Lexmark X646e MFP manual

Lexmark X646e MFP

50 ppm Monochrome

Print ▪ Copy ▪ Scan ▪ Fax ▪ Internet Fax

www.BERTL.com

©

All Rights Reserved. The license under which this document is made available and applicable law prohibit any reproduction or further transmission of any portion of this document. This document may only be viewed electronically through the www.BERTL.com Web site and may not be stored in electronic or hard copy format. Any reproduction of trademarks is strictly prohibited. BERTL accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies or omissions contained in this document.

What’s Inside

Click on an entry to go to the page listed.

Introduction ......................................................................................................... 4

Device Features Summary.......................................................... 4

Paper Handling: Paper Input .............................................................................. 5

Paper Handling: Input Features Summary .................................. 5

Reloading Paper

What

We Like

Paper Handling: Paper Output/Finishing .......................................................... 7

Paper

Finishing

Finisher

Output/Finishing Features Summary................ 7

Productivity .................................................................... 7

Routine Maintenance .......................................................................................... 8

Maintenance

We

What Like

Paper Jam Removal.................................................................... 9

Toner Replacement Process ..................................................... 10

Device Management ......................................................................................... 11

What

What Like

Monitoring....................................................................... 12 Status

Job Reporting ................................................................ 12

Settings........................................................................ 12

Address Book Management ...................................................... 13

Control

Scan

Email Alerts............................................................. 14

Job Log Management................................................................ 14

Security .............................................................................................................. 15

Security

What Liked .......................................................................... 16

What Like


Copyright © 2006 MCA Internet, LLC dba BERTL. 5 June 2006


Page 2

What’s Inside


Click on an entry to go to the page listed.

Accessibility ..................................................................................................... 17

User Accessibility for Device Controls....................................... 17

User Accessibility for Paper Refilling......................................... 17

User Accessibility for Paper Jam Removal................................ 17

We

What Like

Copy .................................................................................................................. 18

Features

Image

What

We

We Like

Print on Demand................................................................................................ 22

Print on Demand from USB Memory Stick ................................ 22

Bookmarking and Held Pages................................................... 23

We

We Like

Print .................................................................................................................... 25

Print Summary............................................................ 25

Ease of Installation .................................................................... 25

Productivity........................................................................ 26

Print

Image

ImageQuick Direct Print............................................................. 29

Liked .......................................................................... 31

What Like

Scan.................................................................................................................... 32

Features

Scan Email ............................................................................ 33

Scan to USB Memory Stick ....................................................... 35

Scan Data Capture Accuracy .................................................... 36

Scan Data Capture Accuracy Results ....................................... 37

Scan Data Capture Productivity ................................................ 38

Scan Data Capture Productivity Results ................................... 38

Mixed Media Size Scanning ...................................................... 38

We

What Like

Summing Up ..................................................................................................... 40

About BERTL .................................................................................................... 41



Page 3

Introduction

Lexmark X646e

Lexmark’s all new X646e is the MFP version of its successful T644 monochrome desktop printer.

Unlike many of Lexmark’s earlier MFP offerings, the X646 products—which include an entry level “e” and a more highly featured “dte”—-are purchased as an MFP with a scanner module an intrinsic part of the main body unit, rather than a separate module attached via cables.

This gives the devices a more rugged look which will go a long way to winning over copier die-hards. It does, however, result in the absence a few additional benefits that the previous generation of modular MFP models offered. Finishing and mail bin capabilities are not available since the scanner unit blocks the paper output path to a finisher unit. For many, this will be a small price to pay compared to the myriad of new features that Lexmark has bundled into this compact 50 ppm MFP.

The X646e (tested by BERTL) is the first of the Kentucky printer giant’s MFP range to offer the new large, color touch screen. This screen puts many copier manufacturers to shame in terms of its size and color capability especially when you consider that the suggested retail price of this fully-featured device is a fraction of a 50 ppm copier industry alternative.

While the device may have a 50 ppm engine, it is—in our opinion—best suited to a small to medium size workgroup rather than an entire department that a typical 50 ppm copier-based MFP would be expected to accommodate.

This is not due to the engine speed or duty cycle, but rather the media handling, finishing capabilities, and general build quality which are much more in line with a workgroup MFP.

It is fair to say that the Lexmark X646e is a true document portal with no particular leaning for any function (copy, print, scan, fax) over another. There are some features that traditional copy or fax purchasers may raise an eyebrow to, but in reality much of this is down to years of brainwashing by copier reps who have convinced the buyer that these features are critical to life itself.

With every generation of MFP, Lexmark is eliminating feature omissions that have raised concerns from copier buyers and analysts alike. Now it is more difficult to find weaknesses in the copy and fax functions than it is to wonder why copy and fax manufacturers have not included some of the novel features and user-friendly attributes of the Lexmark.

Monochrome Engine Speed

Color Engine Speed

First Copy Out Mono

First Copy Out Color

Warm Up Time

Maximum Monthly Volume

Copy

Print

PSTN Fax

Internet/Network Fax

TWAIN Scan

Network Scan

Device Features Summary

50 ppm

N/A

Up to 8.5 seconds

N/A

Info not available

225,000 stated volume

Standard

Standard

Standard

Standard

Standard

Standard

One of the most unique new additions to the Lexmark MFP family is the direct USB port which allows walk-up users to print files from or scan hard copy documents directly to a standard USB memory stick.

