Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

• Buying Norton 360? Read the fine print

  Date: 2010.05.18 | Category: Reviews, Shopping | Response: 3

   

  

  The Norton 360 Interface....post subscription.

  Norton 360 is considered to be the top ranked security suite for computers. And one that impacts system performance in a very minimal way.   

  But here’s what the “fine print” on a retail box of Norton 360 reads like:

  ‡1 Year Protection: With this service, you receive the right to use this product on one PC or on the specified number of PCs during the service period, which begins upon initial installation and activation. This renewable service includes protection updates and new product features as available throughout the service period, subject to acceptance of the Symantec License Agreement included with this product and available for review at www.symantec.com. Product features may be added, modified, or removed during the service period.

  In other words, Norton 360 is not software. It is “rentware.” You get to use it for a specified period of time. After that, it becomes the software equivalent of a paperweight. To make sure that it does so, Norton comes with a comprehensive online license activation service, that $tart$ a countdown to the next renewal date.

  This is a departure from Norton’s previous policies. For example, previous versions of Norton Internet Security allowed to software to still be used after the license had expired. Only the customer’s access to updated virus definitions was disabled after the license expired.

  In Norton 360, once the one year license expires,

  1. The antivirus protection ceases downloading updates (obviously).
  2. You can no longer run scans on the computer (But I should be able to using my previous updates).
  3. The antivirus protection ceases to protect the computer (Antivirus protection can still be very potent without updates).
  4. You can no longer run backups on the computer (using Norton 360).
  5. You can no longer set Norton parental controls.
  6. You can no longer run the Norton start-up manager (which is a bundled utility).
  7. The Norton firewall turns off (Back to Windows Firewall!).
  8. Nearly all product functionality is lost.

  Even non-security items, such as a password manager that comes bundled with Norton 360, denies you access to the website passwords you have stored in it. Bear in mind that this is a local utility that does not use Norton’s network services.

  

  Norton Identity Safe....Post Subscription

  When purchasing boxed versions of software at retail outlets (at a premium price) it is assumed that the customer is taking ownership of the software, not “renting” it. And even if the terms of the fine print are to be applied, the customer does “own” the updates downloaded over the subscription period, and has the right to use them even after the subscription period has expired. And of course, he or she still has the right to use the software as it came, minus any new updates. For example, if you purchased a boxed version of Windows 95, you can still use it on a computer, even though that may not be a good idea. And you don’t expect Microsoft to disable the product.

  Norton 360’s “rentware” agreement enforcement ironically endangers the security of computers it vouches to protect. For example, lets suppose that you cannot renew your subscription because you are in a foreign country and do not have access to your credit card. Or lets suppose you don’t want to pay the full price for a new subscription, and instead you are waiting for retail stores to slash prices on the boxed versions of Norton 360. Until you renew the subscription, your computer will be left vulnerable, without any kind of antivirus protection.

  Depending on how angry this post makes you, you may switch to a free antivirus software. Or you may abandon Windows altogether, given the fact that when you pay Norton, you are paying for covering Windows vulnerabilities even though Windows is offering free antivirus to cheer you up.

  What will you do?

  • Stick with Norton, its well worth the money.
  • I will not consider Norton again
  • Enough, I am switching from Windows

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• Techtangerine reviews the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1a

  Date: 2010.03.28 | Category: Reviews | Response: 0

   

   

  Sony Ericsson’s first attempt at a Windows Mobile smartphone may have not garnered much fanfare. But for those who do not live on planet iPhone, it remains a significant development. The XPERIA X1a brings out the best in Sony Ericsson hardware, while also highlighting the limitations of Windows Mobile 6.1 (and the XPERIA’s valiant efforts in overcoming them).

