Lexmark X83 Scanner-Printer-Copier

After comparing the Lexmark X83 at a CompUSA with the comparable HP, we chose to purchase it. In short, we have been very pleased with it. For reference, our previous printer was a Lexmark 3200 which we also bought for its value.

The print quality is fantastic, with a stunning high-end of 2400x1200. On Kodak photo-paper, the images are amazingly vibrant and life-like.

B/W printing is very fast and crisp at the default we set (600x600 on plain paper). It looks at least as good as the office HP laser printer, although that might have to do with the better paper we use at home. I prefer the Lexmark technology to the HP REt; it seems to make small letters more readable.

Others have written about the X83 not being networkable, and that is my biggest gripe. I "solved" this by connecting the printer to my USB hub on the desk top, instead of the USB port in the back of the computer. I unplug the printer from the hub and attach it to my laptop when I want to print from the...Read more

I wrote a lengthy review for this printer. I don't know where it went. I do not understand how the other reviewers don't see this as a far superior printer to the competition. Do yourself a favor, and go into your local office supply store, take a full color picture advertisement from any available in the store. Put it in the X83 and Color copy it. Then do the same for every other machine out there, ESPECIALLY THE HP's. No contest, the Lexmark is superior scan and print quality. The colors are fuller, richer, truer. HP has a history of reliability problems. If you do not believe me, simply check out the reviews on their regular printers especially the CSE models. I bought one, for 400 dollars and got burnt. It worked for 6 months of occassional use, then was replaced with a refurb from HP, and that one gave me 6 months and two weeks. Just enough time to no longer qualify for the one year warranty. 400 bucks???????
My brother has the HP 950 multi-function. We have run it though...Read more

Shopping for a low-cost multifunction machine? Then you'd better be ready to compromise. At the low end, you must choose between flatbed scanning and full-featured faxing, between speed and price. If you're on a budget, and you think that faxes are best handled by fax machines, then the X83 is an excellent choice.

At my local retailer, the only other machine in this price range was the HP PSC 500 (excluding a few offerings from the Xerox SOHO division, which no longer exists). The X83 beat the PSC 500 hands down in all of my experiments, with better color imaging on photos and 3-D objects and faster, quieter printing. The Lexmark has other nice features, from separate controls for color and monochrome copying to an easily accessible cartridge area.

Like another reviewer, I also compared the X83 to the HP PSC 750 (which, though reasonably priced, was outside my budget). Here HP closed the gap (product specifications aside). I did not notice a substantial difference in quality, but...Read more