Though I do sense your frustration, you didn't provide a model number for us. I took the liberty of a Google search using the keywords "Lexmark out ink prematurely" (sans quotes) and among the entries were concerns of various Lexmarks regarding ink usage. If your system is configured to allow outside access, yes they can enter your system. DA

Other than the printer just might be too old for the newer computer have you had any problems before? I am wondering if the ink cartridge carrier has failed to seat correctly after the last use. Mine showed an "Error 1200" but there was no information suggesting what that error might be. It turned out the carrier failed (regularly so I became an expert fixer) to seat properly. To fix it I had to jamb mt thumb smartly up against the side of the carrier till I heard it click in place. Then it might work for an hour, a day or even a week or more before failing again. At the time this printer was a current model Lexmark listed over 50 models with the same issue yet they never seemed to offer a fix.

I appreciate the info on Freespire. But your information about Bill Gates making computers available for the everyday person...is very off. There is one true hero in PC history and that is Steve Wozniak, he literally invented the PC and was pirated by Steve Jobs as much as Bill Gates pirated just about everything his company produced. Microsoft is big heartless company, as most big companies are. The problem with Microsoft is that they do pirate just about everything they have produced and they are able to beat the court cases. The reason Vista is delayed is not because it isn't finished, that never stopped them from releasing any software before. The reason Vista is delayed is because they are using copywrited security programs without permission, and Europe wants an explanation. The companies are American companies: Symantec and Adobe (that they are stealing from). This is Micrsoft's MO: steal the competitor's software and then put them out of business. They didn't even come up Windows...they stole that too. We have turned a blind eye to Microsoft. They have put many sincere and honest companies and devoted employees out of business. I'm stuck using Windows as are many people and business organizations that have no other choice. Microsoft has made it that way. Through blocking websites and rigging competitor's software (not to work), Microsoft has becaome the school yard bully. The extensive court cases of six years ago, including a large multi-state class action suit had them nailed to wall and caught red-handed, all got thrown out of court and forgotten. The judges were in their pocket. Europe has said...'Now wait just a minute, you can't take other people's stuff'. Microsoft counters that Europe just doesn't like American companies, yet the two companies Europe is trying to protect are American. I have no ilusions about big business and what they are capable of. Microsoft plays diry and is the dirtiest one. I am going to use it , but because I use it, doesn't mean I have to be all warm and fuzzy about it. Using Microsoft products because you have to or because they are better is fine. Just keep in mind how they came by those products, stealing them. Hence the 'Pirates of Silicon Valley'. Bill Gates made himself rich by breaking the law, and making sure there was no other competition. The person who brought the PC to the people was really Steve Wozniak, and he cared about everybody. No one should ever forget that.

Yes and no. The best way is to keep them sealed in their original foil-plastic packaging and to keep them in a temperate climate -- not too hot, not too cold. But they will "expire". You can use them a little longer if you don't mind a slight color shift or having to reprint some pages because the ink is past its best-by date.