Features:
- Up to 600 x 600 dpi black and color
- Up to 1.5 ppm (color), 3.5 ppm (black and white)
- On-screen ink level indicators
- No buttons--controlled entirely through Windows
- Printer cable sold separately in our store
Description:
Looking for a small color ink-jet printer to fit a small budget? The Lexmark 1100 offers 600 dots per inch (dpi) and 3.5 pages per minute (ppm) in a compact, inexpensive package. Setting up the Lexmark 1100 was not too difficult. Because there are no buttons on the printer except one for page feeding, we had to install the 1100's Control Program before installing the ink cartridge. Specifically, when we opened the cover to insert the ink cartridge, we found that the print head was tucked away, beyond our reach. The handy abbreviated instructions under the printer's cover informed us where we went wrong. Just make sure you follow the Quick Setup guide. Although the Windows Plug and Play system detected the Lexmark when we turned on our computer, we bypassed the Windows Printer Setup wizard. Instead, we dropped in the 1100's CD-ROM and installed the Printer Control software. After restarting Windows, we opened the Lexmark 1100 Control Program. In the Control Program dialog box, we clicked the Cartridges tab and then clicked the Install Cartridge button. The print cartridge carrier moved into position so that we would insert the ink cartridge. Initializing and aligning the print cartridge is also handled by the Control Program, as is printing a test page. In our test of the 1100, we printed several samples, including graphics, large and small letters, and a variety of color shades. The samples were clear and sharp and the colors were accurate. We printed the same sample page in Fast Draft 300-dpi mode, Normal 300-dpi mode, and High Quality 600-dpi mode. We found only barely perceptible differences between Fast Draft and Normal, but a clear improvement in Hiqh Quality mode. However, the smallest text (4-point Times) was easiest to read in the Fast Draft sample. There was some ink "bleeding" on ordinary uncoated paper, and black text was not truly black when printed with the color cartridge--but these results are typical for ink-jet printers. Overall, we think this printer performed well for its class, especially considering the low price. Pros:
- Low price, great value
- Clear, fast draft printing
Cons:
- Cable not included
- Requires computer for all operations
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