  The Good

  To start with, the XPERIA X1a is not a smartphone. Its more like a micro-netbook. It comes with a 528MHz processor (iPhone: 412MHz) and 256MB RAM (iPhone: 128MB). Its beautiful 800 x 480 resolution display (iPhone: 320 x 480) uses WVGA technology that is used in netbooks to render pages on small screens. Unlike the iPhone, the XPERIA X1a can be considered very well suited for multitasking.

  One of the main attractions of the XPERIA X1a is a keyboard that has not gone to the touchscreen. The phone features a thoughtfully crafted keyboard, complete with backlighting. In my opinion, a touchscreen keyboard can never fully substitute a physical keyboard, no matter how brilliantly made. And the XPERIA keyboard is near identical in layout to laptop keyboards (except for the numbers). There is nothing like the feeling of your fingers tapping qwerty while you only look at the screen. For basic functions, sliding out the keyboard is not necessary. The 6 buttons on the phone’s face, the “optical joystick,” and the touchscreen are more than sufficient.

  The Panels, which have been a major selling point for the XPERIA X1a have a lot of potential. Simply put, a panel is a fully customizable home screen. By default, Windows Mobile offers a customizable “Today” screen. But the customization options are limited. The XPERIA X1a comes loaded with several panels, and even more are available for download. Since the phone screen is the first point of interaction with the phone, using panels can change the way you interact with your phone. Panels allow creation of shortcuts to commonly used programs, display of RSS feeds and weather updates, display of calendar entries as well as unlimited color and wallpaper options. Sony Ericsson offers its Panel SDK for third party developers, which means a wide variety of panels will continue to be offered. The Panels have now ported over to other HTC WinMo phones too! The Panels allow overcoming some of the limitations of Windows Mobile 6.1. For example, instead of diving through a dizzying array of menus and windows to find different communication options, they can be made to appear on your panel/home screen. Initially, there was some lag when the panels were switched or when they changed to landscape mode when the keyboard was pulled out. But this appears to have been corrected in a Sony Ericsson update.

  

  The Goodies

  The XPERIA X1a comes loaded with Microsoft Office Mobile 6.1 (2007) which includes Excel, OneNote, Word and Powerpoint.  

  The XPERIA X1a also comes with Adobe Reader LE for mobile, that allows all the functionality of the standard Adobe Reader.

  For PIM fanatics, the XPERIA X1a allows for seamless synchronization with a Windows PC (Sorry Mac users). This can be even done over Bluetooth. Bluetooth on a typical Windows computer has the ActiveSync provision used by WinMo smartphones, allowing exceptionally seamless Bluetooth synchronization.

  A generic microSD card can be separately purchased to increase onboard storage space (Not possible on the iPhone).

  The XPERIA X1a can undergo a SIM unlock at the electronics boutique in your local Chinatown. Typical of GSM phones, the XPERIA X1a’s SIM locking mechanism is a hardware based permutation of the IMEI number. And I have been told that even a firmware upgrade does not revert the SIM lock. In contrast, the mean people at Cupertino have put a SIM lock on the iPhone that requires the original software to be “jailbroken” by a third party software, and re-jailbroken when a firmware upgrade is applied to the iPhone. There have been cases where jail breaking has caused the iPhone OS to act buggy. Initially, the XPERIA X1a was offered on Sony USA’s website unlocked! But this quickly came to an end, possibly from pressure from carriers.

  The 3.2 Megapixel camera comes with flash! Video recording capacity is only limited by the size of the storage card. Since Sony’s primary business is its Cybershot cameras, the camera has superior image quality. To catch a glimpse of the exceptional video quality produced, check this Youtube video.

  The bundled Opera browser allows for full screen browsing, and computer-like rendering of complete web pages. When browsing, tapping the stylus or pressing the volume button allows one to zoom in and out of web pages.

  The Not-so-Good

  Windows Mobile 6.1 was built for styluses and keys, not human fingers. And thus, the XPERIA X1a also comes with a stylus. This drawback is exceptionally noticeable when searching for contacts. You really need to whip out the stylus for performing this feat unless you are used to using the “optical joystick.” (The fix: purchase and download Touch Contact from the Windows Mobile Marketplace).

