another Canon refurb directly from Canon years ago,
so just give Canon a call. The Canon stuff is all top rated
in my book and reasonably priced, compared with similar
units.

Only drawback for these Canon's that I've seen so far -- and
probably the reason they're so low cost... the ink
cartridges are extremely small and run out of ink fast. And
I mean FAST! But the garden variety ink-refill kits (Fry's
also has a good one for $10 that fills a half dozen times)
work just fine. I have already refilled mine once - only
had to enlarge the vent hole a little to get the syringe
down into it.

And one more thing... Lexmark is CRAP! Hopefully they'll
self-destruct one day before they annoy too many other
folks. (Again, I never ask for more than is advertised by
that worthless company and what they themselves printed on
their box. Yep, they're a bunch of moronic buffoons if you
ask me!)

Fred

"zakezuke" wrote in message
oups.com...
Canon PIXMA -- Purchased refurbished model for $26.99 at
Fry's
Canon is good. Lexmark X73 is a piece of garbage. On
the
box is clearly says "Windows 98", yet it doesn't work
with
Window's driver OR with the drivers from the Lexmark CD
or
website. If you can't read the manual for yourself, then
tech support is good because all they do is read the
manual
via a 2 second delayed connection from India.

I had no idea that they were so cheap at Fry's. The ink
alone is worth
$40-$50ish. Tell me if that deal is common, if so i'll
have to run up
to fry's and buy one. Even without ink i'd buy one for
that price.

While I own a couple of canons now.. it's not like there
have not been
reports of them not working out of the box... but those
are pretty rare
from what i've seen.

The Lexmark X73 is a multifuction unit... not exactly a
fair contest.
I would be more keen to compare the x73 to at least
another
multifuction. For example the mp750/mp760 lacks fax
support where even
the most lame lexmarks, the ones that come free with your
dell
lexmarks, have great fax support and find their
springboard software to
be more versatile. I don't know the x73 personaly, it
sounds like an
older model though.

Drivers though are fair comment though it's been years
since i've used
win98se. In this day and age one might consider upgrading
to win2k at
the very least provided your system can deal with it. 98
was at one
point classed as an end of life product and support for it
is
dwindling. XP isn't a bad option but it doesn't run
very well on
128megs of ram... 2k works sluglishly on 128megs from what
I remember.
But even with a current generation OS expect some drivers
to crap out,
destroy the print spooler, not uninstall properly, leaving
you with a
huge mess to clean up. Lexmark isn't alone in this
regard.

Which Canon model are you quoting? From the description of the ink
cartridge, it sounds more like an iP1500 than the iP3000 and higher
printers.

Agreed, the ip4000 should have a 25ml black tank and 4 smaller 14ml ish
tanks. The yield isn't super duper fab.. i'd describe it as average.

The x73 uses the #70 black inktank which does have a higher yield than
canon's black. The color is about the same.

LOL!!

"measekite" wrote in message . ..


Fred wrote:

Thanks for the info, ZZ. Yep, they were still there at
Frys - now at $29.99. They're refurbs, but I can't tell mine
from new - I bought 2 of them. I would be that when this
batch is gone, that would be the end of them. However, I
bought another Canon refurb directly from Canon years ago,
so just give Canon a call. The Canon stuff is all top rated
in my book and reasonably priced, compared with similar
units.

Only drawback for these Canon's that I've seen so far -- and
probably the reason they're so low cost... the ink
cartridges are extremely small and run out of ink fast. And
I mean FAST! But the garden variety ink-refill kits (Fry's
also has a good one for $10 that fills a half dozen times)
work just fine. I have already refilled mine once - only
had to enlarge the vent hole a little to get the syringe
down into it.

And one more thing... *
Lexmark is CRAP*! Hopefully they'll
self-destruct one day before they annoy too many other
folks. (Again, I never ask for more than is advertised by
that worthless company and what they themselves printed on
their box. Yep, they're a bunch of moronic buffoons if you
ask me!)

Fred

"zakezuke" wrote in message
roups.com...


Canon PIXMA -- Purchased refurbished model for $26.99 at


Fry's


Canon is good. Lexmark X73 is a piece of garbage. On


the


box is clearly says "Windows 98", yet it doesn't work


with


Window's driver OR with the drivers from the Lexmark CD


or


website. If you can't read the manual for yourself, then
tech support is good because all they do is read the


manual


via a 2 second delayed connection from India.


I had no idea that they were so cheap at Fry's. The ink


alone is worth


$40-$50ish. Tell me if that deal is common, if so i'll


have to run up


to fry's and buy one. Even without ink i'd buy one for


that price.


While I own a couple of canons now.. it's not like there


have not been


reports of them not working out of the box... but those


are pretty rare


from what i've seen.

