 
ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Bridgeport, WV
clubs:
 ·VOIPo
| Without users knowledge.... Whether for survey use or plain out spying, if they do not inform the end user up front then it is SPYWARE. People have a right to privacy, but it is apparent that all corporations have forgotten that these days until one of their executives is put in the spotlight for wrong doing. Then THEY want to claim privacy and everything else.
I think it is time for someone to step in and put an end to this once and for all. | |
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somebodeez
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-24
here
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
| Re: Without users knowledge.... said by ropeguru  :Whether for survey use or plain out spying, if they do not inform the end user up front then it is SPYWARE. People have a right to privacy, but it is apparent that all corporations have forgotten that these days until one of their executives is put in the spotlight for wrong doing. Then THEY want to claim privacy and everything else. I think it is time for someone to step in and put an end to this once and for all. I agree with you 100% ! | |
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Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
 ·Qwest.net
1 edit | Re: Without users knowledge.... Ditto! I never have liked Lexmark for their use of DCMA to try to stop after market cartridge makers making cartridges for their printers.
I wonder who else might be doing this, HP?, Epson?
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Real Men use Vacuum tubes, 25 pound filament transformers, and plate voltages no less then 2400 volts...BPL I'm coming to get you
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| | | computerman2
Premium
join:2002-04-20
Rockwood, MI | Re: Without users knowledge.... Hi
I have a Lexmark Z53 Printer, I always allowed those files when I had Zonealarm in, but I don't anymore, I think this might be my last Lexmark printer though after finding this out. | |
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JoeOnSunset
Doublethink Is Doubleplus Ungood.
Premium
join:2002-11-25
Ormond Beach, FL
| I'm suprised Epson found it necessary to conceal this behavior. Atleast some if not all new HP printers come with this function under user notice and control. It connects to the HP website and allows the user keep track of and project cartridge and paper use. | |
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Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
·Qwest.net
| Re: Without users knowledge.... Now that you mention it, Yes, I did notice this when I first set up My HP 5550. I didn't select this option but I did think it was rather clever that the printer would order it's own consumables as needed. But with an OfficeMax a short distance away there was no need. But If I lived in perhaps Guernsey, Wyoming which is a small community with population of about 1000 and a long history, 115 miles north of Cheyenne I would make use of this.
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Real Men use Vacuum tubes, 25 pound filament transformers, and plate voltages no less then 2400 volts...BPL I'm coming to get you | |
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PatientGuy
I'M Way Deep Into Nothing Special
Premium
join:2000-12-11
Arlington, VA
clubs: | To discourage Lexmark and any other company from planting spyware I suggest a boycott of Lexmark products. I'm telling my friends and customers not to buy Lexmark. | |
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ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Bridgeport, WV
clubs: | Re: Without users knowledge.... Agreed. I know of a few companies that use them quite often. TIme to inform them of this info being sent without out their knowledge and get them to buy HP's.  | |
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| | Timemark
join:2004-11-13
Oregon City, OR
| Boycotts are need against this company for other reasons as well - they never sent me a $50.00 rebate on a printer I bought at Costco even after the Costco manager sent them a letter stating that it was due. They kept coming back wanting more pieces of the box until they had the whole damn thing - and still no rebate!!! These are not good people! | |
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asdasdf
@wotnoh.ameritech | Re: Without users knowledge.... No, the MS provided firewall does not do anything about outbound connections...hence it is not that useful. | |
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| rboe18
join:2004-05-19
Everett, WA | i already stay away from lexmark, hp too. their inkjet cartridges are rediculously overpriced. i was happy when my hp broke down, and bought a canon. better quality prints at a fraction of the price. | |
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F14b0mbk4t
Walmart Is 73h L337 Yo'
Premium
join:2004-11-11
Above | HP Printers All The Way HP printers all the way! | |
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Defcon888
Premium
join:2003-07-22
San Bruno, CA | Hm... I don't have that directory, nor do I get outbound or inbound connections for my Lexmark software that came with my Lexmark X83 printer..
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defcon888@gmail.com | I Love Microsoft Internet Explorer! | |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
1 edit | Re: Hm... said by Defcon888 :I don't have that directory, nor do I get outbound or inbound connections for my Lexmark software that came with my Lexmark X83 printer.. Same here with my X75... 
EDIT: Nothing in my firewall logs about anything Lexmark ever even asking for access...
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Nuke 'em all, let God sort 'em out. | |
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| | computerman2
Premium
join:2002-04-20
Rockwood, MI
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: Hm... I don't have that directory either, but I'm sure Zonealarm alerted on the lexmark files for server access, which I allowed then, since I figured it wouldn't work without it, had it that way until I removed zonealarm, when i got tired of it..Next printer for me will be HP | |
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| bmn
? ? ?
Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus | Same here... Using a Z53 from about two years ago...
Of course I installed only the driver and none of the "control" software. | |
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Defcon888
Premium
join:2003-07-22
San Bruno, CA | Re: Hm... I installed the software that came with my printer because I use the scanner. If I didn't use the scanner, I'd probably just go with the basic driver.
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defcon888@gmail.com | I Love Microsoft Internet Explorer! | |
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| | | rip_sketches
join:2002-05-25
Dallas, GA | Re: Hm... Nearly almost ANY paint/photo program can capture from a scanner. Always check the import settings in that program.
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Rcdude10tc32
Eat Mcdonalds, Die Happy
join:2003-04-10
Cary, IL | Lexmark Ethernet Also the printers that have built in networking capabilities. That would be no problem to send over an internet ready network. | |
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Lurch77
Stop looking at me.
Premium
join:2001-11-22
+44.88-87.89 | Canon > Lexmark Have never liked Lexmark anyway. Been very happy with my Canon printers.
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"If guns cause crime, all mine must be defective." ~ Ted Nugent | |
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WhyADuck
Premium
join:2003-03-05 | Re: Canon > Lexmark Agreed on Canon, they have worked well for me also. | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| said by Lurch77 :Have never liked Lexmark anyway. Been very happy with my Canon printers. I agree... with personal experience and 3 printer salespeople telling me lexmarks suck, I will never buy them!
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! | |
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| | computerman2
Premium
join:2002-04-20
Rockwood, MI
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: Canon > Lexmark I agree now as well, this is my second lexmark, and is my last one. I never ever buying Lexmark again. I wish I could afford to get rid of it now, and get me an HP, Canon or Epson. Plus it don't work on USB connection worth the junk, and won't print banners.
This is the last straw them monitoring whatever it is they monitor. | |
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| | | Flizesh
Premium
join:2003-08-16
Staten Island, NY
clubs: | Re: Canon > Lexmark yep Lexmark blows, aside from this crap, they are really shitty printers. | |
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| | | | robie88
join:2003-04-19
New York, NY
| Re: Canon > Lexmark anyone finding something like this with the Dell-branded Lexmark printers? I've seen some Lexmark stuff from my Dell printer that shows up on my firewall software but I always figured that had more to do with local network access than spyware. Now I'm not so sure.
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The best things in life are free...(after rebate and free shipping!) | |
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Maxeh
Woot?
Premium
join:2002-12-23
Chicago, IL
clubs:
·DSL EXTREME
| Re: Canon > Lexmark i have an HP printer and an Epson one. Love them both. ^_^ lexmark sux..we have several of the laser ones at school..they are being repaired constantly
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If you want a Microsft product that doesn't suck, wait untill the day they make vaccum cleaners. »www.boxofhate.com | |
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richk_1957
If ..Then..Else
Premium
join:2001-04-11
Minas Tirith
2 edits | Since the printers that come bundled with Dell packages [and directly from the Dell store] are just Lexmark printers, with the Dell logo replacing the Lexmark one, I would block anything going to Lexmark [I don't have to worry - I have a HP printer]
And I pose a question - for straight printing, for home or small office use, why would a printer need to access the network/internet?
And no matter what the use of programs that report back to the manufacturer, be it for survey or marketing purposes, if the user is not informed of it and allowed to disable it - that is spyware | |
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jsinaiko
Premium
join:2001-04-25
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: Canon > Lexmark I experienced this less than 24 hours ago.
I had reformatted a client's machine (Gateway P-III)due to total inundation with spyware and pop-ups and re-installed everything. When I was hooking up her Lexmark Z-63 (I think that's what it was) all-in-one, ZoneAlarm kept on asking for the frigging printer to access the Internet! Of course, being an ignorant fool I allowed it. This was yesterday afternoon, so this thread arrived about 12 hours too late. I should have just sussed it out on my own. I'll be more careful next time.
I doubt this client cares one way or the other, but it is pretty creepy of Lexmark to do this. I too have never much liked Lexmarks. Had a cheap one a few years ago (model 1100) and it clapped out pretty quickly. I've been much happier with Canon and HP. | |
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Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
·Qwest.net
| The thing that I hate about Dell branded Lexmark printers is they have the chip on the cartridge fixed so if you put a non-Dell branded cartridge in it it will not work correctly if at all, even the Lexmark branded version.
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Real Men use Vacuum tubes, 25 pound filament transformers, and plate voltages no less then 2400 volts...BPL I'm coming to get you | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| NetBeui the Answer? Maybe if you hooked the Lexmark printer to an unused Windows computer whose only network connection was handled by NetBeui (rather than TCP/IP) you could still use the printer with other networked computers but it would not be able to send squat to Lexmark.
