If you ’ve been following printer review atMacworld , you know that $ 500 is inexpensive for a color optical maser multifunction printer ( MFP ) . Your first feeling of the Lexmark X500n , price at $ 500 , might be that it must therefore be mediocre . Do n’t let the price tag fool you . In my testing , the X500n deliver strong effect with its ability to print , scan , and copy . A large factor contributing to the X500n ’s affordability is its want of a fax machine ; fax capability is an more and more common feature on optical maser MFPs . If your office already owns a standalone facsimile car — and most office do — you’ll appreciate Lexmark ’s thoughtful way of making a powerful MFP more low-cost . And if you actually do involve a fax simple machine , Lexmark does n’t leave you in the dark : for $ 200 more , you could purchase the X502n model , which offers built - in facsimile functionality in summation to all the features admit in the X500n .
Setup and usability
You ’ll know the X500n is a serious equipment once you take out it from its box . The MFP is somewhat of a heavyweight , weighing 77 pounds and standing 21 inch high-pitched , so you ’ll likely need some assistance coiffe it up . The step - by - stride setup pamphlet is full illustrated , and I managed to set up the X500n somewhat quickly , but I felt the process would have been easy had there been written teaching . ( The pressman does come with a publish manual . )
When try MFPs , the problem I most often come across is flawed digital scanner software . quiz the X500n ’s built - in flatbed scanner was like a breath of impudent strain . The scanner utility put to work swimmingly , and its user - favorable port offer conciliatory customization option . Also notable is the X500n ’s power to scan over a web . The scanner can be deal on a connection using its 10/100BaseTX Ethernet connection , and it can also read to a individual computer via USB 2.0 .
Likewise , the X500n ’s copier is easy to use and straightforward . The included automatonlike text file confluent cultivate well and should come in ready to hand in busy offices . Two big buttons on the control panel give up you to choose between black - and - livid or colour copying . you may also configure options for the caliber of your copies using the carte button .
configure the X500n over a web is also gentle . Using its internet utility ( which you could access through the OS X Printer Setup utility once you ’ve installed everything on the CD that accompanies the MFP ) , you could change the administrative password and other configurations , or even add atomic number 99 - chain armor warning signal that broadcast warnings about paper press or low toner .
Quality
The X500n ’s printing performance turned in self-coloured termination from a gore ofMacworldexperts , range from Good to Very Good . The MFP ’s text quality appeared liquid and clean , gain a Very Good evaluation . In our mental testing mark of a 22 MB Photoshop image , reds were too strong , earning a Good military rank . The MFP did rather well when publish a 4 - page color PDF containing graphics , fine lines , and gradients : thin lines were well bear on , gradients were smooth and distinct , and overall the colour document was pleasing to the eye .
Our jury was least imprint with the X500n ’s copy quality . In our copy of aMacworldmagazine cover , semblance were nearly accurate , but some details that could be seen in the original were lost in the copy . The overall composition also appeared a fiddling grainy . Our panel cave in the X500n copy quality a secure rating .
I mentioned earlier that I appreciated the rest of use of the X500n ’s scanner . Even dear word is that the scan quality is telling . In a scan of a phone line chart to screen resolution timbre , the X500n received a Very Good evaluation from our jury . And when run down our control photo of a picnic vista to judge color and range of a function quality , the X500n ’s yield was a little weighed down on the blues , but overall the picture was clear , earning a Good rating .
Speed
The X500N has surprisingly libertine print velocity for an MFP of its price . It was quick in two mental testing than our Top Product in the colour laser MFP class , the Epson AcuLaser CX11NF ( ) . In my examination over 10/100 BaseTX Ethernet , the X500N took 13 seconds to impress a 1 - page Word document , 37 minute to print a 10 - page Word document , 43 seconds to print a 22 megabyte Photoshop image , and 58 second to print a 4 - varlet PDF . In demarcation , the AcuLaser lease 10 seconds to print a 1 - Sir Frederick Handley Page watchword papers , 36 seconds to impress a 10 - page Good Book written document , one second twenty - six seconds to publish a 22 megabit Photoshop image , and two minutes nineteen seconds to print a 4 - page PDF .
read with the X500n is a little slow . In my testing , it study 1 instant and 38 second to glance over an 8 - by-10 - column inch photo at 600 dpi . And it assume 1 min and 55 second base to scan a 4 - by-6 - inch photo at 1,200 dpi .
timed trials: print
Scale = moment : irregular
timed trials: scan
Jury Tests: Print
musical scale = Superior , Very dependable , Good , Fair , Poor .
Jury Tests: scan/copy
How We test : We ran all tests with the color laser multifunction printer connected via 10/100BaseTX Ethernet to a 2.66GHz Mac Pro with Mac OS X 10.4.10 installed and 1 GB of RAM . We recorded the clock time it postulate the MFP to print a 1 - page Word document and a 10 - Thomas Nelson Page Son document , as well as the time it took to print a 22 MB Photoshop image and a 4 - varlet PDF . We then record the meter it took to run down an 8 - by-10 - column inch picture at 600 dpi , as well as the time it took to scan a 4 - by-6 - inch photograph at 1,200 dpi . A jury of experts essay sample yield of the MFP to evaluate its print , scan , and copy quality as either Superior , Very Good , Good , Fair , or Poor in comparison to the output of retiring color laser MFPs we ’ve tested.—Macworld Lab Testing by Brian Chen
specifications
Macworld’s buying advice
At $ 499 , the Lexmark X500n is a bargain for a gadget of its variety . Although it ’s slow with scanning and its copy lack some detail , this MFP is fast , easy to apply , and a strong overall performer .
[ Brian Chen is an assistant editor in chief atMacworld . ]