  Detractors may argue that a stylus has its own merits, and can save more time than thumbing a touchscreen. I would agree when it comes to taking handwritten notes. Nothing can be as fast as the stylus on a touchscreen. The XPERIA X1a features Microsoft Outlook Notes, that can be used to jot down freeform handwriting, sketches and diagrams.

  The XPERIA X1a can synchronize emails, contacts, notes, calendar entries and tasks ONLY with Microsoft Outlook, that is NOT included in the economical student edition of Microsoft Office. Unless you have Microsoft Outlook for Windows, you may be bereft of key synchronization options. Although you can still “browse” the phone from your computer (which iPhone won’t allow).

  When taking still images with the camera, the lack of a software based image stabiliser becomes apparent. Still images often turn out shaky. Lets hope they fix it in a software update.

  It should be noted that the XPERIA X1a comes with A-GPS, that is dependent on having a network based data connection. This is not an independent GPS device.

  The XPERIA X1a deserves care. While I do not have lab tests to supplement my claim, I am sure that Sony Ericsson, and its XPERIA maker, HTC, do not have as much of a reputation for ruggedness as Nokia. But with its replaceable battery, an XPERIA X1a may outlast an iPhone.

  Must Gets (and not-Gets) for new owners

  Windows Mobile 6.1 does not come with Windows Mobile Marketplace. You must manually download and install it to take advantage of Microsoft’s answer to the iPhone app store.

  The XPERIA X1a has an annoying tendency of its screen shutting off to save power, even during calls (ROM version 1.05.631.10; 04/23/2009). This can be corrected by installing a third party application called XperiaTweak, and customizing some options within XperiaTweak.

  WiFiFoFum is a free Windows Mobile application that estimates the approximate location of Wi-Fi networks in the vicinity.

  Do not uninstall the Windows Live program from your XPERIA X1a in favour of the one available on Windows Mobile Marketplace. The later versions no longer carry instant messaging because of carrier restrictions. Greedy carriers want you to use their own IM applications so that they can charge SMS rates per IM, even though IMs are not SMSs.

  The Wish List

  Without the bundled Opera browser, mobile browsing would be pretty much dead on the XPERIA X1a (Internet Explorer Mobile is suited for WAP sites, and cannot do the full page rendering Opera does). It would be great to use Firefox Mobile on the XPERIA X1a when it comes to Windows Mobile. 

  Given its premium price, users may expect Sony Ericsson to offer timely updates to the XPERIA X1a. While Sony Ericsson does provide timely updates to firmware, XPERIA-specific add-ons and Panels, they won’t be facilitating an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5. This is the part where you will miss the iPhone, which allows its all of its users to upgrade to the latest iPhone OS. Windows Mobile 6.5 will only be coming to the XPERIA X2. But why settle for Windows Mobile 6.5 when Windows Phone 7 is on the Horizon? Sadly, an XPERIA with Windows Phone 7 may never be (unless you know how to hack ROMs). Sadly, the XPERIA X10 has switched to Android because Google has managed to cuckold Sony Ericsson wireless carriers into doing so. In my opinion, Android has yet to grow up. And Android uses the controversial cloud computing model for PIM synchronization with Google’s online services.

  The Verdict

  The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1a is an ideal smartphone for anyone that has a beef with the iPhone’s smartphone capability. It has high performance hardware, boasts a physical keyboard, and according to some, is a stunner. The Panels are indeed a revolutionary concept that can change our interaction with smartphones. Because of its superior hardware, even the outdated Windows Mobile 6.1 fails to turn everything sluggish, and instead exceeds performance expectations. But it would be a delight to have Windows Phone 7 on the XPERIA X1a.

  Essential Links

  These are the links that both XPERIA X1a owners and potential owners can’t do without.

