Roundup: 13 Multifunction Printers : Lexmark X4950
By
Digital Versus,
published on March 18, 2009
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13. Lexmark X4950
Scanner and Copier
Scanning the initial preview of the test photo takes 9 seconds and the full scan in 300 dpi takes 20. No racehorse, then, but these speeds are fine and quality is good enough. The scans could be sharper but the colors are nice to the eye.
The copier, however, proves a bit slow: to make one black and white or color copy takes around 40 seconds. Slow for a professional-grade product.
The X4950 is a nice little work printer that has been available for some time in Europe (where we were able to test it) and will soon land in the U.S.
Either at home or in the office, its WiFi connection is a plus. There is a double-sided printing mode, but no fax machine. You have to step up to the X6675 model to get one. On the other hand, those who only want WiFi should take a look at the X4650, which is more basic but less expensive.
The front of the printer has a small screen with command buttons on the right. There aren’t too many of them and they make navigation easy and simple.
Either at home or in the office, its WiFi connection is a plus. There is a double-sided printing mode, but no fax machine. You have to step up to the X6675 model to get one. On the other hand, those who only want WiFi should take a look at the X4650, which is more basic but less expensive.
The front of the printer has a small screen with command buttons on the right. There aren’t too many of them and they make navigation easy and simple.
Speed and office print quality
Speeds are better than on older Lexmark models. In standard mode with our test documents we got 5.8 ppm in both black and white and color and 24.4 ppm in black and white draft mode. These are okay scores in terms of what the competition gives. Nothing beats the record-breaking Canons: up to 13 ppm in standard mode.
Draft mode means just that. The blacks are very light: these prints are good only for checking page layout. Standard mode is just right for text (deep blacks, precision of characters). In color prints however, the tinted areas could be more even. Nevertheless, the quality is okay for both personal and professional use.
Speeds are better than on older Lexmark models. In standard mode with our test documents we got 5.8 ppm in both black and white and color and 24.4 ppm in black and white draft mode. These are okay scores in terms of what the competition gives. Nothing beats the record-breaking Canons: up to 13 ppm in standard mode.
Draft mode means just that. The blacks are very light: these prints are good only for checking page layout. Standard mode is just right for text (deep blacks, precision of characters). In color prints however, the tinted areas could be more even. Nevertheless, the quality is okay for both personal and professional use.
Little reminder: make sure you clean and align the heads before your first prints so as to check the state of your cartridges.
Speed and photo quality
A color photo in 4x6 format takes more than a minute to print. Several months ago this would have been considered more or less average but since then several multifunction machines have come out with speeds of 40 seconds, and this now seems rather slow. An A4 print takes almost 3 minutes.
Photo quality is a bit disappointing. You get Canon’s lack of colour accuracy with the visible ink drops of an HP. The color Lexmark photos could well earn a place in an album or on the wall, but the black and whites are overly blue for our liking.
Photo quality is a bit disappointing. You get Canon’s lack of colour accuracy with the visible ink drops of an HP. The color Lexmark photos could well earn a place in an album or on the wall, but the black and whites are overly blue for our liking.
Cartridges
The printer is delivered with “standard” capacity cartridges. Do not get any more of these! They will make your cost per page very expensive, perhaps double what you’d normally pay. Get the XL ones for much better value for money.
| Cartridge | ISO lifespan | ||
| 41 (single unit) | 220 | ||
| 42 (black) | 210 | ||
| 43 XL (color) | 500 | ||
| 44 XL (black) | 500 |
| Lexmark X4950 | |
|---|---|
| Pluses | Minuses |
|
|
Wi-fi + double sided + document loader: Lexmark is giving us more services than its rivals but quality and speed remain less impressive.
I've used Epson photo quality printers at home for years and have been very happy with the print quality and costs. My only issue, is that after a few years 3-5 they clog up and print unevenly. The good news is by then, the newer printers have much better quality and cost less.
if you guys at toms still have these machines i would love to find out if they still work after you leave them sitting for a month and a bit.
my biggest issue with all ink jets is they dry up on me.
i have been through both cheap and pricy ones and all die.
i have given up and turned to mono laser and for the rare occasion i need colour i go to the local copy shop.
the only think I can say is I'll NEVER buy an Epson printer. Good quality colors, yes, but SHIT ink design.
I am still using my HP officejet 1170c which must be well over 10 years old now and not a problem yet (touch wood) would never touch a lexmark again last one lasted about a year and went in the bin
here's a tip for dainsane1 - leave the printer on 24/7 to fix drying/clogging print heads
I just bought a MP620 and so far so good, great quality printing, photos are fantastic, but must use Canon paper for this and so much easier to set-up than and Brother MFC machine (what a nightmare!) had Epson before this and it crapped out after 2.5 years. Its so good to have a WIFI machine !!! At least in Auckland its so damp the jets will never dry out!
This is a really poor article,
1/ some list cartrige span, some don't/
2/ prices? where are they?
3/ Is this easy to use as its simply easy on the front panel? or has the reviewer actually used it?
4/ I could go on and on, I can't make much sense out of whihc to go for, no conclusion, limited info, few facts, duplex?
terrible article, read elsewhere....
Stinkyink now offer ink cartridges for the Kodak ESP5 ink. Oh and it's free delivery too!
Stinkyink now offer ink cartridges for the Kodak ESP7 ink. Oh and it's free delivery too!