This feature alone separates the Lexmark X646 product family from virtually all opposition (at the time of testing) and offers a valuable time-saving, user friendly range of features that are proving very popular at BERTL’s headquarters.

BERTL analysts tested the Lexmark X646e MFP model.



Page 4

Paper Handling: Paper Input

Lexmark X646e

Background

Paper handling is a core requirements of every device. If a device cannot create documents a user wants on the paper they need, it does not matter how fast the print engine is, or how many pages it can produce in a month.

Paper handling comes down to three key attributes: weight, capacity, and size.

Weight

The majority of paper used in the general office is graded between 20 lb. bond/80gsm and 28 lb. bond/105gsm. If a device cannot handle these weights through the main paper sources, users are forced to use the low capacity bypass tray, resulting in a higher user intervention rate.

The straight paper path of the bypass tray lets it handle heavier paper stocks to create business cards, covers for reports, product brochures, menus, tickets, programs and other special documents. Paper weights for this type of job usually start at 90 lb. index/163gsm with business card stocks often higher at 110 lb. index/200gsm.

Capacity

Workgroup desktop printers commonly start with either a

500 or 1,000 sheet capacity plus a bypass tray. Workgroup

MFPs usually start with capacities over 1,000 sheets.

Paper comes in reams of 500 sheets. A growing trend is paper trays with capacities greater than 500 sheets which let users refill trays that are almost empty with an entire ream of paper at a convenient time without waste or risk of overfilling.

A device’s maximum capacity (without increasing the device footprint) depends upon the paper source configuration. Standard paper trays typically are universal or adjustable trays that can accommodate a wide range of paper supplies. Paper upgrade options on some devices include additional universal trays or a high-capacity tandem drawer.

A tandem drawer maximizes letter/A4 capacity by accommodating dual stacks of paper side by side.

However, larger-sized paper supplies cannot be loaded. To raise capacity even further, some units can be equipped with a side-mounted large capacity unit These trays are also limited to letter/A4 size paper supplies only.

Paper Handling: Input Features Summary

Standard Paper Capacity

Maximum Paper Capacity

Bypass Tray Capacity

X646e: 1 x 500-sheet cassette

X646dte: 2 x 500-sheet

cassettes

3,100 sheets

100 sheets

Maximum Paper Size (bypass) 8.5” x 14”

Maximum Paper Size

(main trays)

Maximum Paper Weight

(bypass)


(main trays)

Standard Legal Capacity

Maximum Legal Capacity

Standard Ledger Capacity

Maximum Ledger Capacity

Standard Paper Sources

Maximum Paper Sources

Post Process Insertion (PPI)

PPI Capacity

8.5” x 14”

110 lb. index/200gsm

28 lb bond/105gsm

X646e: 600 sheets

X646dte: 1,100 sheets

3,100 sheets

Not supported

Not supported

X646e: 2

X646dte: 3

4

N/A

N/A

Size

Letter/A4 size paper is used in the majority of day to day business operations. Legal and financial documents often are printed on the longer legal (8.5” x 11”) stock size. As a result, many desktop printers, and some entry-level MFPs reduce production costs by restricting the maximum paper dimensions to legal size.

However, some environments also rely heavily on the larger ledger/A3 sizes for printing spreadsheets, schematics, design layouts, plans, and for copying books or magazines.



Page 5

Paper Handling: Paper Input

Lexmark X646e

Reloading Paper Supplies

Just like its predecessors, the Lexmark X646e is easy to reload with paper. In classic Lexmark fashion, the paper drawer comes out completely, which lets users put the entire tray on a desktop to make adjustments or reload rather than having to bend over at the device itself. This simplifies drawer adjustment and paper insertion.

Users can extend the paper size, drop the paper in, and readjust to fit the size of the paper. If too much paper is inserted the excess paper will be pushed out from the gap at the front of the paper cassette as shown.

A change in the paper size in the cassette is automatically detected and reflected in the copy control panel. Users do not have to make manual changes.

Excess paper is expelled from the Lexmark X646e, preventing users from overloading of the cassette.

WHAT WE LIKED:

• The entire drawer pulls out. This makes loading paper much easier since it can be set down, adjusted and replenished.

• While lightweight, the drawers still feel sturdy enough to take the rigors of a general office environment.

• Paper guides are easily adjusted.

• Excess paper is expelled to prevent cassette overloading, thus avoiding related paper jams.

WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE:

• Increasing the paper capacity on the drawers by 50 sheets from 500 to 550 would let users refill the paper drawer with a full ream before the entire tray is empty.

This could encourage users to take initiative and fill up the drawer before it runs out in the middle of a-job.

• While we were liked the fact that the paper drawer could be pulled out for reload, users who are not aware of the feature might pull it out quickly and drop the drawer causing injury or damage to the equipment. We would like to see a lock/unlock switch that allows the user to remove the drawer completely if they wish or have it locked to prevent complete removal.



Page 6

Paper Handling: Paper Output/Finishing

Lexmark X646e

Background

The paper output handling options on workgroup products can range from duplex output to saddle-stitch booklet making capabilities. Many devices offer a choice of finishers providing a low cost, minimum footprint solution, or a high-capacity, fully-featured solution.