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! | |
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Jeremy341
Bye
Premium
join:2000-01-06
localhost | Re: NetBeui the Answer? Or you could just not buy crappy Lexmark printers, and forget about this problem altogether. But that would be too easy...
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I do not trust Firefox. Spread anything besides that horrid piece of crap. | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| Re: NetBeui the Answer? said by Jeremy341 :Or you could just not buy crappy Lexmark printers, and forget about this problem altogether. But that would be too easy... Agreed, but one cannot call himself or herself an engineer without coming up with an overly complex and unworkable solution first
But I figure this solution can also apply for other printers which behave badly.
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! | |
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Jeremy341
Bye
Premium
join:2000-01-06
localhost
| Re: NetBeui the Answer? said by pnh102 :this solution can also apply for other printers which behave badly. Thankfully, as far as anyone knows, no other printers do.
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I do not trust Firefox. Spread anything besides that horrid piece of crap. | |
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| scomps
join:2001-06-05
Utica, NY
| said by pnh102 :Maybe if you hooked the Lexmark printer to an unused Windows computer whose only network connection was handled by NetBeui (rather than TCP/IP) you could still use the printer with other networked computers but it would not be able to send squat to Lexmark. Or just locate the hostname of the server the printer is trying to talk to and add it to your HOSTS file. I like to use 0.0.0.0 so it doesn't try to connect to my local machines. If it tries to connect to an IP address, things might be a bit more difficult, but I'm sure a lot of the folks around here have ways around that.
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Scott Johnson -- developer of MWall. Contact me for more information. | |
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peepingtomia
@comcast.net | Where's my paddle? Time to spank my printer! | |
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vijaynaik3
join:2004-10-09
Franklin, TN | Dell Have the same problem with a Dell printer. Norton kept on warning me about a Lexmark printer. Finally figured out that Dell rebadged the Lexmark. Is there anyway of stopping this permanently ? | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| Re: Dell
Kills hackers dead? |
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| | computerman2
Premium
join:2002-04-20
Rockwood, MI
·AT&T Midwest
| Lexmark Printers Spy On You What my major concern with this is what in the world are they even doing monitoring what there customers do with there printers in the first place, secondly I bought this printer new in January of 2001, and by September I think it was, it was discontinued already, plus had replaced once to short in the electric power cord, I should've smarten up then and gotten an HP.
Third I share this lexmark on the house network, and kinda worried now that every machine has the same drivers that calls out on them..(only machine that can run a firewall is mine) I blocked it with Norton, so far it lets me print as normal. Unknown if any other parts of it are calling home though, since I don't want to run a full personal firewall. | |
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| | | rip_sketches
join:2002-05-25
Dallas, GA
| Re: Lexmark Printers Spy On You quote:
What my major concern with this is what in the world are they even doing monitoring what there customers do with there printers in the first place..
Possibly they use it to collect information on what you are printing. But better yet.
said by the crazy guy writing this thing:
Dons Tinfoil Hat
It could be a pre-designed fallback on their losing the lawsuit thing. Insert a non-Lexmark branded cartridge, it sends your IP and cartridge info back to Lexmark, they see its not theirs, they send a packet back to Zap your printer out of commission.
Dang, now you just have to go buy a whole new one. But Lexmarks are already the price of a new ink cartridge plus or minus a few bucks. So you buy one of those. When the piddly starter ink runs out you insert the off-brand you had recently bought and hardly used.. Zap..
(rinse, repeat) | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| said by computerman2 :What my major concern with this is what in the world are they even doing monitoring what there customers do with there printers in the first place Like any other computer-related company, they are probably testing the waters to see what kind of monitoring BS they can get away with. If few customers complain and/or bolt to a different printer manufaturer who doesn't do monitoring, the more likely they will make this a standard "feature" on their newer models. And unlike what a previous poster mentioned, there probably won't be any way to disable it at that point.
said by computerman2 :Third I share this lexmark on the house network, and kinda worried now that every machine has the same drivers that calls out on them.. Maybe my tinfoil hat is really showing here, but the day when hardware companies limit your ability to network printers (lest you buy a "business" printer) soon at hand?
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! | |
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tspencer
join:2002-05-28
Lexington, KY
| Come on People Most of you are ranting about something you dont even have first hand experience on. It only is implemented on recent models and the first time you use the printer THEY ASK FOR YOUR PERMISSION. Even if you goof up and say yes IT CAN BE DISABLED VERY EASILY. Even though most people dislike the company this has gotten way out of hand and half of it is made up. | |
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| tspencer
join:2002-05-28
Lexington, KY
| Re: Come on People For those who wish to disable this through lexmark software.