The Lexmark X73 is a multifuction unit... not exactly a


fair contest.


I would be more keen to compare the x73 to at least


another


multifuction. For example the mp750/mp760 lacks fax


support where even


the most lame lexmarks, the ones that come free with your


dell


lexmarks, have great fax support and find their


springboard software to


be more versatile. I don't know the x73 personaly, it


sounds like an


older model though.

Drivers though are fair comment though it's been years


since i've used


win98se. In this day and age one might consider upgrading


to win2k at


the very least provided your system can deal with it. 98


was at one


point classed as an end of life product and support for it


is


dwindling. XP isn't a bad option but it doesn't run


very well on


128megs of ram... 2k works sluglishly on 128megs from what


I remember.


But even with a current generation OS expect some drivers


to crap out,


destroy the print spooler, not uninstall properly, leaving


you with a


huge mess to clean up. Lexmark isn't alone in this


regard.

Yes, it's the iP1500. Works like a champ.

"drc023" wrote in
message . ..
Which Canon model are you quoting? From the description of
the ink
cartridge, it sounds more like an iP1500 than the iP3000
and higher
printers.
--
Ron

"Fred" wrote in message
news:z5HQe.11414$qg2.7449@trnddc05...
Thanks for the info, ZZ. Yep, they were still there at
Frys - now at $29.99. They're refurbs, but I can't tell
mine
from new - I bought 2 of them. I would be that when
this
batch is gone, that would be the end of them. However, I
bought another Canon refurb directly from Canon years
ago,
so just give Canon a call. The Canon stuff is all top
rated
in my book and reasonably priced, compared with similar
units.

Only drawback for these Canon's that I've seen so far --
and
probably the reason they're so low cost... the ink
cartridges are extremely small and run out of ink fast.
And
I mean FAST! But the garden variety ink-refill kits
(Fry's
also has a good one for $10 that fills a half dozen
times)
work just fine. I have already refilled mine once -
only
had to enlarge the vent hole a little to get the syringe
down into it.

And one more thing... Lexmark is CRAP! Hopefully they'll
self-destruct one day before they annoy too many other
folks. (Again, I never ask for more than is advertised
by
that worthless company and what they themselves printed
on
their box. Yep, they're a bunch of moronic buffoons if
you
ask me!)

Fred

"zakezuke" wrote in message

oups.com...
Canon PIXMA -- Purchased refurbished model for $26.99
at
Fry's
Canon is good. Lexmark X73 is a piece of garbage.
On
the
box is clearly says "Windows 98", yet it doesn't work
with
Window's driver OR with the drivers from the Lexmark
CD
or
website. If you can't read the manual for yourself,
then
tech support is good because all they do is read the
manual
via a 2 second delayed connection from India.

I had no idea that they were so cheap at Fry's. The
ink
alone is worth
$40-$50ish. Tell me if that deal is common, if so i'll
have to run up
to fry's and buy one. Even without ink i'd buy one for
that price.

While I own a couple of canons now.. it's not like
there
have not been
reports of them not working out of the box... but those
are pretty rare
from what i've seen.

The Lexmark X73 is a multifuction unit... not exactly a
fair contest.
I would be more keen to compare the x73 to at least
another
multifuction. For example the mp750/mp760 lacks fax
support where even
the most lame lexmarks, the ones that come free with
your
dell
lexmarks, have great fax support and find their
springboard software to
be more versatile. I don't know the x73 personaly, it
sounds like an
older model though.

Drivers though are fair comment though it's been years
since i've used
win98se. In this day and age one might consider
upgrading
to win2k at
the very least provided your system can deal with it.
98
was at one
point classed as an end of life product and support for
it
is
dwindling. XP isn't a bad option but it doesn't run
very well on
128megs of ram... 2k works sluglishly on 128megs from
what
I remember.
But even with a current generation OS expect some
drivers
to crap out,
destroy the print spooler, not uninstall properly,
leaving
you with a
huge mess to clean up. Lexmark isn't alone in this
regard.

"zakezuke" wrote in message
oups.com...

The x73 uses the #70 black inktank which does have a
higher yield than
canon's black. The color is about the same.

Actually......... the Canon is a tremendously higher yield,
if you figure it as "pages per irritation". I wouldn't buy
a printer based on the capacity of the ink. You can always
refill them for about 10-cents a piece with just about any
ink bought thru the mail or internet. Also.... not
recommending this, but..... I found one time by accident, if
you have an empty ink cartridge but no ink on hand..... just
refill it with tap water. I did this twice in row and got
good enough quality for what I do. Then the 3rd time,
filled with regular ink and the good dark print came right
back.

Oh, and, as is my usual custom, I'd like to take this
opportunity to say.... Lexmark X73 is a piece of crap.