Stapling

Lower cost stapler units often have a 15- to 30-sheet maximum capacity and are often limited to corner stapling. Floor-standing, higher cost finishers should offer

50-sheet capability and can handle corner and double stapling. Saddle-stitch heads up the finishing capabilities, allowing users to create folded, center-stapled booklets.

Some workgroup device saddle-stitch finishers only handle 10 sheets (40-page booklets) with others handling up to 15 sheets (60-page booklets).

Mail Bin Units and Offset Output

Many workgroup devices offer offset stacking (where each set is offset from the next) to make it easier to separate jobs. Some offer physical mail bin units allowing each user to send jobs to their own output area. Most mail bin units limit delivery to unfinished jobs. A multi-tray finisher can also offer some form of job separation, typically used to route different types of job (fax, print, copy) for easier identification.

Paper Handling: Output /Finishing Features Summary

Maximum Output Capacity

Duplex Capability

500 sheets in standard output area

X646e: Optional

X646dte: Standard


Through Duplex Unit

28 lb. bond/ 05gsm

Maximum Stapling Capacity No finishing option

Maximum Booklet/Saddle-stitch

Capacity

No finishing option

Hole Punch Options No finishing option

Physical Mail Bin Option

Folding Options

No finishing option

No finishing option

Finishing Options

The Lexmark X646e series does not come with a finishing option. This is a limiting factor which might work against it in some office environments. Because of its high engine speed, buyers may compare it against MFP devices that offer a wealth of finishing capabilities, although at a much higher price tag compared to the Lexmark X646e.

Finisher Productivity

Not Applicable



Page 7

Routine Maintenance

Lexmark X646e

Background

Workgroup devices sold through retail and traditional IT distribution outlets usually are maintained by office workers changing the all-in-one cartridge units that encase the entire imaging system. Units sold through the reseller/dealer community are usually maintained by office workers and trained service engineers. Separate long-life parts are more complex to install but offer lower running costs than the low yield, all-in-one alternatives.

Toner Replacement

Changing the toner or imaging cartridge is a necessary task that traditionally is avoided by some for fear of the black dust leaking on clothes or hands. However, most units today offer clean replacement of toner supplies.

Clearing Paper Jams

The main device issue that office users attempt to remedy themselves is the occasional paper jam. As a general rule, the faster the device engine, and the more paper handling options, the more complex the process of removing paper jams.

Common jam sources are the duplex unit and poor loading of paper supplies. The position of the duplex unit can be a major factor in the ease of paper jams. The method of loading paper supplies can be a factor in the overall number of jams that occur.

Toner Yield

Maintenance Features Summary

10,000 standard cartridge

21,000 high yield cartridge

32,000 extra high yield cartridge

Drum Life All-in-one cartridge

Fuser Life

Developer Life

Toner Refill During Printing

Info not available

All-in-one cartridge

No

End-user replaceable drum unit Yes, all in one unit

End-user replaceable fuser unit Yes

WHAT WE LIKED:

• The paper path is simple, very short and direct which makes finding and removing paper jams an easy process compared to many copier-based MFPs.

• Users will have no problem locating and changing the print cartridge. It is accessed from the front of the device and easily pulls up and out.

• The duplex unit is positioned at the front of the unit allowing duplex jams to be removed easily.


• The paper path runs along the back of the device which makes removing jams more difficult. We would like to see more front access which would allow the device to be placed close to a wall.

• The vivid display panel could be a great tool to display more information to walk the user through paper jam removal. In current operation, it simply told us to check the back door or the toner cartridge and made us work out the best way to remove the paper jam ourselves.

• After paper jams had been cleared, we had to manually confirm that the job could continue. We would like to see the device detect that the problem had been rectified and continue the job automatically.



Page 8


Paper Jam Removal

While we did not encounter any jams during the testing of the Lexmark X646e, we did force some jams to see how the unit would react. When a jam occurs, the machine beeps, a red light appears, and the color touch screen displays an error message.

1. The touch screen displays the message that a jam has occurred and two areas need to be inspected.

2. Open the back door.

Lexmark X646e

3. Remove the paper jam by pulling forward. 4. Pull the duplex tray out to reveal another jam.

5. Remove the paper jam by pulling out the sheet.

6. Press the Continue button to continue the job.



Page 9


Toner Replacement Process

To get to the print cartridge users must first open the lower front door. Then, the green buttons on both sides of the top door must be pushed in to lift it open.

With both front doors open, the print cartridge is visible. It comes out with leakage or problem by pulling up and out.

The cartridge can be placed on a nearby table without making a mess.

The new cartridge is placed in from the top and guides itself in. Once it clicks in place, the user can close the top, then the bottom doors.

Lexmark X646e



Page 10

Device Management

Lexmark X646e

Background

An efficient device management backbone is needed to take maximum advantage of the feature set within a device, be it a printer, fax, scanner or multi-functional product.

Device management is commonly-supported through a

Web server on the device controller. This Web server is accessed using any desktop Internet browser; the user simply enters the IP address of the device into the URL address line.

Administrators and office users have different management and monitoring needs.

General Office Users

End users want to know if a device is capable of handling a job. Supply levels and a list of jobs already committed to print are important.

For MFPs with document storage and communications capabilities, end users also need desktop management of print on demand, stored document viewing (to check print on demand files or incoming faxes) and, for the more advanced, the creation of scan-to-email or scan-to-file destination templates.

