Lexmark P315- Any Good?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Couldn't find any professional reviews so thought
I'd ask here. At first glance, this printer steps all
over the Epson PictureMate because it is much
faster, has an LCD image display screen, and
claims to print at about the same price as the
Epson "as low as 29 c per print." Still I am wary.
One non-prof review I saw said the image quality
was poor compared to the Epson. (Also is the
P315 connectable to a computer, or do you
have to write from disc onto a card?) Plus
Lexmark's overall ratings always seem to come
in at the bottom of the heap.
Any comments would be very much appreciated.
Thanks very much for your help!
Frank

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"frank1492" <frank1492@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:10jer0dtcb9g7d7k3hb46cs9q2h1k8hd3l@4ax.com...
[...]
>
> claims to print at about the same price as the
> Epson "as low as 29 c per print."
>
...provided your printing at something silly like 1" square in draft mode.
Check the cost of replacement ink carts* - you might be shocked unless
Lexmark have entirely changed their business model (which is 'make a cheap
'n nasty printer - sell it for 0% profit, then rape the users with the cost
of ink carts until it falls to pieces'... normally about a week after the
warrantee expires).

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/hardw [...] 01p,00.htm
is one review.

*($29.99 is the first price I found - Yield: 190 pages (4"x6" ) @ 5%)

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

My experience has been the opposite of others posting here so far. My
Lexmark Z42 has been very reliable. It NEVER jams. My Canon printers were
the "touchiest" printers I ever used, you just never knew when they would
start eating paper. They were very frustrating to use, that's why I
switched to Lexmark.

Lexmark started out as the IBM printer division and have continued to make
most of the IBM brand printers after their spin off. I'm pretty sure
Lexmark continues to make printers for Dell and Kodak. They know how to
make a reliable printer.

On the other hand, I would rate my Lexmark a less satisfactory Photo Printer
than my Canons, and the ink cartridges ARE more expensive. Based on my
experience, I would tell you to recheck your expected printing costs and
make sure the photo image from the Lexmark is adequate for your needs, but
if you need a reliable multipurpose printer that does an OK job with photos,
the Lexmark is likely a viable candidate.

(Now that I'm in the market for a photo only printer, I'm back looking at
the Canons because they appear to have the best photo quality. Life is full
of trade-offs)

"frank1492" <frank1492@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:10jer0dtcb9g7d7k3hb46cs9q2h1k8hd3l@4ax.com...
> Couldn't find any professional reviews so thought
> I'd ask here. At first glance, this printer steps all
> over the Epson PictureMate because it is much
> faster, has an LCD image display screen, and
> claims to print at about the same price as the
> Epson "as low as 29 c per print." Still I am wary.
> One non-prof review I saw said the image quality
> was poor compared to the Epson. (Also is the
> P315 connectable to a computer, or do you
> have to write from disc onto a card?) Plus
> Lexmark's overall ratings always seem to come
> in at the bottom of the heap.
> Any comments would be very much appreciated.
> Thanks very much for your help!
> Frank
>
>
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

OOps. Meant the 245.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I am going to give you a good word about Lexmark Frank. My Lexmark X5150 MFP
has performed beyond my expectations. Sure the photo quality may not be as
good as some specialist printers. Provided you use good quality paper and
carefully process your images the end result can be quite good and are good
enough for my family albums etc. In all the quality of prints is usually as
good as I get from the local processor. Additionally I get the added
convenience of the all in one unit (scanner, copier and printer).

I live in a fairly remote area in Australia and the Lexmark Help service is
the best I have encountered with prompt, comprenensive, helpful and
courteous responses. Compare this to the almost rude and sometimes nil
responses I have had from Nikon with my Coolpix 775 problems and I am very
happy.

The cartridges are expensive but they all are and the capacity is good. So I
guess it depends a bit on your requirements but I have certainly obtained
what I hoped for.

Tony from Downunder

"frank1492" <frank1492@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:vmqfr0d2n68ctau97g7ear3blg3mhmd9h2@4ax.com...
> I am really not surprised to hear this- I have never heard
> anybody say a kind word about Lexmark, but was hoping for
> one here.
> I will post a new header inquiring about the HP 275 Photo
> Printer as I think that one may be the one to beat.
> Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. I will stay
> clear of the Lexmark.
> Frank