  The Official XPERIA blog: Finally, an official blog to refute/confirm claims of all the other blogs.

  PlayNow: Sony Ericsson’s website for its phone users, which features additional XPERIA panels available for download.

  The XPERIA X1a product website: Straight from the horse’s mouth.

  Freeware PocketPC: Tonnes of freeware for Windows Mobile.

  Jenn Lee’s 15 tips for new XPERIA X1a users: Covers some essential tweaking.

  Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1a @ Wikipedia: Nothing to be said.

  What do you think of the XPERIA X1a?

  • As good as Windows Mobile gets (for the time being)
  • Better than the iPhone
  • Not as good as the iPhone
  • Needs refinement
  • Not worth it without Windows Phone 7 OS

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• What is a Creative Commons License and why you should use one

  Date: 2009.12.03 | Category: How to, Reviews | Response: 0

  According to Canadian Copyright Law, any piece of writing you produce, any photo you take, or any image or video you create becomes copyrighted to you automatically. No formal copyright notice or a © is required, although it does help to include one. Neither are you required to submit a formal claim of copyright to a state agency.

  The purpose of the Copyright Act is to protect the intellectual property of the Copyright holder. The Copyright Act also has a “Fair Dealing” clause that allows limited reproduction of copyrighted work, provided that the reproduction does not border on infringement. This “Fair Dealing” provision is situation-specific and technically difficult to enforce.

  With the rise of digital media and the Internet, reproducing copyrighted material has become stupendously easy. A photo posted on Facebook can find its way all across the Internet. A video posted on YouTube may spur several remixes when it gets popular. A well written blog post may be extensively quoted by other bloggers, sometimes in its entirety.

  The creators of such digital content generally frown on any kind of reproduction whatsoever as it can open the possibility of copyright abuse. On the other side, those that seek to reproduce copyrighted digital content clamour around the Fair Dealing clause, sometimes stretching it into a wormhole when their purposes go beyond “Fair Dealing.” 

  If you create digital content, and if you acknowledge (and maybe appreciate) the easily reproducible nature of digital media, you can modify your traditional copyright to be less adversarial towards those who will share your content by using a Creative Commons License. There are several reasons why you may want to use this tool.

  1. Outlining the rules for reproducing your content can give your content more exposure. This can be critical to if your profession depends upon exposure of your content, such as the profession of photography and blogging. Google® Image Search and Flickr® have the ability to restrict searches to content that is licensed under Creative Commons. This gives people immediate access to content that they can readily incorporate into their work.
  2. Being vague about the rules for reproducing your content can scare people from making “Fair Use” of it. People may assume that you intend to bring down the hammer of the Copyright Law on any kind of use, and may avoid your content altogether. It is not prudent to assume that most people have the time to email you for clarification.
  3. Setting out the rules for reproducing your content under a Creative Commons License can inhibit misuse of your content in some situations. While a Creative Commons License does not override the Fair Dealing provision of the Copyright Act, it makes your specifics clear for those intending to use your content. For example, if you use a Creative Commons license that prohibits commercial reproduction and reproduction without attribution to your name, those that intend to use your content will have clear guidelines to go by.

  A Creative Commons License can be applied to almost all kinds of digital content, and even software code! But for the sake of example, we will assume that we intend to use a Creative Commons License on a digital image that accompanies a blog post.

  The Creative Commons website gives us a tool that allows us to generate a snippet of code that can be placed in the blog post. You get to choose a number of variables that make up the license. Specifically, you get to choose

  1. Whether or not you allow commercial reproduction
  2. Whether or not you allow others to make derivative works
  3. Whether or not you demand an identical Creative Commons License for work created through reproducing or modifying your work (if you chose to allow so)

  You can choose from a combination of these factors to create a license that fits your needs. And you can always create a new one for new situations. Regardless of which Creative Commons License you create, use of a Creative Commons license implies that you wholeheartedly allow reproduction for non-commercial purposes. All Creative Commons Licenses insist on attribution to the original author though. Though there is a special Creative Commons License called CC0 that allows you to waive all your rights, should the rare need arise.

