Lexmark's X1150 provides your SOHO with decent multifunctional performance, but the value of the model is compromised by high running costs.

The X1150 is Lexmark's budget All-In-One (AIO) offering. Unlike its bigger brethren, the X5150, the former has striped off some built-in features. Still, for just AU$199, this multifunctional device packs a 4,800 x 1,200dpi inkjet, a 2400dpi scanner, a color copier, as well as a PC fax function.

In design, the X1150 looks bold with brazen sharp edges and subdued curves. Contributing to the stylish appearance is its sleek grey-and-black ensemble that's proven popular in the market. Beauty is subjective, but we found the design to be functional and novices will have no trouble figuring out how to use the machine.

Whether you're planning to scan, print, fax or copy, operating this AIO is a breeze--provided you leave your PC switched on and connected at all times. The controls on the front right tip of the AIO do not function unless the software drivers are running on your PC, severely reducing this Lexmark's flexibility.

Unlike HP's PSC 1210, the X1150 makes no attempt to miniaturize. The latter adopts the more conventional straight-paper-path concept of most inkjets, resulting in the larger 445 x 308 x 163mm size in its kept state. Still, this occupies far less space than separate copiers, scanners, and printers do.

Like most other consumer-oriented devices, setting up the X1150 is easy. There's a startup guide detailing steps and instructions that are easy to follow. However, like the manufacturer's budget Z605 Color Jetprinter, there's a need to remember the model number of your ink cartridges. The software is unable to detect the type of consumables installed automatically. Again, the USB cable is missing from the package, so you'll have to purchase one before you'll be able to use this AIO.

The machine--despite the larger size--still has a rather tight interior found on most other multifunctions. The scanner bed pops open and rests on a brace to reveal the interior of the printer. However, the angle of tilt is quite small, hence the lack of room for installing or replacing cartridges.

In terms of speed, the X1150 completed our 10-page test in a respectable 1 minute 57 seconds or 5.2 pages per minute. Although this puts this unit behind some of the newly released budget inkjets such as HP's Deskjet 3550, Epson's C43UX, or even Lexmark's own Z605. For the photo tests, the X1150 took an agonizing 29 minutes for an A4-sized picture.

The quality of the prints was mediocre. Text came out very clean and legible to even 2.5-point font size. Draft color prints were not too pleasing, though. You'll have difficulty deciphering between magenta and purple, which is commonly used in larger pie-charts. Moving on to the photo outputs, this AIO showed visible dithering and banding on our test prints on glossy media. Adding to the downside, the unit does not support borderless outputs and the pictures produced on paper are not centered.

The scanner and copier of the X1150 did decently with regard to color fidelity. The 2400dpi scanner delivered images that remained sharp but with colors that were slightly washed out. To be fair, this is typical of most other AIOs. Monochrome scans, on the other hand, did much better.

Because the X1150 does not come with an automatic document feeder (ADF), copy speeds will never be acceptable. Monochrome copies took around 1 minute and 48 seconds, while color ones took 3 minutes and 11 seconds. If you're copying with the hardware controls, you'll be forced to accept letter-size copies as there are no provisions for you to set any perimeters. For scanning and copying in A4 size, you'll require the software drivers to do so.

The X1150 uses the same cartridges as Lexmark's Z605. However, unlike the latter, the former ships with standard-yield cartridges. Though this is slightly better, the costs of consumables still work out to a rather expensive AU$0.12 per monochrome and AU$0.21 per color output.

In all, this Lexmark--due to its software-reliant concept--is really nothing more than a scanner integrated into an inkjet. Because it is unable to copy--let alone fax--without the use of a PC, this multifunctional device doesn't fulfill the characteristics of an AIO in the true sense of the term. Nevertheless, at an inexpensive AU$199 for this much of a printer, the X1150 should bode well for those who print intermittently yet need the added convenience and space savings of an integrated scanner.

Lexmark X1150 All-In-One
Company: Lexmark Australia
Price: AU$199
Distributor: Selected resellers
Phone: 1300 362 192

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