Administrators

An office or network manager looks for greater control over the device functionality and setup without leaving their desk. They may be looking to manage network setup, establish security for IP filter ranges, apply cost control measures, check supply levels, and set up automated email alerts to different staff members when problems occur.

Due to the nature of the Web server, this capability is usually limited to an individual device. Many manufacturers also include a network device management fleet tool which allows for the monitoring and management of multiple devices around the network concurrently. Many also provide plug-ins to the most popular IT device management utilities to ensure that the maximum amount of information can be relayed from their device to the third-party application.

The home page of Lexmark’s device Web server gives users a status of key device functions at a glance. Specific functions are described on the following pages.

WHAT WE LIKED:

• Users get a snapshot of a great deal of information right away. They immediately know the toner level and paper drawer status and can view vital information when getting ready to print from the desktop.

• The menu is located to the left of the home screen and is straight forward. An index is available when portions cannot be located.


• We would like to see the entire job queue display the number of sets and pages in each set for all users through Web server. This function is only available through Lexmark’s MarkVision utility which is more likely to be used by the administrator than general office users.

• There is no indication of the job queue displayed on the touch screen, forcing users to wait to see when a job can be processed.



Page 11


Status Monitoring

The yellow box in the top left corner jumps out and lets administrators know that the paper supply in Tray 2 is low. The screen also indicates that the toner is 90 percent capable. On the bottom of the screen, this is translated into real terms: the yield is reported based on 5 percent coverage. The green means good to go!

Job Queue Reporting

There is no job queue monitoring capability within the device Web server.

Security Settings

The Lexmark offers advanced security features which can be set up at the touch screen, using the Web server or Lexmark’s Mark-Vision administrator application.

Lexmark X646e



Page 12


Address Book Management

Users and administrators can set up email, fax, and scan profile addresses for local storage on the device. Each address/location can be assigned a shortcut number allowing users to quickly select the entry they need. There is no way to set up groups—which would have been a useful feature—and one that is available on rival units.

Cost Control Reporting

From the Web server administrators can set up internal account management lists as shown at the right. The list has to be manually entered and there is no ability to set up limits or qualify allowable use. Lexmark works closely with thirdparty partner Pharos to deliver extensive cost control/job auditing capabilities for those who require them. The functionality of this advanced cost accounting capability is built into the MFP’s touch screen control panel, making it one of the easiest, most affordable, walk-up device control systems on the market for workgroup MFPs.

Scan Templates

The scan profile lets users create a profile so they can scan documents back to their PC. Scanning can be commanded at the desktop or the unit itself. A folder houses the scans sent to the user PC. Scan profiles can be set to single use or multiple use. While a variety of default template styles come standard, users can create their own as required.

Lexmark X646e



Page 13


Lexmark X646e

Email Notification Alerts

Using the Web server, administrators can set up email alerts for a variety of device events. The alerts can be split between two email lists allowing, for example, internal events (paper low, toner out) to be split off from external events (fuser maintenance call required).

Job Log Management

The Web server does not provide job log information on a job-by-job basis. It does provide valuable statistics on the patterns of activity for the device including a breakdown of the size of job and media types commonly used.

This information allows administrators to evaluate workflow and usage of the device, which to many will be a lot more valuable than a huge log list of print jobs that must then be analyzed to interpret the data.

For those needing to keep a track of all print jobs for security or regulatory purposes, Lexmark offers its own cost accounting feature as standard, plus the Pharos option for greater control and auditing capabilities.



Page 14

Security

Lexmark X646e

Background

High-tech security is never out of the news, with reports of information theft and hacking making headlines. By the very nature of their development, network printers and MFPs are security risks if not managed correctly.

Advanced network connectivity options open ports to hackers. Industry-standard Java and Web browser design elements are vulnerable to virus attack. Large hard drives store a latent copy of every document flowing through the device data for years. Devices link directly to core network components such as the LDAP address list or the central file server. Plus, fast communication options let insiders send information to the outside with no method of being traced.

Security and data compliance buzzwords and regulations such as Common Criteria certification, HIPAA, Sarbanes-

Oxley, Gramm Leach Bliley, FERPA, SEC, FSMA, and the

Patriot Act look to safeguard information and force companies to conform to best practices in document and data security management.

Safeguarding Data

Most MFPs now offer a standard or optional hard drive.

Any company dealing in critical, sensitive information should determine if they need a data overwrite capability that has passed Common Criteria (CC) certification. Data overwrite deletes information on the hard drive by writing a series of random ones and zeros over the sectors storing data, usually multiple times. The CC test relates to how data is deleted from a device’s hard drive after being used. CC certification carried out by a governmentapproved test facility. Many manufacturers get CC certification to satisfy government security requirements and it is a requisite for many government agencies and contractors. Most MFP devices pass evaluation assurance level

(EAL) 2, with some aiming higher at EAL 3. The higher the level, the more extensive the testing, and the more secure the hard drive is deemed

Controlling Access

One of the keys to security is limiting the initial access to the device both remotely and at the device itself. TCP/IP and MAC filtering allow the administrator to limit remote access the device. MAC filtering is more secure; the TCP/

IP address can be copied but the MAC address is a fixed specification that can not be changed.

IPv6 is now becoming commonplace on network devices.

IPv6 makes it harder to crack or hack into a PC address range by making the address more complex.

