SIGNATURE Z1 CD/DVD CLR THERMAL PRINTER 200DPI USB 2.0 BLK RIB INCL user reviews

0.5 stars

"AWFUL WENT THROUGH 3 or 4 IN A YEAR, ALL FAILED TO WIND" on January 29, 2007 by Santill28

Pros: WHEN IT WORKS, PRINTS CLEARLY

Cons: NEVER WORKED

Summary: I have poor handwriting, and, sharpies just irratate me. I bought this to make neat labels on my CD's and DVD's.

When it works, it's nice. I went through 3 or 4 in less then a year, with one fried circuit board, and, 2 or 3 with the ribbon failing to wind. This means you have to print only the top of the CD, then pull the cartridge, and wind it by hand.

This is the most overpriced, poorest constructed piece of computer equipment I've ever used.

I had to pay for RMA shipping back, as well.
The ribbons don't last long, and, they are expensive.

My last RMA call they offered me a 100 dollar discount off a 1000 dollar CD/DVD printer upgrade. I have a policy that if I buy something from a company, and it doesn't work, despite many tries, I'm not going to waste more money with that company, rewarding them for their poorly designed piece of garbage.

4.0 stars

"It is what it is" on April 15, 2006 by ej00807

Pros: Never smudges

Cons: slow, monochrome

Summary: I don't understand or fathom the reviewer who talks about smudging. I've never had a smudge with this printer. I don't think it is possible with this type of ink.

This brings up two points.
1. You cannot use pre-surfaced disks (white or gray matted).

2. Low resolution fonts do not form well. 18 point is about as small as you can go.

This is like a thermal ribbon printer, thick, solid, tactile print. It's a slower print, but very permanent. Only one color can be used on a disk. There is red, green, blue and black.

The print head does not print bidirectionally, adding to the slowness.

The software requires .net framework. A big problem with this unit is speed. This baby is slow.

I still like the thermal ink type better than inkjet and better then gray matted photo disks required for internally printing DVD writers.

Perhaps inkjet ink has improved over the years, but my memory of it is that it doesn't like to get wet.

That said, I still like this printer and the cheap disks that can be used.

0.5 stars

"Warning do not buy this printer" on August 24, 2005 by dizzydsb

Pros: none-scramble text i whish there was one

Cons: poor 30 day tech support after 30 days $10 per incident that could add up fast

Summary: Looks and corporate reviews are deceiving
I bought the Primera Z-1 with exceptions of something revolutionary but not the case .
After reciving my Z-1 it was down hill .
the first disc printed fine, but what happen after that is a big mystery. The text would scrambled mis- shape
So I call Primera tech support
their tech told me to increase density to full
still scrambled , I call again the tech told me not to use fonts bigger
than 15.75 which is the default setting, not to uses fancy
fonts, Ok tried that nothing still scrambled,
Call tech support again , so they send me free of charge
a new Ribbion cartridge, Cool Still had high exceptions.
one week later the Ribbion cartridge arrives
put new Ribbion cartridge in still scrambled text
So the tech tells me to buy thermal ready dvd
So I bought 100 thermal ready dvd Still had high exceptions,still scrambled text.(i wasted 25 DVD IN PROCESS)
Called tech support they give me a RMA number to sended back printer, Still had high exceptions, thinking Maybe I received a lemon ,Mind you I had to pay for shipping
$13.00 ups ground.
So two weeks later ,Still had high exceptions I get the New Primera Z-1 Re-install software the first disc looked great THE SECOND ONE ALSO , the next day I tried to print a DVD ,scrambled text again .
So I call Tech support told me that my usb ports are bad
and to chage the usb calbe that they send with there printerand to re-install software and try it on another XP
Machine .So I did I went to 3 different PC with XP with 3 different USB cable re- installing the software twice on each machine and still scrambled text .
So I call tech support again and mind you tech support is not toll free
They told me they could not do anything for me
I just got caught holding the bag
But I can warn people about this product
Please do not buy !
Thank you

2.5 stars

"the print is not permanent" on September 16, 2004

Pros: its easy to use, able to apply images, very professional look

Cons: the ink doesn't stay on, it is not smudge proof as it says,just hold the printed area with your hands and your body heat will be enough to wipe your printed information off your cd