Lexmark E260d: local monochrome duplex with a simple light panel review

A local document printer with automatic two-sided output

The Lexmark E260d is an earlier monochrome reference for a workstation that connects directly by USB and prints ordinary office documents. Automatic duplex and a 250-sheet tray are included. The deciding tradeoff is the local setup: Ethernet and wireless require separate external print-server equipment, while the manual feed accepts just one sheet at a time.

Lexmark identifies US part 34S0100 as discontinued. That establishes the configuration described here, not current stock, warranty entitlement or the condition of an individual unit. Check the suffix, regional label, paper equipment, consumable status and compatible print driver before comparing an older machine with a current replacement.

The computer and paper settings do the work

Standard ports are USB Type-B and IEEE 1284 parallel. The original US package excludes those connection cables. For the normal USB arrangement, install compatible print software and choose the appropriate paper and duplex settings. The original guide describes driver controls for long-edge or short-edge two-sided printing, with local utilities available for default settings.

The physical control panel has six lights and two buttons rather than an LCD menu or touchscreen. This affects everyday operation: status and error conditions use light sequences, while many settings are handled from software or configuration procedures. A network diagram in the shared guide does not install an Ethernet port on this suffix. The separate E260dn is the built-in wired-network version.

Use the duplex speed and actual supported media

Lexmark declares up to 35 one-sided Letter pages per minute. Automatic duplex has a separate 17 Letter sides-per-minute rating. These are manufacturer specifications, not speed measurements from testing for this article. A two-sided report should not be planned as though its whole run uses the faster simplex figure.

The original size table positively supports Letter, Legal and A4 in the standard tray and automatic duplex path. Paper loading matters: the tray extends backward for longer A4 or Legal stock, and the guides must match the sheet. The guide limits automatic duplex to 60–90 gsm paper. The wider weight range supported through the manual feeder does not grant automatic two-sided handling to every specialty medium.

A single-sheet feed is an occasional-media routine

Standard input is stated as 250+1 on the 20-pound or 75-gsm basis: a 250-sheet stack and a separate single-sheet manual feed. The original instructions say to wait for the loading indication and present one sheet without forcing it into the guides. An envelope follows its instructed one-sided manual-feed routine; it is not a tray of automatically duplexed envelopes.

Only one optional 250- or 550-sheet drawer may be added. The published 800+1 maximum needs the larger accessory and is not included with a base E260d. Lexmark recommends 250–2,500 pages per month, separately from the 50,000-page maximum duty ceiling. If the actual workload routinely exceeds the recommendation, compare a model whose recommended range covers it rather than treating duty as a sustainable target.

Consumables and the useful comparison

The supplied Return Program toner is declared at 1,000 pages under ISO/IEC 19752. US E260A11A replacement toner is rated at 3,500 pages, with E260A21A listed as a regular alternative. The E260X22G photoconductor is a separate item rated up to 30,000 pages. Do not assume the higher-yield E360 cartridge is compatible simply because the housings look related. Match geographic compatibility and program conditions; yield alone does not establish present running cost.

The body measures 15.98 inches wide, 14.55 deep and 10.2 high and weighs 29.77 pounds, before paper extension and operating access. Check the actual low-voltage US label and correct cord. There is no scanner, copier, fax or document feeder. AirPrint, Mopria and PIN-release printing are unestablished in the read sources. This reference fits straightforward local mono duplex work; compare E260dn for included Ethernet, a stack-feeder model for frequent alternate media, or actual multifunction hardware for scanning.