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Aug 01, 2010
Lexmark X364dn Laser Multi-Function Printer
0 of 1 found this helpful I bought this all-in-one laser printer because it was only one of two brands that support both MacOS X and Windows for all features: printing, copying, FAX from computer, and scan to computer. The other brand is Brother.
I wished I could say I love this printer, but I don't. I've used a Lexmark Optra printer for a number of years, and the print quality is outstanding on it. Looking at the text quality output from the X364dn, it doesn't look as though the fonts are shaped as well, the kerning seems off, and I'm not especially thrilled with the look of the text.
Having said that, it prints text quickly. Graphics unfortunately are very slow to print.
Finally, implementation of the FAX from computer and scan to computer functions are both clunky, and anything but intuitive. The easy way to implement FAX from a document on the computer would be to create a different "printer icon" for FAXing only .. so that it would be Printing to a different printer -- much the way Adobe implements creation of a PDF document in the full Acrobat product.
Instead, Lexmark buries the FAX from computer into the printer dialogue, AND it's totally different when using a Mac than using a PC. It works, it's just difficult to figure out.
Scanning from the printer to a file on the computer is really clunky, and not at all visual, as is the HP scanning function that I've used. One doesn't see a scanned image on-screen before the file is created. One cannot adjust the scanning parameters after seeing the scanned file. The parameters can be set before scanning, but it's just a "blind" process of choosing values, and hoping that I happen to pick good values. Only after the scanned file is created can I visually see the results on-screen.
Further more, there's no application running on the computer to control scanning, with either a PC or Mac. The user must access the printer's internal Web server, with very limited graphics, and specify the type of document being scanned, what output format is desired, color details, image quality, and so on by clicking radio buttons and choosing numerical values in a text box.
Lexmark's choice of using the Web browser in the computer to control scanning essentially makes it impossible to get a visual sense of the document before completing the scan.
All-in-all, I'd buy the X364dn again because it is one of only two multi-function laser printers at this price point that implements all the functions I want on both MacOS and Windows.
On the positive side, Lexmark is one of few companies still offering on-site service from factory techs on consumer grade products. The printer arrived out of the box with a damaged flatbed scanner. A web chat with a tech support person resulted in a next day air delivery of parts likely to need replacement, with the tech showing up an hour later to replace the broken parts, pack up the old parts (for UPS pick-up) and get the printer working properly -- all covered under the warranty of the new printer.