Security Features Summary

Hard Drive Overwrite Yes

Removable Hard Drive No

Private Print

Encrypted Print

Secure Fax

Encrypted PDF Send

Yes

Optional

Yes

No

Network Authentication

LDAP Authentication

Kerberos Authentication

SNMP v3.0

IPv6

SSL

IP Filtering

MAC Filtering

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Network authentication is now available on nearly every

MFP and printer, forcing users to enter a user name and password before access to the device is granted. Most devices can verify a user by linking to Windows Exchange user lists, Novell network user lists, and LDAP server lists.

There should also be password encryption at the point of the login process through SSL or other encryption or other security technology (such as Kerberos) preventing hackers from watching and capturing user names and IDs as they travel over the network.

Secure Transmissions

The hard drive (if not equipped with a data overwrite capability) provides the ability to create secure repositories for incoming print and fax jobs. Instead of being printed upon delivery, print jobs and faxes can be stored on the device and printed only after a PIN has been entered by the authorized user. IPv6 makes it harder to crack or hack into a

PC address range by making the address more complex.



Page 15

Security

Lexmark X646e

WHAT WE LIKED:

• The large touch screen and full 10-digit keypad makes entering security information such as PINs and usernames easier than competing units.

• A wide range of advanced security measures are standard including MAC and Kerberos authentication which many rivals do not offer. TCP/IP via IPv6, SNMP v3.0, and integration with a wide range of authentication protocols make it very difficult to infiltrate information flow between the device and the desktop users.

• The optional PrintCryption module allows companies to secure print traffic by encrypting print files as they are transferred from the desktop to the device.

• The “Confidential” print mode is easy to find on the final tab of the similar PCL and PostScript drivers.

• Retrieving held jobs is simple and straightforward. From the home key users have two options. By pressing

Search for Held Jobs, users can type in a portion of the username and have all the matching names come up

(example: Search for JVilla Result is JVillanella). Users can also press Held Jobs and search for the specific folder they wish to print from.

• Administrators can set a default deny access after a set number of improper pass code entries have been attempted. This nice feature helps ensure security protection from unauthorized users.

• The device offers the ability to select specific functions that require security measures before access is granted. Some manufacturers do not differentiate or offer limited customization options.


• Secure PDF encryption at the time of scan to email or scan to file, using the measures built into Adobe

Acrobat, would provide additional document security.

Users scan the confidential document, assign a PIN code, and tell the recipient the PIN code so the file can be opened. Several rival devices now offer this feature.

• Secure print is restricted to the release of one job at a time. We would like to see users have the ability to select all their secure jobs and release them in a single step.



Page 16

Accessibility

Lexmark X646e

Background

In the U.S., Section 508 legislation prohibits government agencies from purchasing devices that are not accessible to those with physical impairments. For this reason—and the corporate world’s increased focus on delivering a better work environment for all—user-friendly features for physically-impaired users are considered more and more.

Common design features include tilting control panels which give wheelchair-bound users a better view of the screen and larger display options for those with impaired vision. Voice navigation and Braille also are becoming increasingly popular. Easy access to the paper path for jam removal or front access to toner supplies make a device more user-friendly to all.

User Accessibility to Device Controls

Overall the layout of the Lexmark X646e is well thought out with the user in mind. The color touch control panel tilts, making it easier for wheelchair access. The hard keys, which include numbers and a start key, could be somewhat larger but are still adequate. The height of the

X646e is adequate when used on a desktop. However, the X646dte—with the extra 500-sheet cassette and duplex unit—may be too high for desktop installation. It may require a lower mounting alternative to allow wheelchair users to access the document feeder and see the control panel.

User Accessibility for Paper Refilling

Paper refilling is easy with no obvious issues for disabled users. The cassettes can be completely removed from the device allowing users to place the cassette on a desktop when making changes or reloading may assist some users.

User Accessibility for Paper Jam Removal

Removing jams from the front of the Lexmark X626e is easy by default. The two front doors open to show the removable print cartridge, exposing much of the paper path.

However, it is more difficult for disabled users to remove jams that occur at the back of the machine.

Lexmark X646e control panel in tilted position

WHAT WE LIKED:

• The large tilting control panel offers easier navigation, viewing, and data entry than rival units in its class despite costing many times less than some.

• Most routine maintenance is handled from the front of the device making it easier for wheelchair users.


• While the control panel can be tilted up to make viewing from above easier it can not be tilted down to make viewing from below easier. This would benefit wheelchair users, especially when additional paper cassettes are installed on a desktop-installed device.

• All paper jam access points being located at the front of the device would make some paper jams easier for all users to clear.



Page 17

Copy

Lexmark X646e

Background

Copying is the standard feature on every

MFP on the market and is increasingly being offered either as an option or a separate model within network printer product ranges.

Before being wowed by headline speeds and advanced features, consider that the most common copy job is a single set of a simplex document that is five pages or less with no finishing and no changes to image quality default settings.

Small, Simple Jobs

Despite the wealth of features that MFPs offer today, most users will not be prepared to wade through countless screen menus to get to the point where they can press the

Start button. Think in terms of human productivity, not device productivity. Reporting the productivity of the device from the moment the green start button is pressed until the final page comes out does not consider the most costly element in the copying process: the user’s time.

