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"Good printer but the Ink cost is going to get you" on by john_stone
Pros: This is my first wireless and so far it has been nice. I like the desgin and set up. The cost ($80 at Stapples) made me feel like it was a good value ...
Cons: HOWEVER, the black ink ran out fast (2 weeks) after the initial set up. I'm hoping that this is not normal because I looked on-line for discount cartridges and none are out there for this printer. And refill stores won't refill the cartridges either.
Summary: I was looking for a nice basic wireless printer to just print up everyday things at home. I think I found that but in the long run the idea of often having to shell out $16 for the standard cartridge to $25 for the XL one makes the purchase frustrating.
Three stars is way too high for this printer. After going out and buying new ink cartridges which about equals the value of this printer. I'm finding out that it is sucking through the ink even in draft mode and constantly needs to deep clean the printer heads. Even with that it isn't printing clearly. I wish I bought something else.
Updated on Mar 5, 2010 -
"Warning: Add $86 to the price of this printer" on by pjanike
Pros: Fast printing, easy to operate once installed
Cons: The biggest one: Lexmark ships this printer with only enough ink to start using the printer (Their own words)
Additional cons: The wireless connection was not easy to set up, the scanner/copier is not very clear, and the software is mediocreSummary: I bought this printer in part because of it's positive reviews on CNET. I love this site and value the information shared here.
Lexmark shipped the printer with four nearly empty ink cartridges. I bought the printer two weeks ago from Staples. I have printed maybe 5 pages a day on average, and I just bought 4 new ink cartridges. I contacted Lexmark the day I installed the printer because the printer notified me the ink levels were low. The customer service person said our printers are shipped with only enough ink to start using the printer. More like just enough ink to get you past the date when you cannot return the printer.
I contacted Staples and they said it was normal for "low end printers" to be shipped with used cartridges. By the time I found out Lexmark would not send me a new set of cartridges I had already printed 20 or so pages. Staples would not take back the printer.
My advice would be to not purchase ths printer unless it is more than $86 cheaper than -
"Buyer BEWARE!" on by AZRev
Pros: Uh, it looked nice.
Cons: Couldn't get the wireless to work more than 4 times in a 24 hour period. Probably tried 7 or 8 times.
Summary: I see three other reviewers like this printer but I had to reload the software 3 times to use the wireless to print 4 times. Was on phone with tech support for an HOUR and he couldn't figure it out. (He was obviously in India and had a hard time understanding him. Nice guy, though) He eventually blamed it on my router even though I told him my laptop could see my wireless network. Went back to HP. Had no problem with their wireless Photosmart! Been working fine from the get-go. Oh, when the Lexmark did print, there were three letters that were smudged. I printed again thinking it would correct but no, same bad print job. Couldn't believe how poorly this printer worked.
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"Prints great but lexmark screws you on cartridges." on
Pros: I like the wireless and the speed of printing. We make lots of copies and it does that very well.
Cons: The Ink for this printer is hard to find AND non-refillable by ANYONE. I am very disappointed that they felt obligated to make life hard for normal people who are now REQUIRED to buy 30 and 50 dollar XL carts. as the little ones run out in ten pages.
Summary: Great printer from a greedy manufacturer. Not satisfied with well earned dominance in inexpensive quality printers, they made it so nobody can refill the ink in a bad economy. I was initially very happy with this unit but now I feel vaguely screwed. My old X1270 went bad and I went to the company I trusted to get a new one and they took my wallet hostage for new ink. Their "return program" sounds nice until you realize you are giving them YOUR cartridge an get nothing for it which they refill and proudly offer to SELL it back to you for FULL RETAIL VALUE. I went to the only store I have seen Cartridges in and bought XL carts for it as the dinky ones run out in less time than it took me to drive to the store to buy them. The XL carts are what we USED to call normal carts. Apparently "stiff the consumer" is Lexmark's new policy.
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"Great all in one printer / copier / scanner" on by bobbyb0322
Pros: Wifi, Copier, Print Quality
Cons: If anything I wish it had a fax option on it.
Summary: Bought this as an impulse buy when I bought a new netbook. Retailer had $60 off select printers with purchase of a computer and it was on sale that week for $69 so I only paid $10. Expectations were low due to this but man was I happy with what I got. The quality of this printer is outstanding. The unit feels very solid where lots of printers feel very cheaply made. Wifi was setup quickly and my entire house (PC, Laptop, and Netbook) are all connected wirelessly. Ink replacement for this model is cheap (I have found black ink for around $15).
Lexmark Impact S305 user reviews
