Multifunction printers (MFPs) are rapidly taking over from the old standalone printer and scanner, with scanner sales in particular down markedly over the past two years. Lexmark has played a key role in the conversion to the all-in-one through its aggressive pricing regime that has made it more economical for consumers to have a single device to do multiple jobs.

Lexmark is certainly not the only company to go the way of the MFP but it was one of the pioneers in bringing them to entry level consumers. This demographic now has access to single, cheap devices that will scan, print, fax and photocopy.

In Lexmark’s new lineup, the X5250 is one of two top of the range consumer products, the other being the 5270, which is only sold through Harvey Norman.

The 5250 is a compact unit that combines a good quality scanner with an average printer, efficient photocopy function and basic fax, all controlled from a simple to use software control centre.

The photocopy function can be used without a PC but the fax relies on your PC’s modem.

Everything about the 5250 is designed to be simple to use and, apart from a glitch while setting it up where the only language we could select was Greek, it is. (We solved the language problem with the troubleshooting instructions in the manual).

The scanner operation has been kept to bare basics. There are only four resolution settings –- 72 dpi for web use, 100 dpi for faxing, and 150 and 300 dpi for printing -- which is sensible because the average home or SOHO user doesn’t require anything else. The scanner’s colour accuracy is impressive, however, in de-screen (magazine) mode it tends to over blur the image.

Although Lexmark claims the printer will provide photo quality prints, it fails to deliver. Colour accuracy is poor with a noticeable over emphasis of yellow and ordinary handling of red tones. The six colour (in two cartridges) printing does not stack up against similar standalone printers if you are going to use it for photos. And even the blacks have a brownish tinge.

Although it offers borderless printing and the printer software is supposed to expand your image to ensure that is what you get, some of the test prints we did emerged with white margins at both ends.

However, the 5250 copies well and quickly, the controls are so simple to use you could send your four-year-old to do some copying and if you are looking for a low cost home office all-in-one machine it will fill the bill.