1. Open Lexmark Solution Center
2. Go to the Advanced tab.
3. Press the Lexmark Connect button.
4. Disable participation in OPTIONAL PROGRAM.
not hard people. | |
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madderhatter
Premium
join:2003-11-25
Tallahassee, FL
| Speaking of HP ... I check my firewall logs daily, to see if anything suspicious went on the night before. Usually one PC (the one that collects the logs) runs 24-7 and it goes out early in the AM to get the latest virus signatures and check a couple of other things as well. I'm used to seeing its IP in there a few times over the course of a night. One day I noticed another IP going out to the web early in the morning. I went to the IP it was going to and it was a sub-site of HP. The felon in question was my HP Print Server ! Yep, the print server box was phoning home on it's own. Go figure. I didn't dig to deep into it and just blocked that IP (static) from having web access on any port. Of course since then it hasn't happened again but I think I'll dig a little deeper now to see what was up.
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Entice the enemy, feign disorder, and crush them. | |
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HappyBunny
Hi. Cram It.
Premium
join:2001-06-23
Long Beach, CA
·Charter Pipeline
| Re: Speaking of HP ... I have a Lexmark connected to a Mac. Because its a Mac, that stupid communication to the mother ship is not installed. One of the many joys of having a Mac is that there are far fewer spyware programs that install themselves on it. If you are a privacty freak, stop using Windows. Simple.
BTW, I like my Lexmark Z65 very much. I hate Epsons--had a 777i that didn't even print 100 pages before it died. We have a Stylus 1280 at work that could not work any more horribly--it has come within a hair's breadth of sailing thru the window.
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Time for another tea party! | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| Re: Speaking of HP ... said by HappyBunny :One of the many joys of having a Mac is that there are far fewer spyware programs that install themselves on it. If you are a privacty freak, stop using Windows. Simple. Don't get too complacent. I am sure that as more and more Windows machines/users become immune to spyware, the spyware companies will no doubt move to the Mac and Linux platforms.
The fact that some viruses for the Mac already do exist is proof that Mac users are just as prone to viruses as Windows users. There just isn't as large of a "market" for Mac viruses (yet).
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! | |
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madderhatter
Premium
join:2003-11-25
Tallahassee, FL
| Re: Speaking of HP ... Personally, I know quite a few people that own and use Macs that are complete idiots when it comes to anything tougher than clicking here or there. Whether you use Win or Mac makes absolutely no difference concerning who's going to open what type of attachment. Macs will, in time, become just as vulnerable as Win boxes. It's just like Linux - at first they had virtually no known vulnerabilities, but now they're starting to get their share of them as their market share increases and the blackhats become more interested. Even though I'm on XP I would have to say one of the most secure OSs out there right now is any of the number of flavors of BSD - FreeBSD specifically. From a security standpoint I would put a BSD box up against a Mac any day of the week.
For e-mail security just use a text-based client, such as Pine or any of the others and block attachments as a start. Not much fun, but hey ...
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Entice the enemy, feign disorder, and crush them. | |
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jap
Premium
join:2003-08-10
038xx
·RoadRunner Cable
| Can't kill the processes in TaskManager ... .... and the printer has been uninstalled for months. Worst damn drivers & interface I've ever seen, too. (Lexmark x75) | |
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| | Galvage
join:2004-02-11
Taconite, MN
| Re: Can't kill the process? Kill the service! Anything under 200 bucks nowdays pretty much sucks. Canon has always given me driver issues and thier ink along with heads and support for some reason has never been friendly to me, HP has always been easy to use but lately they've been upping the overall cost per page. Epson makes great photo printers but again the ink cost is rather high.
The last good inkjets for everyday use under 250 were probably the Epson Stylus Color 980 and any HP that used that 42ml 45A Black ink tank.
I'm a power printing user thus I like printers that can print forever on a set of inks.
However lately HP did produce thier 1100D I think it is that s only like 200-250 bucks and allows for the monster ink tank.
Also just a sidenote not all lexmark printers suck. Thier High end office printers really are second to none. | |
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Grail Knight
Who Dares Wins
Premium
join:2003-05-31
·Verizon Online DSL
| Eye-Printer-Spy My good not that old Epson Stylus Color 600. Still chugging away on the sub $4 refills I feed it once in awhile. Hardly ever a hiccup as long as I dust it once in awhile and feed it paper.
Spying printers is a shame and that right there should tell any user to stay away from that Company. Of course as long as there are users that think AOL is the only ISP then they will buy Lexmark products. | |
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neilbdm
join:2004-11-18
BT23 7PH
|  Lexmark software monitors printer usage
(i've refilled it & unblocked it, & taken it out several times - only the black cart., but both stopped working completely. the colour one worked again when i told the printer it was "new", but then stopped again)
been on to their tech. "help" who told me to buy a new cartridge | |
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Lexmark Printers Spy on You
(sry, just had to say that)
Can't kill the process? Kill the service!