Large, Complex Jobs

Even for big jobs—where you may think engine speed plays a larger role—the simple start-key-to-finish-line productivity measurement approach again disregards the user. The user is less likely to wait at the copier for larger and more complex jobs. They will look for features such as a quick and easy job setup menu, fast scanning (so they can return to their desk with the originals faster), email notification when the job has finished (eliminating the guesswork of when to return to the device to collect the job), or the ability to build a job using a mix of pages scanned from the document feeder and platen.

Features or Benefits?

Many copy features that are overlooked by the masses are critical time savers in niche workflow environments.

For example, medical offices or car dealerships need to copy insurance and license cards. A card copy feature allows the user to scan the first side of the card, turn the card over, scan the second page, and produce a singlesided copy with both sides of the card on the single sheet.

This saves 50 percent on paper and the print click cost charged by the dealer.

Copier Concurrency

Concurrency, the ability to handle multiple tasks at the same time, varies greatly in workgroup devices. Some devices can not accept a copy job while a print or copy job is in progress. If a connected MFP is carrying out either job, a walk-up user must wait for the job to finish before they can scan in their copy job.

Copy Features Summary

Maximum Copy Speed 50 ppm

First Copy Out Time

Document Feeder Type

Document Feeder Capacity

Job Build

8.5 seconds

Single pass duplexing document feeder

50 pages

Yes

Job Build Combining Platen and

Document Feeder Scans

Yes

Scan Ahead Copy Memories Unlimited

No. of Copy Job Programs

Customizable One-touch

Buttons on Home Screen

Max/Min Zoom Ratio

0

Optional

25 percent to 400 percent

Cover Insertion

Sheet Insertion

Page Stamp Options

No

No

Date/Time stamp and overlay

My Copier

MFP design is moving away from proprietary, closed systems and embracing open architecture and IT standards like .NET and Java. This opens the door to greater flexibility in the way the walk-up experience can be tailored to each user. Coupled to this ability is the growing need to account for all device usage for security, compliance or cost considerations. These two trends can result in a “My Copier”-type experience where each user is greeted with their favorite settings when logging in.



Page 18

Copy

Lexmark X646e

Image Quality

The device comes with text, text/photo, and photo modes to allow the user to capture and reproduce different image types. BERTL’s testing included all three modes with a wide range of copy originals to look for strengths and weaknesses of the device.

Image quality was to a high standard across a wide range of original types.

As with most devices, the text/photo mode was the default setting and the mode which offered the best overall image quality across the spectrum of copy jobs.

The text mode, which captures information in two-bit black or white mode, is best used in text only or fine line situations, and delivers crisp output. However, as the images on page 20 illustrate, the two-bit capture mode does not fare as well in more graphic copy jobs where grayscales and halftone reproduction are required.

Photo mode, on the other hand, uses a halftone rendering algorithm which produces high quality reproduction of photographs. However, it does not fare as well on text and fine lines with poor legibility.

Text/photo uses an algorithm that sits between the more extreme text and photo modes. This is ideal for documents with a mix of text and graphics, as can be seen in the examples.

Text Mode: The font reproduction is very good for 8 point and good at 6 point. Fine like reproduction faired very well.

Text Photo: The font reproduction is fair with Text Photo mode. The line reproduction is also fair.

Photo Mode: Reproduction of the text and fine lines is pale and poor with much detail being lost.



Page 19

Copy

Image Quality

(continued)

Lexmark X646e

Text Mode: Good reproduction of fine lines and text but some shaded map areas reproduced poorly making the map harder to read.

A lot of fine detail is lost in the photograph in areas such as the foliage and roof tiling where shade reproduction is essential.

Text/Photo: Crisp lines and text, some loss of grayscale/color reproduction from map. Acceptable reproduction of property photo.

Photo Mode: A lot of detail is lost on the map image reproduction. The graphic reproduction of the photos appears in proper context with good reproduction of fine details such as tiling and foliage.



Page 20

Copy

Lexmark X646e

WHAT WE LIKED:

• Despite still being regarded as a printer company rather than a copier vendor, Lexmark yet again raises the bar in terms of the walk up user touch screen experience with intuitive menus and minimal menu mining.

• The single-pass duplexing document feeder makes short work of scanning large, double-sided originals, freeing up user time.

• Job build capabilities are extensive allowing users to combine scans from both the document feeder and the platen, a valuable aid that some MFP rivals do not offer.

Users also can create mixed letter/legal jobs by choosing the Mixed Letter/Legal setting on the Copy

From setting. This allows legal, real estate, and accounting firms to work more efficiently rather than have to use the more complex job-build function.

• If a user submits a copy job when the Lexmark X646e is printing, the print job can be automatically interrupted so the copy job can take precedence. This works well when long print runs are running and a walk up user has a small copy job to run.

• Copies can be made from the touch screen and from the green hard key to the right of the touch screen. User can select the button that matches their comfort level.

• On the bottom left corner of the copy screen, a “?” touch key gives detailed instructions to aid users with the current screen. The help function breaks down the current screen, telling users what the functions do and provides a nice description of each.

