Lexmark C530dn Laser Printer (24 PPM, 4800x1200 DPI, Color, 128MB, PC/Mac)

Lexmark C530dn

C530dn Laser Printer (24 PPM, 4800x1200 DPI, Color, 128MB, PC/Mac) Review, by Paul Jasper March 18, 2007

Show More Show Less

0 Comments | 0 Topics | Print Only This Review

• Latest User Reviews 1 review
• Reviewed by: restructuring

  Duration of ownership: 6 Months

  Strengths: fast print for the price, good color accuracy

  Weaknesses: Misleading software and drivers- requires inputting instructions on the printer itself. This printer has a driver that allows you to specify where to source the print material from such as Multi-purpose feeder or maintray, and also the paper type which is required to avoid jamming for thicker paper stock. This printer doesn't read the instructions in these menus, consequently the only way to change tray type and paper stock is to manually make the changes on the printer itself which makes the printer useless in a conventional office setting with multiple users. After extensive discussions with Lexmark, they refused to fix the problem. At one point they said they would exchange mine for the c532 because it would work, but then then a service manager named, Tom, said it none of the c530x line work correctly with those menus. Other than that its very fast,and provides accurate colors,

  Overall: great printer for if you use one type of paper all the time, and it's completely useless in a multi-user environment

• Reviewed by: SamanthaBerkos

  Strengths: beautfil prints

  Weaknesses: none yet

  Overall: I have had this printer only a few days now, but wow! We love the quality of the output. We used it over the weekend to print out a ton of material for meetings this week, and we are very happy with the quality of the output.

• Reviewed by: bk_pgbr

  Strengths: Seemingly low price for a printer with duplex and these specifications

  Weaknesses: Poor output quality (see user reviews at CNET), and high cost per-page- much higher than reported in expert reviews.

  Overall: Lexmark, CNet, PC Mag- all rate the included cartridges at 1,500 pages at about 5% coverage (normal). I found that ALL of my cartridges began to run out of toner at less than 300 pages (all reporting low), with 6% or 7% coverage. I made numerous calls to tech support until finally someone told me that the included cartridges actually hold 40% of the reported 1,500 pages worth. I have documented my experience and their statements, by the way. Over half of my printing before the toner reported as "Low" was experimentation to try to get color pages to look decent, since their tech support is useless. I was never able to get the printouts to look as I had expected from seeing printouts from other color lasers. Printing on glossy paper, which really pops on other brands of lasers, is dismal on the Lexmark. You get a mottled, grayish background.When told the actual capacity of the included cartridges- I was quite upset- and asked to talk to a supervisor. I asked him how a consumer was supposed to know about the actual cartridge capacity so as to make an informed purchasing decision. He didn't have a real answer- of course- their fraudulent practice is indefensible.I had to make numerous tech support calls for various paper-handling issues (and I am using standard paper weights and sizes). As mentioned, their support is nearly worthless. If your time is worth anything, consider that cost of operating this, in addition to the cost of supplies.I had my attorney send a letter to Lexmark's corporate headquarters, and got a call from someone who agreed to send me brand-new regular cartridges. They tried to convince me that the tech was wrong, and that the toner sensors were bad. But in all four cartridges? That's stretching credulity!I will never buy anything with a Lexmark brand name again! It's just not worth it. I am baffled as to how they could get so many Editors Choice awards for this line of printers. So from now on I will rely on user reviews exclusively.

• Reviewed by:

  Strengths: easy setup, cost, attaches to network easily

  Weaknesses: Burns through ink very fast

  Overall: We have found that this printer burns through toner within just a few weeks with only about 2000 pages printed. With the toner at over 100 dollars to replace it has become very costly. Would not buy again because of this.

• Reviewed by: jcrsystems

  Strengths: automatic duplex printing, 1200+ resolution, network ready, decent ram

  Weaknesses: none yet

  Overall: When looking to purchase our first color laser printer I had a few requirements. This printer met all of them: 1) automatic duplex printing was a must 2) network ready was a must 3) minimum 1200 DPI 4) minimum 128 MB RAM Memory This printer was one of only a few that met these requirements and was also around our $500 price range budget. I love the printer. It's not much noisy at all and it's fast. The install CD to install the network drivers worked perfect and we've had it for a few weeks now with no problems. Still have not learned everything it can do as we have not read the manual yet, but for basic color printing needs I'm happy. We have not purchased replacement color cartridges yet so I do not know how expensive those will be yet.