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So in height, width and depth order the Lexmark Genesis S815 measures 43x38x30cm. It has a shiny black front, silver grey sides and matt black for the rest.

It comes with four inks the black being larger than the three colours. Once you have used the machines touch screen to set location you install the inks. Next add some paper and you are ready to print a test page. Now onto the software this took 12 minutes to install on a reasonably fast notebook, the hard disc was down almost exactly 1GB of space. Only at the end of the install do you decide if you want Ethernet, Wireless or USB installation.

To use an extra facility you will need a network available (wired or wireless) but that will still work with a USB connection. This feature is called Smart Solutions where extra applets can be added to the unit from a web site. One such will suit those addicted to Sudoku however you are then asked for easy, medium or hard and for me whose level is the Metro ‘easy’ the Lexmark easy is still harder but the answers are also printed.

The TFT display is 9x5cm giving the diagonal imperial measurement of 4.25inches. The TFT is touchscreen and the only other buttons are below it and they become highlighted when available, Back, Home, Help, Go and on/off.

See also: Multifunction printers

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Connections on the back left for mains lead input and on the right for USB connection the right side has card ports and USB stick connections.

Paper waiting for printing or copying is stored vertically at the rear of the unit face forward and this is delivered out of the base of the unit face up. This will require some space –around 15cm – in front of the unit.

Using the printers ‘Quick Print’ mode printing my nonsensical 200 word document came in at 20PPM after around 15 seconds of thinking time before printing started. The timing was exactly the same for a more normal 1500 word document spread over four pages. I found this interesting as the 200 word document is normally faster.

Printing an A4 borderless image or several images on a single sheet of photo paper took around 80 seconds and the results were quite nice however remember this is a four ink unit so it does sometimes lack that extra sparkle.

Copying of course does not require the PC to be connected and a typical A4 page from pressing the copy button to a printed copy is just a tad under 30seconds. You have control on not only enlargement and reduction but also the ability to make the copy darker or lighter.

Scanning is amazingly quick in fact on the first occasion I did not think it had worked it takes only 3 seconds to scan to the PC. It is worth mentioning that although the shape means you place the sheet to be scanned landscape it is rotated inside the unit and scanned portrait the same applies to copies so a normal portrait A4 page is correct.

The design of this unit is very different so much more can be done from the touchscreen TFT, Smart Solutions could be useful and the Lexmark software monitors not only its own card slot and USB stick port but also those on the PC so printing images from whatever source could not be easier. However the price has me worried.

I am told that the current 50% off price is only available till 31^st March. I think after that you will need to check prices again. Doing my searches found the Lexmark Genesis at £197.98 (Inc £200 cash back) from the first link below.

http://www.printerbase.co.uk/acatalog/lexmark-s815-printer.php

www.lexmark.co.uk/lexmark/product/home/383/0,6970,252735_653293766_1499007359_en,00.html?tabId=1