Lexmark Z51 Review

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Lexmark Z51
1.8 stars
Average rating for this product is: 1.8 out of 5

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Matt.'s Review of Lexmark Z51

2nd Nov 2001

Overall Rating

2 stars
  • Value for money
    1.5 stars
  • Quality
    2 stars
  • Print Quality
    3.5 stars
Bad Points

Ink dries up about every month. The cartridges in the printer dry up far too quickly. Must manually update the printer firmware when trying to use the pritner under Windows 2000.


General Comments

I've had problems with this printer from step one. First off the ink dries up several times a year (about 6 to be exact). It seems as if the holder for the ink cartridge doesn't have a tight enough seal around it to prevent open air from drying out the ink.
The printer driver for windows 9x is flawed. Several times I have gone into MSWord only to find that the printer driver is no longer present. After rebooting, the printer driver is sometimes present and sometimes not.
I've recently upgraded to Windows 2000 and the firmware on the printer was not compatible. I downloaded new drivers and the firmware update. BOTH failed to install properly. The firmware update did not update the printer successfully and their where errors while installing the 2000 driver. Lexmark Technical support said these problems may not be present if I were to use a USB connection instead of parallel.
Lexmark Technical Support has proven to be less than helpful. I have yet to find a way to contact support by phone for this printer. I'm currently working through email support where I'm repeatedly told to update the firmware and service pack of Windows which is obviously not working.

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Members' Comments onMatt.'s Review

  • shelagh. on 8th Dec 2001

    And there was I thinking I was the only user with these problems. I had a wonderful Lexmark 150c but Lexmark wouldn't produce a new driver. I ended up buying the Z51. What a mistake!
    It's a pain in the rear end and Lexmark email help is an absolute waste of time. They answer
    questions you don't ask and don't answer questions you do. I thought your score was generous.
    I'll never recommend Lexmark. On the contrary I'll posively discourage anyone from buying one.

  • Sarah. on 24th Mar 2002

    I have a Z52 with the same spotty printing problem, even with brand new cartridges and trying all the tech support recommenadtions. Looking to replace the printer. It wont be a Lexmark.

  • BIGLOUIE. on 14th Nov 2002

    I agree with the other reviewer. I have received the spoolsv.exe error in Windows 2000 on this printer even after installing the firmware. Tech support said that it would be $15 for tech support. I declined their offer. I am now unable to use any printer.