The line boasts multiple sub-US $100 printers with 2400 x 1200 dots per inch (dpi) resolution and seven picoliter microfine color drops for photo quality output, according to Lexmark spokesperson Shannon Lyman. The printers, all of which offer USB connectivity and Mac compatibility, will ship “soon,” she added.
Lexmark’s signature features — which include one-click driver installation, quick open-and-load cartridge installation, Accu-Feed paper handling and LexExpress next business day exchange warranty are all part of the new line. The Accu-Feed paper handling system enables consumers to choose from a range of print media weighing up to 150 pounds, including envelopes, transparencies, card stock, labels and iron-on transfers. Tim Craig, Lexmark VP and president of its Consumer Printer Division, said that the company’s research indicates that color preferences vary by geography.
“To offer each customer the ideal printing experience, Lexmark has developed different color tables which automatically install by region, delivering output that reflects the preferences of a culture,” he said. “Lexmark further addresses consumers’ needs for flexibility with peer-to-peer networking, great for small businesses or multiple PC households. This feature allows users with a network to send a print job to a printer in an office down the hall or to another room in the house.”
The $139 Lexmark Z53 Color Jetprinter is designed for the small office/home office (SOHO) user. It offers print speeds of 16 pages per minutes (ppm) in black and eight ppm in color. The Z53’s enhanced peer-to-peer networking capability lets users check ink levels and print status from multiple personal computers and boasts 2400 x 1200 dpi resolution.
The $99 Lexmark Z43 Color Jetprinter is engineered for home users with a wide range of printing needs. It can achieve a maximum 2400 x 1200 dpi resolution and delivers up to 12 ppm in black and six ppm in color.
The $89 Lexmark Z33 Color Jetprinter is designed for entry-level home users. It has a maximum resolution of 2400 x 1200 dpi in black and color on all paper types. It can produce print speeds of nine ppm in black and five ppm in color.
The Lexmark Z23 Color Jetprinter is available for $49 (after a $30 mail-in rebate) is a single-head, upgradeable printer targeted to novice consumers seeking dual-cartridge capability at a single-cartridge price, according to Craig. As users’ needs change, the Z23 may be upgraded to a dual-head printer by adding a black cartridge that adds text to the crisp photo quality achieved with the color cartridge shipped in the box. The Z23 delivers 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution and offers print speeds of eight ppm in black and five ppm in color.
“Consumer-friendly features of the Z23 and Z33 models also include new ink chemistry that delivers crisper, denser black ink that resists smears and dries faster,” Craig said in a press announcement. “These space-saving, progressively designed models also boast a new, user-friendly graphics interface system, including the ‘Lexmark Solution Center,’ that makes installing and using the printer easier than ever.”