Lexmark Z55

Lexmark Z55

Jaison Lewis, Dec 18, 2002 0000 hrs IST

This is Lexmark’s entry into the SOHO market - a printer that is mid priced and ideal for office use

Stylish, Fast, Reasonably priced, Includes USB and Parallel port cables, Concise manual

Unsatisfactory print quality

Like most of the Lexmark line of printers, the Z55 has a very jazzy design. Out of the box, the Z55 comes equipped with two loading trays, an automatic cartridge alignment system, Auto Paper Type Detection and Accu-Feed Paper Handling System. Not Add to that an optimal forgetting the 3600 x 1200 dpi print resolution for black and white and colour. All of this makes it a very desirable printer to have, as far as first impressions go.

The Lexmark uses thermal Inkjet technology to print, which was invented by HP in 1979. In this method the ink is repeatedly heated up to form bubbles which forces drops out of the nozzle. The ink used in this method of printing has to be water based. The printer, as mentioned before automatically aligns the cartridge by printing a test pattern and reading it with an optical sensor. This is a neat little innovation which not only eliminates human errors but also makes the process of calibration as simple as taking a printout.

The Z55 can use both the USB and the parallel port to connect with the PC, the cables are included in the package. When connected to the USB port, detects and installs itself automatically on XP. The manual and installation guides are well documented and easy to follow.

What’s the Catch?

While the printer is blessed with an impressive array of features, the print tests on the Z55 were rather disappointing. In the colour CYMK and RGB gradient test the printer produced the colours accurately but a little more granulated than the cheap entry level HP 3325. The black colour gradient though had a lot of banding problems, very bad for a mid range office printer. While the greyscale test pattern was clear, it had a bluish tinge to it. The text clarity was fudged at the lowest font size, the letters and symbols looked like systematic blobs of ink. This, after claiming resolutions of 3600 x 1200 dpi is rather ridiculous.



The printer doesn’t fail miserably, the speed text printout test was the only saving grace of this printer. It does 11 ppm (pages per minute) at very decent quality (the quality was set to minimum for this test).

Conclusion

The Lexmark Z55 costs Rs.11,354; quite decent for an office printer. This printer performs best when used for black and white text printing in bulk. If you are looking for a printer for graphical and heavy colour printouts, we suggest looking out for something else.

Test Unit Sourced From: Lexmark International (India ) Pvt Ltd Mumbai



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USER COMMENTS

Where can I find a cable for my Z55 printer. Its not the large printer cable its the one with the circle end into the printer..i think its the power cable that is pluged into the wall. WHERE CAN I FIND ONE???

by Josh, Houghton,Mi, on Feb 22, 2005 11:01 PM, Report abuse   Reply

Hi Josh,, Did you manage to find a printer power cable for the Z55? I saw your email on techtree. Its just that I find myself with the same problem! Thanks very much whether or not you can help.

by Steve Menday, Liverpool, on Dec 30, 2006 12:51 AM, Report abuse

I lost my installation cd for my lexmark z55 how would i install this printer without my cd is this at all possible :S

by fatema, toronto, on Oct 07, 2004 05:32 AM, Report abuse   Reply

I lost my insallation cd for my lexmark z55,I would like to run it with my compaq pc

by marv maier, verona, on Sep 24, 2006 03:33 PM, Report abuse

i lost my install disk for lexmar kz617 need help pronto.

by Wilson, Glasgow, on Sep 24, 2006 02:47 PM, Report abuse   Reply

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by Anonymous, rfr, on May 09, 2005 07:55 PM, Report abuse   Reply

I need to know about the Z25 not the Z55 I need to use my Z25 and I lost my disk.

by Gizzell Sherrod, Tuscumbia AL, on Apr 25, 2005 06:32 AM, Report abuse   Reply

I lost the disk for my z25 lexmark printer. I have been trying for several days to install the printer. I need it ASAP. tHANKS

by Mary Elliott, Kalamazoo, on May 03, 2005 10:47 PM, Report abuse

I lost installation CD for my Lexmark Z55. I have a new PC and need to install printer. HELP!

by JEG Graham, Metuchen, NJ, on Jul 09, 2004 04:55 PM, Report abuse   Reply

I have just bought this comp, and did not know how to install this printer. looking for you assistance in this particular matter. Cheers.

by poushnaf, Newcastle, on Jul 29, 2004 03:02 AM, Report abuse

Please help, I need this printer to be installed as soon as possible

by Ruth Knowles, Salford, on Sep 12, 2004 10:26 AM, Report abuse

I lost my installation disc and I need help installing the Z55 in to my lap top.

by Clifton, San Pedro, on Sep 29, 2004 08:05 AM, Report abuse

I lost installation CD for my Lexmark Z55. I have a new PC and need to install printer. HELP!

by freeman manto, Birmingham, on Apr 14, 2005 03:30 PM, Report abuse

his sounds very stupid but could somebody please open up ther lexmark z55 and take a few pictures of the inside because my son has pulled something out from inside an im not sure how it goes back in and my printer will not work without it. much thanks to anyone who can do this for me

by Martin Clifford, Middlesbrough, on Feb 12, 2005 04:07 AM, Report abuse   Reply

How do you get inside it? I removed 4 screws and eased the tabs back, but can't get the cover off. Are there screws hidden somewhere?

by Jack, Kinross, on Feb 18, 2005 02:39 AM, Report abuse

I lost the CD for the Lexmark Z55 and I need to re-instal it and I can't find the correct driver!! Please help!!

by Bert, Philadelphia, on Jan 06, 2005 07:47 PM, Report abuse   Reply

how do i load it into my computer without a cd

by tonya justice, west blocton, on Mar 07, 2004 06:55 AM, Report abuse   Reply

I rented a Z55 from a company and they didn't have the installation c.d. so we downloaded the drivers but it won't print landscape and I need the installation system.

by Vince Alberts, Bathurst N.B. Canada, on Feb 08, 2004 07:44 PM, Report abuse   Reply

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