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The X125 is the latest multifunction device from Lexmark, combining colour printing, scanning, copying and fax functionality in a device not much bigger than a traditional inkjet printer.
Printing is offered at 2400 x 1200 dots per inch (dpi), while the scanner function is capable of 600 x 1200 dpi optical resolution and a 32-bit colour scan depth. Copying documents can be done on a standalone basis, as can faxing, with copied documents being resizable between 25 and 200 per cent.
Although it is not unattractive, the X125 doesn't have the elegant curves of Lexmark's printer range, such as the Z65. However, more importantly for its intended small office/home office (SOHO) market, it is compact and relatively lightweight.
The device is USB-powered and requires little in the way of setting up. Simply install the drivers, plug it in and go.
There are numerous paper trays and feeders included, some of which are detachable, ensuring that documents remain separate. This is particularly useful when carrying out two different tasks - such as printing and faxing at once.
Usability is good, with a numerical keypad and one-touch buttons for scanning, copying and faxing placed prominently on the front panel. A two-line LCD display informs you of current processes.
Bizarrely, the device lacks a power button and can therefore only be switched off at the mains. Either that or it uses some strange key combination to power off. As our review model was lacking a manual this remains a mystery.
The compactness of the X125 comes from the use of a sheet-fed design, as opposed to the more traditional flatbed. This results in some limitations for the X125 in terms of what it can scan and fax: try scanning anything thicker than an A4 piece of paper and you will have some problems, and anything rigid is out of the question.
However, for the SOHO user this is unlikely to be a problem, as they will deal predominantly with A4 sheets. With its automatic document feeder this is a painless task for the X125.
Printing is pretty impressive, achieving a score of 78 per cent in our standard printing tests and performing almost faultlessly in mono mode. Colour printing was also good, particularly for a multifunction device, although it did have a problem with yellow.
Like most inkjet printers? dark yellows are created by dithering magenta on top of a lighter yellow.
The results of this were a rather unimpressive in CMY colour scales, but were less noticeable in real-life tests on photographs. Its overall score puts it on a par with the HP OfficeJet V40, which retails at £40 higher.
Print speeds are acceptable at 5ppm (pages per minute) in mono and 2ppm in colour.
The X125's overall score puts it on a par with the HP OfficeJet V40, which retails at £40 more.
See also:
Space-saving, quality output from this combined fax, printer and scanner. 20 Mar 2001All Inkjet Printers
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