March 2008   |   Epinions.com

Lexmark thermal inkjet printers boast many attractive features that make it difficult to choose the best model. While these printers include USB and wireless connectivity, they can only be used as a USB printer or wireless printer, not both. You can't connect it by USB to a computer, and then have multiple computers print to it wirelessly. Connected by USB, the Lexmark X4550 works very well and provides reliable printing, scanning, and digital media support for that single computer. It is hard to ask for more from a USB printer, I think. But connected wirelessly, the X4550 falls far short of expectations. It is plagued by inadequate support, inexplicably unstable connectivity, limited support for scans, and snail-like digital media access. Mac users especially should be prepared to reference the Help utility frequently due to inadequate documentation. You should also follow the installation and setup instructions to the letter. Lexmark doesn't leave any room for error, and it isn't as simple or elegant as Mac users have long come to expect. Errors often mean restoring the printer to factory defaults and starting over with the setup and installation. One of the most useful features of the Lexmark X4550 is its color and black and white copy capability. This feature does not require any connectivity at all; just plug in the printer and press a button to begin copying. In the end, I can't honestly recommend the Lexmark X4550 except for those users who can't live without a wireless printer a moment longer and this unit is the only unit they can find. The USB connectivity works very well, but the wireless capabilities are unstable and unsatisfactory, especially for scanning and digital media. It might be worth nothing that we have returned to the printers we were using before we introduced the Lexmark X4550 into our home office. It is no longer worth the wireless headaches it gives us, and there isn't enough room on our desks currently to use it as a USB printer. Read my full review of the Lexmark X4550 Wireless Multi-Function Thermal Inkjet Printer >

(This review was first published at MacNN.com >)

September 2006  |  MacNN

There are all kinds of iPod accessories, but the iPod/MP3 Shower Radio is the first we've seen for use in a bath environment, and features MP3 hookup, AM/FM radio, stereo speakers, fog free mirror, and LED lighting. It measures 7.8" wide x 9.8" tall x 2" deep and requires four AA batteries. The Shower Radio is easy to setup, use, and maintain. Just install the batteries, plug in the iPod and insert it into the water-resistant compartment, and listen to your music or local radio. The standard controls for volume, lights, radio stations, and switching between radio and MP3 player are placed well. The MP3 shower radio is also useful at the pool, beside the hot tub, or any other damp locations. Unfortunately, the iPod/MP3 Shower Radio meets only the most basic needs. Read my review of the iPod MP3 Shower Radio with Fog Free Mirror >

June 2006  |  MacCompanion

For budget-minded graphic designers, web designers and digital photographers, the PANTONE® huey™ monitor calibration system is something of a miracle. Tired of off-color images, we struggle to get the best color reproduction from our images in our work. The PANTONE huey changes all that. Before huey monitor calibration system, we used Apple's OS X built-in calibration software, which was not exactly scientific, but the best thing available to us within our budget. Now with huey, our monitors are calibrated and adjusted for room lighting automatically every ten minutes. The huey monitor calibration system not only fits our budget, but it is easy to install, too. Simply open the box, clean your screen with supplied materials, plug the huey colorimeter into an available USB port, insert the CD, drag the huey icon to your Applications folder, launch the huey application, and follow the five onscreen steps. The entire process takes less than 10 minutes the first time through. Once installed, the huey colorimeter continues to monitor your room's lighting and adjusts your monitor accordingly, so that you are able to constantly see the details in your images on your monitor. The PANTONE huey is the first step in your budget to better color in your images. Read my review of the PANTONE huey monitor calibration system >

PS: Robert Pritchett, MacCompanion Editor, discusses the June issue of MacCompanion on MacReviewCast #58. My review is mentioned during the interview. Listen to Robert talking about MacCompanion on Review Cast #58 (MP3) >

August 2005  |  MacNewsNetwork (MacNN)