  A Creative Commons license reduces the anxiety associated with sharing, allowing you to share your digital content online while protecting your rights.

• Which smart phone OS gives the best local PIM synching?

  Date: 2009.11.21 | Category: Mobile, Reviews | Response: 2

  For many people, a smart phone also doubles up as a personal information management (PIM) tool. A typical smart phone is expected to have at least an address book, a calendar, email storage and the ability to configure alerts and reminders.

  Many students and employees also use their email client software as a personal information management tool on their computers. Such smart phone customers want their smart phone to wholeheartedly synchronise with the personal information management software on their computer. But here’s where the limitations of the smart phone OS, the computer OS and the computer email client come into play.

  This table is meant to compare the PIM synching capabilities of different smart phone OS’s across different platforms and different email clients. Please note that PIM synching is different from a backup. A backup produces a single fat file that is meant to restore data back to the phone or another phone, in case the original is stolen. Also note that it is possible to carry out PIM synching using third party software not supported by the phone manufacturer, in addition to various hacks and tweaks. But this table is limited to computer software provided by the phone manufacturer. Because the aforementioned alternatives are generally beyond the means and capability of the average user.

  Online PIM synching that uses the cloud computing model is included in the table for reference purposes. In some cases, online PIM synching can in turn be synched with a local computer application. For example, An email message on a Windows Mobile smart phone can be synched with a Microsoft Exchange server via ActiveSync. And an email client on a Linux computer can download the message. Or, a calendar entry on a Blackberry can be synched with a Lotus Domino server and a Windows computer with Lotus Notes can download the calendar entry. Or, a contact entered into an iPhone can be stored online through the MobileMe service. And an Address Book on a Mac computer can connect to the Internet and download it. But unless the smart phone OS manufacturer specifies that this can be done with a particular program for a particular operating system, it will be considered unsupported and will not be given a check mark. Our focus is on one step PIM synching with a local computer (docking), which I consider true PIM synching.

  Some smart phone OS’s allow direct synching of files stored in the phones internal or external memory every time the phone is connected to the computer. But in most smart phones, these files are meant to be manually copied to the computer.

  Please note that the specifications listed in the table are based on a cursory review of information on the manufacturer’s website. Errors and Omissions are very likely (And I would appreciate if you bring them to my attention). In order to verify for accuracy, we did try to contact the manufacturers before publishing this post. This table is no substitute for an exhaustive analysis involving actual lab tests. And the specifications listed below tend to change by the month. Please consult the manufacturer before making any critical decisions.

  All cell phone OS names, symbols and logos are registered and copyrighted trademarks of their respective owners. They are reproduced here under the Fair Dealing provision of the Canadian Copyright Act.

  	iPhone OS	Windows Mobile	RIM OS	Android	WebOS	SymbianOS
  Local Computer Synching Platform	iTunes	Windows Mobile Device Center	Blackberry Desktop Manager	Some smart phone makers provide custom software but there is no consistency.	Palm suggests purchasing  third party applications for Windows and Mac.	Some smart phone makers provide custom software but there is no consist -ency.
  Windows
  Mac
  Linux
  What Gets Synched & which Desktop application it gets synched to?
  Emails		Outlook	Outlook Lotus Notes Mail Entourage
  SMS
  Contacts		Outlook	Address Book Outlook Lotus Notes
  Calendar Entries		Outlook	iCal Outlook Lotus Notes
  Tasks /To-Do		Outlook	Outlook
  Stickies/ Notes	Mail Outlook	Outlook	Outlook
  Bookmarks
  Music & Video	iTunes iTunes		iTunes iTunes Windows Media Player
  Files

