Small compact utility printer ...

I bought this printer to replace my broken HP DeskJet 3520. The Lexmark Z1300 has worked well so far without all the paper jams, error messages, running processes and computer hangups I got with the DeskJet.

The install was relatively easy on Windows XP. I am not sure it works on W98 yet. I just used the new XP hardware Wizard and browsed to the XP driver folder on the Lexmark driver CD to install just the driver-- then I did a reboot of XP. If you run"setup" from the CD it installs a lot of software; some which requires you to lower your firewall security settings, disable spy blockers and it installs a photo suite I didn't want. If you try to cancel out of the auto-install the already installed driver is deleted immediately, and the printer will not work. I don't see why a printer driver would require internet access?

The printer driver process "lxdccoms.exe" is installed on the system and given "High" rather than "Normal" priority. I couldn't find any other running printer processes and my XP system runs fine so I am not concerned.

As far as printing costs go I read the Z1300 is ~8 cents per page-- more if you by the re-fillable black ink cartridges. I already had the USB 2 cable and my local Wal*Mart is out of all the black cartridges, so I am using colors which can print black if required.