Features:
- 600 x 600 dpi resolution
- USB and bidirectional parallel ports, Windows and Mac compatible
- 2 MB of memory, expandable to 66 MB
- 67 MHz RISC processor, 8 ppm printing speed
- Supports paper, transparencies, paper labels, envelopes, and card stock
Description:
Looking for a great laser printer for your home or small office but don't want to break the bank? Consider the Lexmark Optra E310, which consistently pumps out crisp text and detailed grayscale images with maximum true resolution of 600 x 600 dpi. It also comes with some terrific driver software, and works with both PCs and Macs, thanks to its built-in USB and parallel port functionality. We tested the E310 with the USB interface and were able to install both the hardware and its requisite drivers in less than 10 minutes. We had the same success with the parallel connection. It's worth noting that neither a USB nor a parallel cable is included, though the unit does come with a toner cartridge. Based on our tests, the Optra E310 is among the best laser printers in its price class. Able to print up to 8 ppm, it was relatively quiet, and the output was consistently, phenomenally sharp. We noticed a few faint vertical streaks when we printed an all-black test page, but normal text and graphics never failed to please us. Many laser printers in this price range apply toner on all-black portions of the page that looks slightly blotchy--from an angle it resembles tree bark. But with the Optra E310, black areas of the page were deep, uniform, and precise. All the text we printed had razor-sharp edges that didn't break up at all when viewed through a magnifying glass, and the majority of print aberrations that we did see were caused by the grain of the paper, not the quality of the printer. Printouts on high-quality coated paper were as close to perfect as any we've seen. The Optra 310 performed with similar aplomb when we printed charts and grayscale images, laying down clearly separated shades of gray with few streaks, specks, or other unwanted elements creeping in. The driver software is robust, with advanced features such as the ability to print from two to 16 pages on a single sheet of paper. Even the printed manual is well written. The Optra E310 is a great overall value, providing excellent black-and-white output at a great price. --T. Byrl Baker Pros:
- Superb grayscale and sharp text output
- Powerful driver software allows for a lot of neat tricks
- Works with both PCs and Macs
Con:
- No interface cables included
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