Lexmark X342n review

Lexmark's X342n MFP can print, copy and fax mono documents, and make colour scans.

Unlike Dell's Multifunction Laser Printer 1815dn (opposite) and Brother's DCP-8065DN (page 28), the X342n can't print automatically on both sides of a sheet of paper. It does have a network port, however, so members of a workgroup can share it easily.

The X342n requires some assembly. Two bits of plastic clip into place to form the 50-sheet ADF's input tray. The finished tray doesn't feel very robust, but it seems to work well. Unlike Dell's 1815dn, the X342n's scanner headlock is easy to reach.

Like other Lexmark network printers, we found the X342n easy to set up. Once connected to our network, it automatically printed a network status page and the install program was able to detect and install the printer automatically. The X342n supports the PCL printer language, but its driver seems more basic than those of other Lexmark network printers we have tested. It can print multiple pages to each sheet, but won't help you print to both sides of each page manually.

The X342n can make scans over a network, but not using a simple TWAIN interface. Following the user guide, we had to visit the printer's web configuration interface to create a scan profile, after which it should have been possible to select the profile and make a scan from the device itself. Though the profile was available, the X342n couldn't connect to our test PC, even when we disabled the Windows Firewall.

We tested the X342n's print functions across our network, before connecting it by USB for our scan tests. USB scanning doesn't use the same friendly TWAIN interface as Lexmark's inkjet MFPs, but it was simple to use for basic work. The X342n captured documents quickly up to its maximum 600dpi resolution. The scans weren't focused very sharply, but they were acceptable. The driver's Auto level function worked well for office documents, but it made photos too light.

Print quality was more impressive. Despite its modest 600dpi print resolution, it produced clear grey fonts and detailed graphics. Text was solid black with crisp outlines. At 23.3 pages per minute (ppm), the X342n was close to its rated 25ppm speed on our Formal letter test, but it frequently paused during our Draft speed text, slowing its overall result. On our graphics-heavy Normal speed test, it was below par even for an entry-level mono laser, such as those reviewed in Shopper's October 2006 Labs test.

This MFP is keenly priced for its specification, but it's barely cheaper to run than Samsung's entry-level SCX-4200 MFP, reviewed in What's New, October 2006. For just £40 more, Dell's 1815dn is much better and has significantly lower running costs.

Author: Simon Handby