  The table below indicates online PIM synching that in turn can be synched with Desktop applications (where officially supported by the manufacturer). Please note that with the exception of the Blackberry Enterprise server, online PIM synching is done through unencrypted transfers via the Internet. Cloud computing has its dangers.

  	iPhone OS	Windows Mobile	RIM OS	Android	WebOS	Sym-bian
  Online Synching Platform	MobileMe(sub-scription based service)	My Phone (free and premium)Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync (requires an exchange server)	Blackberry Enterprise Service (Paid service geared for a corporate IT department)	Android provides built-in synching functio-nality to several online Google services. But there is no emph -asis on desktop clients.	Palm allows users to export PIM information from their desktop applications using its Synergy feature. This information, along with information from several other major online services can then be accessed on the phone. The focus is on keeping information in the cloud, not getting it synched back to the computer.	Some smart phone mak-ers provide special servi-ces but there is no consis -tency.
  What Gets Synched & Which local application it can  be down-loaded to?
  Emails	Mail Outlook	My Phone offers online access & backup only. Exchange ActiveSync allows emails to be  synchronized to: Outlook Outlook.	Outlook Lotus Notes Mail Entourage	NA	NA	NA
  SMS		My Phone offers online access & backup only.		NA	NA	NA
  Contacts	Address Book Outlook	My Phone offers online access & backup only.Exchange ActiveSync allows contacts to be synchronized to: Outlook Outlook.	Address Book Outlook Lotus Notes	NA	NA	NA
  Calendar Entries	iCal Outlook	My Phone offers online access & backup only.	iCal Outlook Lotus Notes	NA	NA	NA
  Tasks /To-Do		My Phone offers online access & backup only.	Outlook	NA	NA	NA
  Stickies/ Notes			Outlook	NA	NA	NA
  Bookmarks	Safari	My Phone offers online access & backup only.		NA	NA	NA
  Music & Video		My Phone offers online access & backup. Files may be individually downloaded to computer.		NA	NA	NA
  Files	iDisk iDisk (all files)iPhoto(photos)Aperture(photos)iMovie(personal videos)	My Phone offers online access & backup. Files may be individually downloaded to computer.		NA	NA	NA

  Conclusion

  The iPhone OS gets commendation for its versatility. Apple has done an uncharacteristically good job at reaching out for the needs of non-Apple users.

  Windows Mobile is still trying to stick to Windows, and is truncating its user base in the process. And in typical Microsoft boorishness, Windows Mobile will only synch PIM information to Microsoft Office Outlook (NOT Windows Live Mail or Outlook Express). Mind you, Office Outlook is not included in the economical student edition of Microsoft Office.

  RIM OS is emerging as a force to reckon with, considering the fast developmental response of the people at Blackberry. Let us not forget that this is a relatively new company. I would not be surprised to see RIM OS to be the first smart phone OS to offer PIM synching compatibility with Linux, in the near future.

  Other small players have tried to sidestep local PIM synching by wholeheartedly adopting the cloud computing model. Cloud computing has its risks.

• What to consider before buying a GPS device

  Date: 2009.08.31 | Category: Reviews, Shopping | Response: 0

  Not all GPS devices are created equal. Some will give you seamless service for years to come whereas others may end up in an Kijiji fire sale, a testament to your lack of diligence.

  Before buying a standalone GPS, ask yourself whether you really need one. Are you looking for turn-by-turn directions or do you just need general directions? If you just need general directions and you already have an Iphone, Blackberry or a Windows Mobile Smartphone, you can download and install Google maps to the device. Even without an inbuilt GPS or a separate “navigation plan” from your wireless service provider, Google maps can give you a rough approximation of your location using “My Location,” a technology that uses cell phone towers to determine your approximate location. This can be done without your phone being “GPS capable” or a separate “navigation plan” from your wireless provider. You still need a data plan. Though the amount of data transmitted using “My Location” amounts to miniscule Kilobytes per use.

