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Lexmark X6575 Pro: Wireless Multifunction Printer
by Margaret Hatcher
 This Wireless All-in-One with Fax offers the convenience of Wi-Fi combined with two-sided printing plus ADF. Aimed at business users, this is an inkjet printer with duplexer (double-sided printing), built-in scanner and fax machine, and wireless networking. It's easy to set up, though to use it on a wireless network you first have to connect it to a PC to configure it. High-end features - automatic duplexing and Wi-Fi - help the X6575 stand out in its price range.
Users gain freedom and flexibility with built-in 802.11g wireless, compatible with 802.11g/b/n. Share the Lexmark X6575 among multiple computers or a secure wireless network. Or connect with a USB cable.
Features include:
1. Print directly from digital memory cards, PictBridge or USB Flash drive.
2. Fast borderless photos in popular sizes (mediocre)
3. Productivity Studio makes it easy to basic edit digital images.
4. Up to 600 x 1200 dpi optical resolution in 48 bit color.
5. Up to 99 copies plus reduce/enlarge.
6. Up to 28 ppm black and 24 ppm color printing (Draft mode, starting with second copy).
7. Fairly decent quality printing up to 4800 x 2400 dpi resolution - good specs, not true in real time.
8. Easily convert documents to PDFs – very useful feature, especially for e-mail attachments.
The Auto Document Feeder (ADF) is nearly horizontal. Lift the lid of the flatbed scanner and it rises, so you can scan pages from a book. When you lower the lid on a single sheet of paper, it “scoots” around - this misalignment is common to almost all scanners.
The control panel is well laid out and includes a 2-line LCD. There are mode buttons down the left side, including one to quickly access the various options.
Paper feeds conventionally from a near vertical, 100-sheet tray. To the right of the output tray are two memory card slots, which take nearly all current types. In back is a USB connection plus a short aerial to connect wirelessly. With Lexmark, paper feed is almost jam-proof. (luv ya’ Lexmark)
ABBYY FineReader 6 Sprint OCR integrated well into the Productivity Suite. There’s a facility to produce PDF files directly from scans. (Why don’t other vendors include a PDF converter?) I never review ABBY OCR. It is still the best on the market.
Performance is competent. Text was nice and dark but fuzzy, which you might expect in a “draft” mode, marring finer fonts and making closely-spaced ones look mushed together. Print speeds were average for a consumer inkjet and below average for a business printer. Graphics looked good, with bright, accurate charts and diagrams.
Automatic duplexing, a 25-sheet automatic document feeder and integrated 802.11b/g networking. These features can make a big difference for the SOHO/home network folk. I'm a particular fan of making two-sided copies of two-sided documents, but duplexing is not fully automatic.
The Solution Center is a one-stop shop for how-to information, troubleshooting and maintenance, and other resources, including the excellent, HTML-based manual. A printed user guide covers various install options.
It functions independently (without a computer or wireless network) as a fax, copier, or printer. It has an incredible list of other features at a very affordable price. I cannot comment on reliability.
Customer service is exceptionally professional and Lexmark has a unique rewards program for recycling old cartridges. DON'T buy cartridges anywhere but online, you can get them at 1/2 price.
Always buy high yield, they last a lot longer.
A cheap WiFi solution, but otherwise average. Even tho’ it packs an impressive number of higher-end features, it can't compete with faster, more capable machines. But it's a good bargain for users who want maximum versatility for the price. When good is enough, this is your multi-purpose device, but if you need it to look great, I’d look elsewhere. Available on the web for about USD144 and for more info and driver updates go to www.lexmark.com.
Margaret Hatcher is a HAL-PC family member who is the office manager of a large, multi-location real estate firm. (It’s interesting to see a broker in the car with a client who wi-fi’s to the printer inside and I take the print to the client!)
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