Lexmark Z31 – The Best Printer For The Office

If you are considering buying a very basic printer, the Lexmark Z 31 could well be the answer. On its launch, it was never going to win any awards for concept or design. The passing of time has done little to improve this. Just two LEDs alongside the same number of buttons for power and paper feed make up the control panel, on the rather austere boxy casing. However, this non fussy design does allow for dusting and cleaning to be completed with no effort. The printer works best with Lexmark Z 31 ink.

As has become expected from the team at Lexmark, set-up and installation couldn’t be simpler. Whilst you may need to download the relevant drivers for your computer, you should have your test page printed within 15 to 20 minutes of removing it from the box.

As indicated earlier, there are certainly no bells and whistles offered with the printer. Many newer models have huge capacity paper bins, and intricate feeders to satisfy anything that is asked of them of course. That is not quite what you get with the Z 31. A simple top loading paper tray, with a capacity of just 100 sheets is provided. There are no upgrades available to boost this, though it does also allow for envelope and photographic printing. Resolution is an impressive 2400dpi, (1200×1200), in both color and monochrome printing.

The Lexmark Z 31 does have a “Quick Print” mode that allows for up to eight pages per minute to be printed. This changes the resolution back to 600dpi, but does improve the speed significantly. However, colors can fade where pinks can appear to be more of a lavender color, blacks a darker shade of gray, and reds to appear orange. Whilst print quality is better in “Normal” mode, the colors can fade considerably here too.

Compatibility is an issue. However, drivers can be downloaded for most Windows operating systems (OS). Some workarounds also exist for Linux and Mac OS, though reports of limited operation are quite high. There are also significant connectivity issues, with only a parallel port option being offered. With things moving from USB and wireless connectivity at a pace nowadays, this is noticeable.

It is not all bad. Far from it in fact, particularly considering the presence of the Lexmark “Accu-Feed” technology, which is still one of the most effective tools for reducing instances of snagging and blocking.

The compact design, and economy of the Lexmark Z 31 are also to be admired, particularly as cutting down on energy use is key for most people these days. Another benefit comes from the drivers themselves, which give a useful audible update on print progress. Very useful considering the sluggish speed! Just be sure you’re using Lexmark Z 31 ink .

The printer is provided as standard with one black and one three-color Lexmark Z 31 printer ink cartridge . Replacing the toner is as easy as you would expect; simply by lifting the hood. The Lexmark Z 31 isn’t a bad option for use as a second printer. It could also be quite useful as something for the young kids to play with. For heavy users and those with a demanding need for quality it won’t cut the cloth however.

Lexmark Z31 – The Best Printer For The Office

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