In September 1999 Lexmark introduced the 12 page-per-minute (ppm) Optra M410 monochrome laser printer as the replacement for the Fujitsu-based Optra K 1220 printer. In May 2000, the Optra M412 model was introduced and became the first sub-$800 monochrome laser printer with both USB and PostScript emulation standard. The M412 featured an increased print speed of 17 ppm. The Optra M410 and M412, resembling smaller versions of the Optra S (4059) line, represented a new family of Lexmark monochrome laser printers introduced as "environmentally friendly".
Standard and high yield toner cartridges were compatible with both the M410 and M412 models. Although the cartridge design is similar to that of the Optra S, the M410 and M412 cartridges are not compatible with the S model printers.