Version: 2008
  • On TV.com: TOP 10 Shows CANCELED Too Soon
advertisement

Primera Signature Z1

front side back
front side back

See all Primera Technology products

  • Quick specs
  • Printer Type: CD/DVD printer - Thermal transfer - Monochrome
  • Max media size: CD (4.75 in)
  • Connectivity technology: Wired
  • See full specifications

Add to my list Product summary

The good: Makes neat text and line art CD and DVD labels quickly; portable.

The bad: Can't decorate the whole disc; prints only one color at a time; the prints smudge when they get hot; PC only.

The bottom line: This portable CD/DVD printer is useful and utilitarian but more businesslike than artistic.

Read full review

CNET editors' review

  • CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
    Detailed editors' rating
      Design : 7.0
      Features : 6.0
      Performance : 7.0
      Service and support : 7.0
      Overall score: 6.8 (3.0 stars)
  • Reviewed on: 12/20/2004
The Primera Signature Z1 thermal ink transfer printer is a small, useful, and somewhat pricey gadget for labeling CDs and DVDs. Unlike the Epson R200 inkjet printer, which is four times larger and costs about $50 less, the Signature Z1 doesn't rely on special printable CDs and DVDs. Instead, it prints water- and (presumably) beer-proof designs directly onto standard lacquer discs. But don't spill tea on them, because heat can smudge the prints. Artistic types will prefer the six-color printing skills and CD Print software of the Epson R200 over the Signature Z1's one-color-at-a-time output and limited Primera Print design software, which supports only text and line art. For disc labeling, your choices are still limited to either one of these consumer-priced gadgets, or $1,000-plus bulk labelers such as the Primera Bravo II AutoPrinter--that is, until devices that laser-burn images onto CDs and DVDs come onto the market. For now, the Primera Signature Z1 is your only portable option.The Primera Signature Z1 printer is roughly the size and shape of a fat novel, so it slips easily into a backpack or a briefcase. This gadget ships with a power cord, a small laptop-style power adapter, an installation and software CD, and one black-ink cartridge. The exterior is deadly dull, putty-colored plastic, with a smoky gray, matte-and-clear-finish plastic cover. While it may be slick to own a machine that relieves you of a permanent marker, the ho-hum looks of the Signature Z1 won't turn heads at a party.

This printer has a dedicated on/off button in the upper-right corner, with ports for power and a USB 2.0 connection in the back. Inside the front cover of this device rests a disc holder for one CD or DVD, with the print cartridge holder to the left. Simple instructions for installing ink and removing discs are printed on the cartridge holder for your convenience.

As its simple design would indicate, the Primera Signature Z1 printer is easy to set up. The 30-page user guide has clear, step-by-step instructions for installing the software and the USB driver and connecting the Signature Z1 to your computer. The only tricky part is preparing the ink ribbon cartridge: you have to travel backward in time to the era of cassette tapes and typewriter ribbons and find a pencil or another long, thin object with a sharp end to tighten the ribbon. We're not kidding; that instruction is in the manual alongside the warning, "The printer will malfunction if the ribbon is slack." But don't worry, if you're just going to use the black cartridge, you won't have to bother with this often. However, if you order the three color cartridges (red, blue, and green), you'll have to keep that sharp object handy.

Even if you have all four black, red, green, and blue cartridges, you can print with only one at a time. To make a multicolored label, you'll have to switch cartridges for each color, which brings us to our biggest gripe with the Signature Z1. The Primera Print software divides the printable surface area of a disc into four rectangular zones: top, right, bottom, and left. Cartridges cost $19.95 each, built to last for 200 print areas, each area being one-fourth of a disc. Printing one color onto one-quarter of a disc's surface will cost you nearly 10 cents; add an additional dime each time you include another color or quarter of the disc. That would bring a one-color disc printed in all quadrants to 40 cents, or a four-color disc to $1.60, not to mention the cost of the disc itself. When filled, those quadrants do cover a significant portion of a CD or a DVD, but they also leave empty triangular spaces between the fields and circular gaps around the inner and outer edges. By contrast, the Print CD software for the Epson R200 lets you cover an entire disc with designs or text or superimpose one over the other.

Continue reading

Most helpful user reviews

Submit your review

Log in or create an account to submit your review for:

Primera Signature Z1

ORLog in with your Facebook account
1. Rate this product:
(Mouse over the stars to rate this product and click to set your rating.)
2. One-line summary:(Summarize your review in one line. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 55 characters
3. Pros:(Tell us what you like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
4. Cons:(Tell us what you don't like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
Bottom-line summary:(Explain to us in detail why you like or dislike the product, focusing your comments on the product's features and functionality, and your experience using the product. This field is optional.)
0 of 5000 characters

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks are prohibited.
Click here to review our site terms of use.

Submit

Compare prices for Primera Signature Z1

This product is currently not in stock at any of our online merchants.

Email me when this product is available

advertisement

Recent user reviews

Submit your review

Log in or create an account to submit your review for:

Primera Signature Z1

ORLog in with your Facebook account
1. Rate this product:
(Mouse over the stars to rate this product and click to set your rating.)
2. One-line summary:(Summarize your review in one line. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 55 characters
3. Pros:(Tell us what you like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
4. Cons:(Tell us what you don't like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
Bottom-line summary:(Explain to us in detail why you like or dislike the product, focusing your comments on the product's features and functionality, and your experience using the product. This field is optional.)
0 of 5000 characters

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks are prohibited.
Click here to review our site terms of use.

Submit

Special sponsor stores

advertisement

Primera Signature Z1