• A mixed legal/letter mode lets users copy documents with mixed media sizes into a single function. There was a slowdown in scanning speed from 31 ipm to 17.9 ipm, but most people should prefer this extra scanning time to avoid the complex job build alternative

Touch Screen Selections Required for

Commonly-used Copy Functions

Corner Staple Not Supported

Hole Punch Not Supported

Enlarge to 200%

2:2

Photo Mode

Hold down manual button until

200 percent is reached

One step

One step

Two steps (mixed letter/legal) Mixed Original Size

Cover Mode (printed front cover on bypass supply)

Not Supported


• Cover and sheet insertion mode options would allow for more complex copy job creation.

• A job memory feature would allow commonly-used multi-feature copy jobs to be stored as one-touch selections.

• The ability to view the entire job queue would allow walk up users to see if large copy jobs are ahead of them in the queue.

• Watermarking and more diverse page stamping capabilities including a unique set stamp feature would allow for tracing of unauthorized copies back to the original recipient.

• The zoom setting is entirely manual with no preset onetouch options. We would like to see a selection of common options such as copy credit card/ID card to letter size, letter to ledger, legal to letter, etc.



Page 21

Print On Demand

Lexmark X646e

Background

Ever since MFPs started including hard drives, manufacturers have looked for ways to offer more and more on-demand document facilities.

The most basic is the ability to store a document on the device for instant reprinting from the walk-up interface. Virtually all manufacturers offer this level of print-on-demand capability. Most allow users to store, copy, and print. Some also include scan and fax documents into the mix.

Are All Documents the Same?

The way different document function types are stored and the way in which they can be reused at a later date create some issues due to the file format in which the function operates. Copy is usually done in a compressed proprietary format, fax in TIFF, and scan in TIFF/PDF or JPEG as selected by the user.

When users look to reuse the files, they are often limited to the same function as it was created in.

Do All Devices Offer the Same Capabilities?

There is much differentiation between products and manufacturers in this area. Those interested in print on demand should look carefully at the functionality offered by each manufacturer.

Areas of differentiation include the range of finishing or output control the user can place upon a reprint-on-demand job; whether more than one stored job can be combined and treated as a single print file; the ability to view, manage and share stored documents using desktop applications; the complexity of the filing system in place; and the ease at which users can search for documents.

The Future

Increasing security concerns may result in more companies using data overwrite kits. This would put an end to the print on demand capability of such devices. For those still looking for a fast reprint capability, the answer may be external media ports such as USB memory sticks, digital camera SD cards, or volatile memory storage.

Print on Demand from USB Memory Stick

We were very pleased to see that, after years of asking, a manufacturer finally started including a USB flash drive reader on its device consoles. For years manufacturers have been boasting about their ability to handle raw PDF data. However, it is only now that a user is finally able to walk up to a device with a USB flash drive and print a

PDF directly from the device.

This function has a number of potential real-world benefits. The most obvious is in the service print industry, namely business centers in hotels, airports, conference facilities, Internet cafes, and print for pay businesses. In these instances, travelling business people will frequently have laptops and USB pocket flash drives. If they need to print a file they can transfer the file to the USB card, pack away the computer and walk down to the hotel business center or airport lounge and print the file.

To use this novel feature, we simply inserted the USB flash drive into the socket on the front console panel. We could then browse through the folder tree of the drive until we reached the PDF file we wanted to print.

At the time of testing, users can only select the number of sets they require. We would have liked to have the ability to choose features such as duplex or finishing options (if available) allowing for even greater document flexibility.



Page 22

Print On Demand

Bookmarking and Held Pages

The Lexmark X646e also includes a novel bookmarking feature for print-on-demand users. Traditional MFPs store print on demand documents on the hard drive of the local

MFP. The X646e utilizes a central repository, be it a file location on the network, FTP site or Web location.

A user generates a pointer to the document location (a bookmark) thus creating a direct pull print feature.

The big advantage of this approach is that the files can be stored in a single location with a bookmark being set up on each device around the network. This makes administering the document repository more efficient and less prone to out of date documents being left in circulation.

For example, a company stores a price list on each MFP.

When the pricing changes, the file must be replaced on each MFP. With the Lexmark approach, the master file in an FTP folder is replaced with the same name and location; the bookmarks do not have to be altered and every future reprint request will print the correct document.

Lexmark X646e

Step 1: The user selects the Create Bookmark icon.

Step 2: the user creates a name for the new bookmark.

Step 3: The user enters the URL location for the document.

Step 4: The bookmark is now available as a one-touch action.



Page 23

Print on Demand

Lexmark X646e

WHAT WE LIKED:

• The USB flash drive feature is a simple method for walk-up users to get files printed on a device in a matter of minutes without the need to install print drivers or other sophisticated connection alternatives.

• The bookmark feature provides a centralized, easy-toadminister location for all commonly-used files in an organization.

• Large touch screen panel makes entering metadata such as file names a fast, efficient process compared to some rival MFPs.


• The ability to select more document production capabilities such as duplex when printing from the USB memory stick would provide more functionality.

• The ability to create bookmarks from the desktop and distribute to a cluster of Lexmark MFPs in a single action would ease administrative overhead.

• If users could see a thumbnail of the document saved on the USB memory stick prior to printing, they could confirm that the correct document was selected.

• The ability to browse directly to Web locations when setting up bookmark URL locations would be easier than having to enter the location manually.



Page 24

Print

Lexmark X646e

Background

Print passed copy as the primary method of creating output years ago. To limit costs and raise integration between functions, more multifunction products use a single processor board for copy, print, and scan functions.

