Great printer for a great price! (Lexmark Z13)

Member Name: SusanLesley

Product:	Lexmark Z13
Date:	02/01/02 (322 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clear prints, Good price, Easy to install and use

Disadvantages: None

When I decided to treat myself to a new computer recently I also decided to have a new colour printer. I had always had a black and white one until then so I thought it was time I moved up to colour.

I chose not to buy the PC and printer package as it included a scanner and a digital camera both of which we already have. So I sent Dave to have a look at the printers whilst I was organising the interest free credit on my computer.

PC World had a good selection of printers at a good selection of prices! I didn't intend paying a fortune as I had just agreed a price of £499 for my new computer so I chose the Lexmark Z13 for £49.99. The assistant in PC World advised us that it did not come with the relevant lead so I also purchased a USB cable for £13.99. I'm sure someone will tell me that I could have got this cheaper elsewhere, but the convenience was the deciding factor on this occasion.

We took the PC and printer home and began to unpack them. The printer was well packaged (so was the PC but that's irrelevant to this opinion!) and came complete with a comprehensive user guide, taking you through step by step 'from set up to printing'.

The first job was to check that all the printer parts were provided, including the printer software disc.

The next step was to connect the power supply. I know Dave was doing this for me, it's no good being the partner of an IT consultant and then doing this sort of thing myself, but I think even I could have managed to plug the thing in!

Then came the insertion of the print cartridge, and again this is easy enough. You just lift the front of the printer and the cartridge carrier moves to the centre loading position in order to make the job easier.

With the Lexmark Z13 you can print with either a black print cartridge or a colour print cartridge. The printer came complete with a colour cartridge ? it would seem a bit daft to buy a colour printer and
then use it to print in black and white.

You then just open the cartridge carrier, insert the cartridge and snap the lid shut again. It's as simple as that.

The next thing to do is to connect the USB cable and the diagrams in the instruction book show clearly where the two ports are.

The printer will take up to 100 sheets of paper at a time, with a paper guide to help prevent misfeeds.

Now to what I would expect to be the tricky bit, the installation of the printer software on the PC, but I was very surprised by the simplicity of it all.

The software disk is inserted into the disk drive on the PC and all you have to do is follow the brief instructions, clicking on 'install now' and 'continue' when prompted and that's it, you're ready to print.

You can customise your printer and use it to print photographs, banners, and envelopes but I'll just stick to having a great colour printer to print my letters, information form the Internet and price lists for craft fayres and car boots!

The instruction book also has a troubleshooting page just in case it doesn't all work as it should, but we haven't needed to use that yet.

As it is only an inkjet printer as opposed to a laser printer it's not particularly fast, but then I don't really need it to be. The printing is sharp and clear and the colours are true so that'll do for me!

By the way if you're wondering what sort of service I got at PC World - very good - read my opinion on PC World for further details!

Summary: