These cartridges are made by Lexmark and either produced in the UK, Philippines or Assembled in Mexico, which is marked on the box, and are suitable for a large number of printers and all-in-one machines.
The box front is White and Red and shows a picture of the cartridge, underneath the Black and Red Lexmark Trademark. The back of the box has information about the “Superior Print Quality” whilst one side of the box contains details about the ownership of the trademarks, copyright and patents. The other side has a list of the printers the cartridge is compatible with these are:- Lexmark Colour Jetprinter Z13, Z23e, Z25, Z25L, Z33, Z34, Z35 Lexmark Colour Jetprinter Z515, Z600 series Lexmark All-In-One X72, X74, X75, X1100 series Lexmark i3 Compaq IJ650 Hitachi PriusJet
The cartridges are also compatible with some “Dell” Printers (which is not advertised anywhere, presumably because Dell have some kind of deal with Lexmark for the production of their Printers and Cartridges.
The average yield of the cartridge is 1100 pages at 5% coverage on draft quality, 600 pages at 5% coverage on normal print, which when compared with the 205 @ 5% with moderate use cartridge (No 17) is quite a big difference (The moderate use is normally the free cartridge included in the box with a new printer). Although I cannot confirm or deny the actual coverage, I do know that these cartridges last a good time, between 6 & 9 months in our house, depending on the amount of homework done by the kids, and the amount of additional work I do from home.
Due to the wide range of printers covered by the cartridge, when I was looking for a small printer to go with my second computer, I was able to find one (Z605) for less than £30 that uses the same cartridge as my main All-in-One (X75).
According to information on the web, these cartridges contain exclusive super sharp waterproof black ink to deliver high precision dot definition, producing outstanding laser quality text which is waterproof and fade resistant. The ink also claims to be smear resistant and fast drying, with the black being blacker than other brands.
Although I have noticed that the ink does dry fast, I can confirm that if you get the paper wet after printing, the text runs and smears, so I am wondering if this is such a new innovation that my older cartridges are pre this new improved ink. I also wouldn’t say that the print quality is the same as laser, although I do think that is a lot closer than the Cannon I used to have. The black is very black, not a hint of grey that I have noticed with other brands.
Fitting the cartridges is quite easy, although a pair of scissors will be required to snip the thick foil pouch inside the cardboard box. Simply remove the old cartridge, open the new one and remove the sticky tape cover from the nozzle, and click into place, the cartridges and the slots for them are even colour coded so that you ensure you put the black in the black slot and the colour in the colour slot (unless you are unable to differentiate between different shades of green.)
Well, that’s the good news, now for the bad the price. According to Pricestorm.co.uk the Recommended Retail Price is £23.71, whilst the PriceStorm (which is based in the channel Islands and therefore does not charge VAT) Price is £17.10 (plus £1.49 postage per order) now that’s a bit easier to swallow, whereas Dixon’s price is a whopping £29.99 and PC World £20.99.
I think from this we can see that looking round is the best bet, and some retailers have much higher profit margins on cartridges than others.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
It sounds very expensive, I don't print a lot and I have never bought a cartridge for my printer but if it costs as much as that I'd rather get a new printer! Kate xx
sandemp 17.11.2004 23:55
The price of cartridges is the only reason I won't buy lexmark printers
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