Lexmark Z25 Color Inkjet Printer Review

The Z25 and Z35 are low-end printers designed for use at home. They use a USB cable to connect to a computer running Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP after you install the software from the CD. You must select CANCEL when the OS detects the connected printer and only use the CD software. The 24 page manual explains the proper method to set up this printer. You connect the modular power supply, the USB cable, install the print cartridges (#26 tricolor, #16 black) into the color-coded receptacles (light green for tricolor, dark green for black), then load the plain paper on the top and extend the paper exit tray. The printer software is installed last. Run the SETUP program to install the software (if it doesn’t start automatically). Follow the instructions on the monitor screen. Print an alignment page so the tricolor and black cartridges will be properly aligned. This printer will work when either or both cartridges are installed. You can customize the printer settings in “Print Properties”. Various sized paper can be used in portrait or landscape mode. When installing the printer you may have to create a USB Virtual printer port if another printer was previously defined (not for printers connected to a parallel port). Like other Lexmark printers the paper follows a shallow curve in printing.

The Lexmark Solutions Center will guide you in printing photos, envelopes, banners, etc. It will help to solve printing problems. A blinking paper feed light may result in an error message on your screen. Page 11 offers suggestions to follow when there is a problem. There are pages for Mac OS 8.6 to 9.2 and Mac OS X version 10.0.3 to 10.1. Page 20 tells how to contact Lexmark. The Index to topics is on pages 19 and 20. Other manuals warn against setting up a printer during an electrical storm, or removing the inkjet cartridges except to replace or clean them. This printer has a modular plug-in power supply with an attached power cord. [Does this make it run warmer?]

The audio response will tell you what to do if there is a problem. A right click on the “Lexmark Z25-Z35″ icon will allow you to choose the Lexmark Solution Center for various options. You can select the alignment tool to fix blurry edges, print a test page, or install a new print cartridge. This is one of the least expensive printers and a bargain when bought used for light duty printing. You may find a better printer at a higher price. Shutting down the computer turns the printer off, applying power turns it on.
[I found the indicator for ink levels wasn't correct for the used tricolor cartridge when the printer was installed on another computer.]

Lexmark Z25 Color Inkjet Printer Feature

• Desktop-sized color thermal inkjet printer
• 1,200 x 1,200 resolution
• Supports standard media types and sizes, plus Japanese envelopes
• Standard USB interface, optional Ethernet
• PC and Mac compatible

Lexmark Z25 Color Inkjet Printer Overview

This Lexmark Z25 offers a simple and affordable solution to your home printing needs. The 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution assures great results whether youM-^Rre printing documents, Web pages, or projects for school. The printer’s ability to print onto a variety of paper types allows you to tackle just about any project with ease. And print speeds of up to 9 ppm in black, and 6 ppm in color help you print in no time at all. Setup is made simple with a plug and play USB connection.

Lexmark Z25 Color Inkjet Printer Specifications

The Z25 is one of those printers whose price is lower than those of its replacement ink cartridges, so it’s a real bargain only for those who print infrequently. This is very much an entry-level printer, where Lexmark has battened down all the hatches to produce an inkjet device at very little initial cost. Its simple design, which sees the rear paper-feed tray fold down on top of the printer when it’s not in use, has a simple pullout tray at the front to catch the printed pages. There are just two physical controls, a power button and a paper-feed button. Everything else is done under software control.

To set up the printer, we inserted the single, tricolor cartridge (a second, black cartridge is an optional extra), loaded the printer driver–which supports any version of Windows from 98 on or Mac OS from 8.2–and the Z25 was ready to go. The driver is well-designed and offers useful information, such as ink level and automatic detection of cartridge replacement. It also speaks to you with progress and error messages.

In our tests, without a black cartridge, black text came out looking dark brown, rather than truly black, and because the printer must lay down all three colours, the print speed was low. A standard five-page text document took nearly 5 minutes to print, giving the Z25L a real-world print speed of just over 1 page per minute (ppm), far less than the rated 9 ppm black and 6 ppm color. It’s best to invest in the second cartridge.

A 3-by-5-inch photo came out surprisingly well. Although we saw some dithering in areas of steady tone, the colors were bright, if not completely accurate. The 1,200 x 1,200 dpi resolution is high enough for most needs but is realized only on premium photo papers. The print time, at just over 3 minutes, is pretty good, particularly for a printer in this price range.

The Z25L comes with a one-year exchange warranty, during which time Lexmark will swap out any faulty device. It has a heavy duty cycle of up to 2,000 pages per month and is comparatively quiet in operation. Overall, the Lexmark Z25 represents very good value for money. –Simon Williams

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Feb 06, 2010 12:30:09

Topics Reviews by JG-Mall Online Shopping : Inkjet, Lexmark, Printer,