Versatility, easy operation, and low cost per page are the key selling points for Lexmark's four new Optra S models. While their rated speeds range from 12 to 24 pages per minute, all deliver the same excellent 1,200- by 1,200-dpi output and first-rate management software. None offers the convenience of ledger-size printing, but they're worth considering for any office that wants simplicity in setup, maintenance, and management across a variety of print speeds.
The S1255n has the muscle for only small workgroups, but it's well suited for these less demanding loads. The S1625n is a good compromise for midsize workgroup needs, while the paper loads and duty cycles of the S1855n and S2455n make them contenders for large workgroups and departmental roles. We award our Editors' Choice to the S1855n because it offers the best balance between output quality, print speed, paper handling, and network manageability.
Physically setting up the Optra S machines was a snap. Forget the hunt for brightly colored shipping tabs or fussing with the toner and fuser. Don't worry about overlooking a styrofoam insert. Just pull the printer out of the box, pull the toner out of the printer and remove its two clips, and slide the toner back in. Add paper, plug in the power and network cables, and you're ready to set up the software.
Installing Optra S printers onto a network should present no real challenge if you're familiar with the operating systems involved. All four models use the same procedures, and you can set up multiple printers at the same time. The software walks you through the process. There are buttons for setting up the network, adding drivers, and other basic tasks, though some of the dialog boxes are a bit ambiguous. (For example, the directions for adding a TCP/IP port in Microsoft Windows are not intuitive.) In our Labs we had both Windows NT and NetWare print services running with a minimum of fuss.
Lexmark's MarkVision software provides solid management tools. Versions are available for Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 3.x, OS/2, NetWare, and Unix. You can perform routine setup and monitoring tasks remotely, and the primary window shows all installed Lexmark printers on the network, including the unit's interface, status, and address. Double-clicking on a device opens a detailed management screen with a series of tabbed windows. The Status panel shows a photographic image of the printer; add an option and the picture is updated. A color-coded frame around the image shows the current condition; green is for okay, yellow for warnings such as a low paper tray, and red is for off-line issues that need attention. The Status panel also shows the printer's current LED readout and its installed options. You can arrange for alerts to be sent to a remote PC, even in the form of audio notices.
Another window in MarkVision shows a virtual representation of your printer's own status panel. You can use it to track statistics; note and adjust paper settings and handling options; set alarms; adjust buffering; and fine-tune emulation, resolution, and image enhancement settings. The job management window lets you view and manage the queue, including removing jobs. You can also use it to flash the firmware on multiple printers, set reminders for regular maintenance, and track statistics on usage, total and interval page counts, average time per job, and duplex usage.
Lexmark included an early edition of its Web-based version of MarkVision with the unit we saw, but this is a work in progress and offers limited functionality. During testing, we could change printer settings, but we couldn't see how the printer was currently configured with the browser-based tool. The company is working on new firmware that will provide real-time status updates over the Web. When the firmware is released, Lexmark claims it won't be difficult to load onto your Optra S.
Adding options to any of the Optras is as simple as the initial installation. The duplexer and 500-sheet and 2,000-sheet paper bins stack beneath the printer: There are no cables, secondary power sources, or complicated fittings to worry about. The envelope feeder slides in the front of the printer under the toner door, and the sorter bin slips into two slots on the unit's top. There is no stapler option.
The MarkNet S network interface card, designed for all the Optra S-series printers, works with both 10Base-T and 100BaseTX Ethernet networks. You can add as many NICs as you like; the only limitation is the number of free PCI slots in the printer. All four units can automatically accept and print incoming faxes by attaching a fax modem to the serial port. The port comes standard on the S1625n and S1855n, but it's a $99 option with the S1255n and S2455n. Once the modem is hooked up, you have to enable the Receive function through the control panel. The printer will then switch to fax mode whenever the modem sends a ring notice to it.
Despite the similarity in design among the four printers, the models are uniquely tuned to the demands of their rated speeds, with different power supplies, transport motors, and processors. During our tests, we found the Optra S printers to be able performers in their default 600-dpi modes. The S1855n, in particular, ran faster than the 20-ppm units on some of our tests. All four generally ran ahead of the competition and were very close to their rated speeds on our 50-page test document. The printers also had no problems switching between various protocols and language emulations.
There was one difficulty with our 12-page PCL test file: It opened as a 13-page document on all four Lexmark units because of the way the driver interpreted one of the fonts. The original collection of mixed text and graphics was created in Microsoft Word for Windows 95, but we opened it in Word 97. Lexmark representatives noted that they had worked to make the driver as backward-compatible as possible, which may have caused the problem. As a result, the throughput times for this test are about 8 percent longer, because of the extra page.
Output quality was very good with all four models. Text printed with solid matte-finish blacks and crisp letters. There were no noticeable jaggies, even with smaller italic fonts. Set at full 1,200- by 1,200-dpi resolution, each Optra S produced clean halftones and smooth gradient fills. Pie charts in an Excel graphic printed with solid fills, good gray scales, and no jagged edges.
It was all but impossible to produce a paper jam on the printers--even with badly crumpled pages. The error status was immediately reported in MarkVision, including the location of the jam. Once we cleared the paper path, the missing page was resent automatically, without user intervention.
Though they are limited to legal-size paper, these are excellent machines with well-designed features and software. Thanks to simple setup, easy operation, and a low cost of ownership, the Lexmark Optra S series is a fine pick for any environment where administrative support is at a premium.