You could be forgiven for thinking that Lexmark is trying to flood the multifunction device market with as many different products as possible: after all, we reviewed the last one, the X85, just a few months ago. The Lexmark X5150 is similar in some ways to the X85, but in others it's a different beast.

First, the similarities. This is a so-called "all-in-one" device, which means that it's a printer, a scanner and a colour photocopier all in one plastic box. Some all-in-ones from other companies also have fax modems built in, so that they can be used as stand-alone fax machines. Like the other devices in the Lexmark range, the X5150 does not have a fax modem, but it does come with fax software. That's not quite as daft as it seems - it just means that you'll need to have your PC (and modem) switched on in order to send and receive faxes.

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The two main components to this machine are the print engine and the flatbed scanner. Dealing with the fomer first, it's basically a faster-rated version of the X85 engine. Maximum resolution is 4800 x 1200dpi (although you'll only get this on photo paper), while the print speed is up to a rated 19ppm (pages per minute) for mono pages and 14ppm for colour, compared with 12ppm and 6ppm respectively for the X85.

As is always the case, these figures must be consumed with a generous proportion of salt, but the X5150 does feel pretty swift. The automatic paper type detection system is a real time-saver, too, and the X5150 produces good results, especially for text and business graphics. We can't complain about the quality of the printed output.

Moving now to the scanning engine, this has been enhanced from 600 x 1200dpi to 600 x 2400dpi. The actual visual difference is barely perceptible, although it is worth noting that the scanning engine of both this model and the X85 are not quite on a par with some dedicated scanners. They're fine for business and most home projects, but there's occasionally some posterisation that won't impress professionals.

The X5150 has a wide range of options available via its LCD panel, including functions for changing the format of scanned photos while they're being copied. There's the straightforward mono and colour copying options too, and you can link buttons to your PC fax software. Paper drops into the vertical sheet-feeder at the back of the printer and emerges face-up at the front.

As is the case with the X85, the X5150 has a single interface by which it connects to the host PC; a USB 2.0 port. You'll therefore need Windows 98SE or later; drivers are included but they're a little more fragile than those for a parallel printer. This seems to be the case with many such USB-connected printers, which generally redirect a virtual parallel port to the USB port. Most users will be fine, but it's worth searching the Web for evidence of any reported driver conflicts with your particular PC before you buy.

For our review model a USB cable was supplied - retail boxes are unlikely to contain one, though. This interface is certainly fast enough, but given the uprated spec of this machine compared with the X85, some small companies would probably have liked to see a network interface, even as an optional extra. As it is, sharing the X5150 via a connected PC is the only real option.

Lexmark has upped the stakes with the X5150, which has better performance and some enhanced features compared with its predecessors. It's still not ideally suited to small office workgroup use due to its single interface - even though the print engine might just be up to the job - and the lack of a hardware fax module will also be off-putting for some businesses. However, as a low cost combination of printer, scanner and copier, it will appeal to home users and the self-employed.