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#1
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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. |
#2
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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. |
#3
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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. |
#4
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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. |
#5
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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-$50ish. Tell me if that deal is common, if so i'll have to run up to fry's and buy one. Even without ink i'd buy one for that price. While I own a couple of canons now.. it's not like there have not been reports of them not working out of the box... but those are pretty rare from what i've seen. The Lexmark X73 is a multifuction unit... not exactly a fair contest. I would be more keen to compare the x73 to at least another multifuction. For example the mp750/mp760 lacks fax support where even the most lame lexmarks, the ones that come free with your dell lexmarks, have great fax support and find their springboard software to be more versatile. I don't know the x73 personaly, it sounds like an older model though. Drivers though are fair comment though it's been years since i've used win98se. In this day and age one might consider upgrading to win2k at the very least provided your system can deal with it. 98 was at one point classed as an end of life product and support for it is dwindling. XP isn't a bad option but it doesn't run very well on 128megs of ram... 2k works sluglishly on 128megs from what I remember. But even with a current generation OS expect some drivers to crap out, destroy the print spooler, not uninstall properly, leaving you with a huge mess to clean up. Lexmark isn't alone in this regard. |
#6
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Which Canon model are you quoting? From the description of the ink
cartridge, it sounds more like an iP1500 than the iP3000 and higher printers. -- Ron "Fred" wrote in message news:z5HQe.11414$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. |
#7
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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. |
#8
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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-$50ish. Tell me if that deal is common, if so i'll have to run up to fry's and buy one. Even without ink i'd buy one for that price. While I own a couple of canons now.. it's not like there have not been reports of them not working out of the box... but those are pretty rare from what i've seen. The Lexmark X73 is a multifuction unit... not exactly a fair contest. I would be more keen to compare the x73 to at least another multifuction. For example the mp750/mp760 lacks fax support where even the most lame lexmarks, the ones that come free with your dell lexmarks, have great fax support and find their springboard software to be more versatile. I don't know the x73 personaly, it sounds like an older model though. Drivers though are fair comment though it's been years since i've used win98se. In this day and age one might consider upgrading to win2k at the very least provided your system can deal with it. 98 was at one point classed as an end of life product and support for it is dwindling. XP isn't a bad option but it doesn't run very well on 128megs of ram... 2k works sluglishly on 128megs from what I remember. But even with a current generation OS expect some drivers to crap out, destroy the print spooler, not uninstall properly, leaving you with a huge mess to clean up. Lexmark isn't alone in this regard. |
#9
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Yes, it's the iP1500. Works like a champ.
"drc023" wrote in message . .. Which Canon model are you quoting? From the description of the ink cartridge, it sounds more like an iP1500 than the iP3000 and higher printers. -- Ron "Fred" wrote in message news:z5HQe.11414$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. |
#10
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"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. |
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