Hands on with Lexmark Z32

If your printing demands are too intense or you need a second, inexpensive printer, Lexmark’s Z32 is definitely worth a peek. Targeted to the home user for just US$69.99, the Z32 offers 1200 x 1200 dpi (both black and color on all types of paper). The cross platform device plugs into your Mac via a USB port.

The printing speed is reasonably quick at 7.5 pages per minute (ppm) in black-and-white and 3.5 ppm in color.

The Z32 is a breeze to use — driver installation is a one-click operation; installing and replacing cartridges is easy; and the Accu-Feed paper handler is sweet. It can tackle a wide range of media, from envelopes and transparencies to heavy paper. All types of media I threw at it were handled well and with no jams.

I also liked the Z32’s cartridge ink gauge — Lexmark’s driver software that displays color and black ink levels during printing. Lexmark said that the printer has a “color injket formulation” that improves ink chemistry and reduces the tendency for bleeding between color and mono inks. While not the most outstanding print quality I’ve ever seen, it’s acceptable for most uses — and hey, the printer has a street price of under 70 bucks.

Though my favorite printer remains the Hewlett Packard DeskJet 1220C — with the Epson 900G a close second — the Lexmark Z32 has earned its place as the printer that accompanies my son’s Mac. It’s fine for printing out school papers and — as is usually the case with Matt — computer gaming instructions and/or info.

What’s more, Lexmark International is working on X compatible printer drivers available for its Z22, Z32 and Z52 Color Jetprinters. The software will be available from Lexmark’s Web site “shortly after” the final release of OS X on March 24.