Lexmark Z605 Color Inkjet Printer ( 18K0280 )

Rating:
Summary: Lexmark Worst Offender of Cartridge Scam
Review: Wonder why you're getting a printer so cheap? You're probalby only getting reject half filled cartridges included, and look at the cost of new cartridges and consider how frequently you may need to buy them unless you hardly ever do any printing.

I bought the x5150 about 8 months ago and thought it was pretty good. Soon the cartridges emptied after not much printing and I learned the hard lesson. I knew the cartridges weren't cheap but I thought I'd refill them. That didn't work. I went to local refill company and was told the sponges in Lexmark cartridges are difficult (they gave up trying)and they only sold other companies' remanufactured or OEM. I tried one remanufactured Black and it was horizonaly streaky no matter what I did to fix it.

People are fed up with printer manufacturers having cartridges with sponges that don't refill well (Lexmark), or smart chips that prevent refills (Epson), not to mention HP's methods including "Expired Cartridge" messages, etc. If we don't, as consumers, vote "no" by not buying these printers and sending letters to CEO's we'll just get more of the same scamming.

I was excited to read about Canon Pixma IP3000 & up models with separate ink-tanks & no smart chips. Examining all the Pixma models at a local store I noticed this extra pull down tray in the front-middle. After full investigation, it's a disabled/never will work CD/DVD printing bay. Yet the same models in Europe have a working CD/DVD print bay. The USA price does not reflect the non-functional CD/DVD printing either. So I will (doubtedly) try to get a Euro model or wait for Canon to release USA models that are fully functional. I may end up temporarly buying the Epson R200 but I feel like I should be ashamed supporting Epson and their smart-chip scam. There is a chip resetter device (avg. $10 to $15) but I don't know if it works well yet. Forget Lexmark unless you have money to burn on cartridges. And there's concern about Epson printers wasting/spraying ink all over the inside (read all R200 reviews) that soon causes problems (dries solid/hard). The Canon has ink tanks with no smart chips, look easily refillable, and their print head underneath the ink tanks holder is also removable (i.e. replacable, but I don't know what that will cost. If other printers' print heads go you pretty much resort to trashing the printer). It looks like the Pixma line is leading the way in printing and cartridge technology. Canon: Kudos for heading a little more environmetally responsible with the Pixmas obviously designed for long-term usage in mind but PLEASE get those CD/DVD printing trays functional soon!