  “My Location” may not be feasible for turn by turn directions while driving, which requires the use of GPS for more accurate positioning. Should you choose to use the phone’s GPS, remember that you are not restricted to the “navigation add-on plan” provided by your wireless service provider. Your phone’s GPS will still require the data plan of your wireless service provider. But it can operate on GPS services independent of your wireless provider. For example, you could install Wayfinder Navigator to your phone and pay a subscription fee for their service. Wayfinder offers near global coverage (which most standalone GPS units don’t). The best part is that you get to update the maps for free.

  Obviously, a smart phone can never substitute for a standalone GPS unit. But a good dashboard mount and a car charger can get you going. Nevertheless, 98 per cent of smart phones use A-GPS (short for Assisted GPS) rather than standalone GPS. A-GPS utilizes data connections to location servers over the wireless network. These servers are in turn, connected with satellites, that use information transmitted from the cell phone to inform you of your position. The entire operation is dependent on the wireless network, and therefore, A-GPS is also dependent on wireless network coverage (read: urban areas). The very term A-GPS  is somewhat of a misnomer, as there is usually no GPS receiver on the cell phone. Just some technology capable of better handling cell tower telemetry.

  If you really need a standalone GPS unit, make sure you get your homework done.

  Check out ConsumerReports.org for results of lab tests conducted on popular GPS units (requires subscription).

  Should you ever choose to use the unit abroad, make sure the unit is capable of being used as such, and that the manufacturer provides maps for the country where you intend to use it (without charging the price for another unit).

  Compare additional bells and whistles provided by different manufacturers (real-time traffic info, number of points of interest, ability to share and update points of interest etc.).

  Make sure your GPS unit allows you to upload additional data to it through the computer. For example, many parks are now providing files that can be uploaded onto GPS units to better feature these areas on the device.

  Lastly but not the least, check what it takes to get the maps on your GPS device to be updated. If updates are available at half the cost of the device, try another manufacturer. The manufacturer’s website can give you a good idea of how seriously they consider updating their maps. For example, Nextar, a little known brand sold by the Canadian retailer Canadian Tire is as pricey as its major league competitors. But as of this date, its website displays map updates only for a few select models. Where are the map updates for the remaining products? Here’s what Nextar had to say in response to an email inquiry regarding a GPS device purchased a few years ago:

  We are sorry, but there are no updates or upgrades for this product at this  moment.  We are currently working on updates but do not have a scheduled release date.  When available, the update/upgrades will be posted on our website (listed below) . For now, please do not use any upgrades other than Nextar upgrades, or the product will malfunction and your warranty will be voided.

  Such DO NOT WANT moments can be easily avoided with diligence on behalf of the buyer.

• Which Inkjets Give The Most Cost Efficient Printing?

  Date: 2009.04.22 | Category: Inkjets, Reviews, Shopping | Response: 1

  HP Photosmart D7560

  

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  The HP Photosmart D57560 gives efficient text and photo printing. Its sibling, the D5460, looks exactly the same but lacks a touchscreen display, along with a few minor differences. HP Photosmart D7560 Thermal Inkjet Photo Color Printer @ Newegg.com

  While there are tonnes of reviews available on inkjet printers in general, there is limited online information about which inkjet cartridges provide the most cost efficient printing in the long run. The purpose of this post is to focus on just that. Therefore other factors, which are very relevant to some users, such as the cost of the printer and its features, are omitted. Please note that this post is to be considered as an informed comparative review, and is no substitute for a rigorous lab test.

  The three things I intend to focus on are:

  · The cost per page for printing black and white text and the cost per page for printing an 8×10 photo. The lesser the better. These metrics are probably the most helpful in determining the cost efficiency of the black and color cartridges.

  · The cost of replacing both the cartridges with new ones made by the printer company.

  · The quantity (in ml) of both the cartridges. The more the better.

