Lexmark OfficeEdge Pro5500 Wireless Color Photo Printer with Copier and Fax

10/21/13. Addition: we have 3 of these printers now.30 years of using computers in the office and this is the most useful printer I have ever bought. It is as fast as a home grade laser printer (except for first page out, maybe), it is the easiest to refill (no holes to drill!), it is quiet, it can take a 2nd tray (and if the paper in the other tray is of a different size you don't even need to select the tray, the printer will know from which tray to take the paper. When the output bin is full, it will pause until you empty the bin, which is a neat trick. It can download software to do a variety of useful jobs, for example start one program and it will scan it to a hard drive, e-mail the scan, and copy it, all with one push of a button.There are about 60 different little programs, including one which turns the touch screen into a calculator. It scans and prints two sided. In short, to get a laser printer with all these features, you have to spend more than $1,000 according to our research. You can print from a flash drive or a chip. It can be used wired or wireless or both.As to consumables: the black ink is good for 2600 prints, and I can attest to that, and it's only $36 for a cart, cheaper than my laser printers. There are over two ounces of ink in the black cart. Now given that, many of you know today's ink jets use a little color ink always, and as for my office we print about 1400 sheets a month on this and the color carts need to be refilled about every 3rd time the black gets changed out, even though we print little color. This is typical for a modern ink jet. If you refill using the best ink from a reputable vendor, it will cost about $12-$14. If you buy carts only, each page will cost about 3.5 cents, counting that all colors are used even on black only prints.The construction is outstanding. The trays are made from thick, heavy plastic, and the lid is spring loaded and similarly made from solid materials. There is no need to treat this like other inkjets or cheap laser printers, worrying about this or that plastic doodad snapping off. Closing a paper tray produces a sound not completely different from closing a car door, it feels and is SOLID.One minor annoyance: if you are used to "dumb" printers and you switch papers frequently, note that when you open the tray the software asks you to either confirm you are using the same size paper or to use a menu to pick the size of paper you are inserting. Also, there is no single sheet feeder. If you are someone who needs to rapidly switch between paper, envelopes, and labels, this will not be the printer for you, UNLESS you get the 2nd tray.

Update: It's been a four weeks since my initial review below. The printer is still leaving black edging on the side of the printed page. I hated this printer so much, I gave it away. I will not buy any more multifunction printers - they do not last more than a few years regardless of how much you pay. By the time they break down the manufacturer no longer supports or services the model. This has happened with 2 HP's, and 1 Cannon. This Lexmark is FIRED! I replaced it with a color laser printer.---------------After extensive research, I selected the Lexmark OfficeEdge Pro5500. I've used Cannon and HP multifunction machines. Both were good machines, and easy to use, but didn't last long, so I thought I would try another brand. This was easy for me to setup and the printing was what I expected. i love being able to print from my ipad and iphone. I have not used the fax function. The scanning is ok.The problems: The machine makes arbitrary noise in the middle of the night, so if you don't have a separate office, you may want to rethink this machine. I have mine set up in a corner in the living room. When I am watching TV we are constantly startled by the sudden, rather loud noises from the machine.Second. I've had the machine for longer than three months. I just emptied my first Black ink cartridge. I changed the cartridge and now I keep getting black ink on the very edge to the paper. It is barely visible until you set the page down or touch it and then it smears. It's not the drying time as I printed a sheet, let it set for five minutes, then touched the edge - it smeared and I now have ink on my hands. I tried to do some "quick" troubleshooting. After an hour, it is still doing it, I decided to just print the graphs out at work.The setting for power saving are also arbitrary. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I tried just turning the machine off, but then I had problems and had to fidget with the settings when I turn it back on to get it to work properly again.I tried to like this machine but I am not a fan.

I love this printer, and my wife does, too. First, I was impressed by the quality of the machine: the fit and finish says "this printer was thoughtfully made." I found the set-up to be relatively easy, although other reviewers have disagreed. The software gives step-by-step instructions; I had to uninstall and reinstall once, which I don't consider to be heart-breaking. The printer's "firmware" updated itself at installation, and was recently updated by automatic notification. Likewise, the computer software associated with the printer was just updated by notification. I got my wife a new iPad Mini for Christmas, and before the iPad was received, I was able to update the software so her new iPad could print wirelessly. Out of the box, she was able to print to the Lexmark Pro 5500 flawlessly. It is NOT a small printer, so be sure to check the specs. This printer replaced both my old printer and fax machine, so we saved space. We love it!