Entered CNET Catalog: 05/15/2008
SKU: 0734646061438
Manufacturer: Lexmark International Inc.
Product summary
The good: Fast text prints; new streamlined hardware design; simple wireless setup; inexpensive.
The bad: Extremely poor quality print-outs; frequent paper jams; ships with low-yield cartridges; slow photo and graphics prints.
The bottom line: With so many other inexpensive photo inkjets on the market today, we can't recommend the Lexmark z2420--it's prone to paper jams, prints at a snail's pace, and produces unacceptable quality prints.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 05/16/2008
The Lexmark Z2420 inkjet photo printer is a refresher to last year's Z1420, and after all our tests are said and done, we're not sure what prompted the update--the Z2420 appears to be of the same build, print speed, and output quality as its predecessor. Sure, the printer is relatively quick and can do 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi for less than $100, but you can pay the competition a little more and get substantially better photo and graphics quality.
Design and features
The shape of the Z2420 is much more contoured than last year's model, with rounded edges instead of straight lines. Built-in Wi-Fi networking and its lightweight size (4.9 inches by 18.0 inches by 9 inches) make it easy to move around the home office without getting weighed down or tangled up in cords. The paper feeder on top of the printer holds 100 pages of standard paper, but we found some serious fault in its mechanical design: the paper sits slightly angled down and to the right in the tray, so when the printer spools the media to begin printing, the awkward position creates some nasty printer jams. Even worse, the software driver wouldn't let us cancel the document, and we had to restart our computer and power cycle the printer to start from scratch. Finally, Lexmark went with a dark, battleship gray instead of continuing with the Z1420's glossy white, so if you're looking for a printer to match your fifth-gen Apple iPod, buy the older Z1420--the internal hardware is so similar you won't notice the difference.
The Z2420 houses two cartridge bays; one for tricolor (cyan, magenta, and yellow) and another for standard black. According to Lexmark, the included cartridges should yield around 175 pages, but ours didn't even make it through our testing, which is unusual for a photo inkjet. They also offer XL cartridges capable of printing 500 color pages for $35, or $0.07 per page.
One of the most appealing features is the 802.11 b/g wireless print server built right into the back, so it's easy to add the printer to your network and print cable-free from a number of different computers. We followed the onscreen instructions provided by the driver software and found it easiest to establish a USB connection first, then add the wireless networking. From there, we installed the driver onto other desktops connected to the same network and were able to print without getting tangled up in long Ethernet cords.
Performance
The Lexmark Z2420 produced unusual speed test results, scoring the fastest out of four competitors (even faster than the HP Officejet Pro K5400, a printer twice as expensive as the Lexmark) but fell dead last in photo and presentation speed. We assume Lexmark put a high concentration of research into improving text speed, but let the rest of the functions fall below the average for sub-$100 photo inkjets.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Photo speed (PPM) | |
Presentation (PPM) | |
Black text (PPM) |
We wouldn't complain as much if the Z2420 produced flawless prints, but unfortunately it suffers from the same problems we've seen in a lot of Lexmark's lower-end printers: grainy, jagged black text with unsightly patches where the nozzle didn't expel an even amount of ink. We even tested our prints on Lexmark's own Premium High Gloss photo paper and still found obvious flaws in quality. Barcode-style horizontal lines ruined a majority of our photos and a dark cyan hue appeared in all of our portrait shots. The details looked slightly skewed and blurry on the highest-quality driver setting; lower settings produced exponentially worse results.
Service and support
Lexmark covers the Z2420 with a one-year warranty with the option of upgrading to an extended warranty that will add three years of coverage. Toll-free phone support is also available on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT. Check out Lexmark's Web site for a comprehensive set of FAQs, cartridge order forms, and downloadable drivers.
Find out more about how we test printers.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9out of 9 user reviews
As good as cheap wireless printer
Pros: Pro : nothing to complain
Cons: cons : for stupid and retard people who dont know how to set up hahaha
out of 9 user reviews
Cheap and worth it
Pros: Low cost. Wireless printing.
Cons: Have to load lexmark drivers on each computer. Does not support multiple users printing at once. If you run out of paper it's is a major error and you have to reset the printer (unplug for 10sec)
When setting up any wireless device, be sure to set it up in wired fashion first before going wireless.
out of 9 user reviews
The worst purchase EVER
Pros: There is nothing good to say about this product. I am sorry
Cons: It doesn't work, looks junky, and in general a total disappointment to me
out of 9 user reviews
HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE PRINTER
Pros: NOTHING good about this printer at all
Cons: Horrible printing, cartridges last about 2 days, user interface is extremely rigid, just all-around horrible.
out of 9 user reviews
Buying this printer was a mistake
Pros: It was cheap and I thought the wireless would work.
Cons: Wireless setup is a joke and did not work.
out of 9 user reviews
Worst printer I have ever used in my entire lifetime
Pros: It does print. It is wireless. It is light enough to throw easily if you find it necessary.
Cons: The CD doesn't even work with Snow Leopard, you have to download the software from Lexmark themselves. Prints slower than I've ever seen. Software doesn't even work properly.
out of 9 user reviews
not so good
Pros: i didnt like anything about this
Cons: i am very unsatisfied with this becuase everything is jumbled up
out of 9 user reviews
I am very pleased with this printer
Pros: -EASY wireless setup!!!!
-affordable
-reasonable replacement cartridge price
-we print 90% draft mode and it is AWESOME for my intended use!
- I LOVE ... best money I ever saved!!!
Cons: -paper jams, but this can be overcome with the correct placement of the paper feed/guide on the left hand side (facing the printer) of the paper holder
I very seldom print color..
I mostly print draft quality...
I finally went wireless in our house and now have laptops in the living areas. Before I got the Lexmark Z2420, I would have to save files to my flash drive (or email them to myself) ,,, ... then head to the bedroom and the desktop w/Dell printer attached to print everything. What a pain in the rear!!
Now, Fast forward to the Lexmark .. set up in the living area (wireless setup.. and VERY easy setup) and we can print right here in the living areas with no hassles of before!!!
I LOVE IT!
I had an occasion paper jam .. but it was MY FAULT. I try to recycle paper and put junk mail with one side still blank in the printer for draft printing. That old, folded paper would jam. I have had NO problems with jams if using new paper and making sure the paper feed tray aligner is adjusted correctly.
BUT, it is SLOW on the very rare occasion we print HQ. I have NEVER printed photos ... so can not tell you about that.
I DESPISE my old Dell 920/940 printer and the rippoff replacement ink prices. Just got two new Lexmark 36 cartridges on order for $42 ($20 per/cart), free shipping, no tax. I am not sure how long they last or if that is a good price (high capacity?) .. but two for the price of ONE dell cartridge.... YES!!
I really am happy and have had it 2 months as of this review!
out of 9 user reviews
Give me a break CNET!
Pros: You can power it on
Cons: The printer output sucks!