  Cost per page

  As per current ratings published by Consumer Reports.org (requires subscription), the Lexmark Z1420 produces the most cost effective text printing @ 3.7 US cents per page. This cost is supposed to represent both ink and ordinary paper expended. Two other runner ups are the HP Photosmart D7560 and the HP Photosmart D5460

  The HP Photosmart D7560 produces the most cost effective 8×10 photo printing @ US$1.2 per page. It is followed closely by the HP Photosmart D5460 and the HP Photosmart D7460. However, the D7460 appears to have been discontinued by HP, and therefore will not be of much use in our analysis. In its place, we will select the next runner up, the Canon Pixma iP4600. Please note that ConsumerReports.org’s cost per page for printing an 8×10 photo also includes the cost of glossy photo paper, along with the ink expended. And therefore this may be slightly higher than pure “ink” cost.

  However there are some caveats to be taken with these ratings. They take into consideration current testing conducted by Consumer Reports.org of 8 out of the 47 available inkjet printers. And this post focuses on only “pure” inkjet printers, not multifunction devices or snapshot printers. Since even though some multifunction printers can secure lower costs per page, their generally small sized cartridges make them less cost efficient in the long run. And the multifunctions are relatively more expensive.

  Cost of replacing cartridges

  As per current ratings published by Consumer Reports.org (requires subscription) the Canon BCI-3e black cartridge @ US$12 and the Canon BCI-6 color photo cartridge @ US$44 are the lowest priced manufacturer cartridges among the cartridges compared. But again, this report takes into consideration only the cartridges of three specific printer models, made by Canon, Epson and HP respectively. There are many more cartridges out there.

  The aforementioned Canon cartridges are used in the Canon Pixma iP4000. This specific model does not figure in the cost per page ratings published by Consumer Reports.org but its sibling, the iP4600 does. As you have followed, we selected the iP4600 for having a reasonable cost per page for photo printing. And like its sibling, the iP4000, its cartridges are reasonably priced, as we shall see.

  The price of cartridges for the top three in text printing is given in the following table. The prices are in $USD and were taken from the manufacturer’s website. Note that cartridge prices can be subject to change.

  

  The price of cartridges for the top three in photo printing is given in the following table. The prices are in $USD and were taken from the manufacturer’s website. Note that cartridge prices can be subject to change.

  

  Quantity of the Cartridges

  We originally intended to determine the quantity of the ink (in ml) in the ink cartridges. However, manufacturers no longer offer this information unless they are relentlessly probed. Of all the manufacturers we contacted, only Canon offered to share with us the volume of their ink cartridges. But of course, this refers to the volume of the ink cartridge tank, and not necessarily the ink inside. Back in 2001, the HP DeskJet 842C Inkjet came with a black cartridge that had more than 40 ml in ink. Over time, the quantity of ink in cartridges has steadily been decreased by manufacturers. For the printers selected, we guess that the quantity of ink in the black ink cartridge varies from 15ml to 20ml. And we guess that the quantity of ink in the color cartridges varies from 8ml to 12ml. Comparing cost per ml, printer ink definitely exceeds the price of champagne!

  Instead of offering the volume of ink in cartridges, the manufacturers offer a page yield, which gives us ample hints about the life expectancy of the cartridge. The figures for Canon were obtained after contacting their Technical Support. The figures for HP were obtained from their website. There was no information available for Lexmark and neither were their Technical Support able to furnish any information in this regard.

  The page yields given below were obtained using the ISO 24711 testing guidelines, which do not reflect everyday use.

  

  

  Conclusion

  While the Lexmark Z1420 gives the most economical text printing, it does not have separate color cartridges, which can increase the cost of replacing the color cartridge when just one color wears out. But this is the only printer among those compared that offers WiFi printing. The HP Photosmart D7560 and D5460 offer economical text and photo printing at the same time. The Canon Pixma iP4600 offers fairly economical color printing.