Connectivity

The vast majority of devices include Ethernet and USB connectivity out of the box; some include parallel connections. In addition, most devices offer a selection of optional connectivity choices like Wireless 802.11b or g (g is the faster, preferred standard.), Bluetooth for connection to cell phones or PDAs, and FireWire for high speed local connectivity.

PDLs

PCL is the de facto printer description language (PDL) of choice provided by all suppliers. Some bundle in

PostScript (PS) while others charge for an upgrade. A few manufacturers also include their own PDL which is based loosely on the Windows/GDI printing technology of old.

These Windows or GDI drivers often offer significant productivity advantages over traditional PCL/PS drivers since the bulk of the processing is handled by the more powerful desktop PC rather than the less well-equipped printer processor itself.

Productivity

Judging print productivity is an inexact science at best or misleading at worst. Factors such as processor power, memory capabilities, spool and RIPping efficiency, engine throughput speed, RIP while printing capabilities, and more all play a major part. Most devices fair better is some of these factors than others, and different workflows benefit from one factor more than another.

It is easy to play judge and pronounce what determines productivity. But, it will have little merit when evaluating print performance for an end user environment. Device A may print Document 1 faster than Device B. But Device B may print Document 2 faster. You cannot determine which document is the best measure of productivity.

The same is true of network traffic tests where multiple jobs are submitted at once. By rearranging the order of the jobs, the productivity of Device A and Device B could easily be reversed.

BERTL does not restrict its evaluation of print performance to such tests. It provides information on how jobs are treated across the various PDLs offered, thus allowing users to get the best out of the device.

CPU

RAM and Hard Drive

Operating Platforms Supported

Printer Drivers

Network Protocols

Print Features Summary

Interfaces / Standard

Interfaces / Options

Client Software

Std PCL Fonts Supported

Std PS Fonts Supported

533MHz

Main Memory: 256 MB

Windows ME, 2000, Server

2003, XP, NT 4.0, Macintosh,

Linux, UNIX, Novell, AS/400,

Citrix MetaFrame,

PCL6, PostScript 3, PDF1.5,

PPDS

IPX/SPX , TCP/IP, Ethertalk,

Appletalk, NetBIOS, Over TCP/

IP LPR/LPD, IPP, SMB, SNMP,

Netware, Port 9100, Bluetooth

(HCRP)

10BaseT/100BaseTX Ethernet,

USB 2.0, USB Direct Interface

802.11b/g Wireless LAN,

10/100Basefx (fiber), Internal

Gigabit Ethernet

MarkVision Professional,

MarkVision Messenger

84 scalable, 2 bitmap

Info Not Available

Printer Drivers

Driver design varies enormously from manufacturer to manufacturer. Most try to keep a common style throughout their range to reduce learning curves. However, many have significant design differences between PDLs which can raise issues. While many features are common throughout drivers from all manufacturers, there are some differentiators which—while niche benefits in many instances—can be valuable in the right hands.

Ease of Installation

The Lexmark X646e arrived at BERTL’s test facility via a courier as a selection of boxes. Two BERTL analysts assembled the device and output the first test print in less than an hour. It took an additional 30 minutes to install the accompanying drivers and software. The instructions were well illustrated and the set up required no technical experience or specialized tools. Small to medium sized companies that may not have a technical/IT department to install new hardware will appreciate the installation documentation.



Page 25

Print

Lexmark X646e

Print Productivity

The design of the PCL and PostScript drivers is very similar, allowing users to easily switch from one to the other without confusion. While many users will never veer away from PCL—and many IT managers will not give them the option—those that do will reap benefits in bandwidth and productivity.

Bandwidth efficiency flip-flopped between the two PDLs depending upon the type of job undertaken. The biggest difference between the two PDLs was on the highly graphic-intensive Publisher file where the PCL driver proved to be about 300 percent more efficient than the

PostScript driver.

While bandwidth efficiency between the two PDLs may have switched from job to job, the PCL6 driver outperformed the PostScript driver in pure speed terms on virtually every test. This was most evident on the longer jobs with graphic elements such as the 33-page

Publisher and 69-page PowerPoint files.

Bandwidth Comparison

50-page text based PDF

16-page magazine in PDF

6-page medium resolution graphic PDF

2-page high resolution PDF

32-page text-based

PowerPoint

69-page graphic intensive

PowerPoint

33-page graphic-intensive

Publisher document

PCL

1.09 MB

4.40 MB

2.62 MB

4.86 MB

2.06 MB

10.6 MB

55.3 MB

PostScript

3.50 MB

3.96 MB

1.13 MB

6.52 MB

1.67 MB

8.57 MB

156 MB



Page 26

Print

Print Driver Functionality

The drivers for the Lexmark X646 family are virtually identical with a few additional image quality selection options available—as expected—for the PostScript user.

The Page Layout tab includes all the most common print setting items which means that many users will never need to move to another tab during the course of a day.

Within the Print Quality tab, users can choose between a selection of preset image quality setting modes or create their own settings including resolution, toner darkness, and other attributes.

The Toner Save mode, found within custom settings on the Print Quality tab, lets users choose from a sliding scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being the more dense and 1 being the lightest. We found the image quality at the most economical setting to be more than satisfactory for internal use. However, when the output was processed through an OCR engine, higher manual intervention was required. Businesses that need to convert internal hard copy back into electronic files via OCR may want to use a higher toner setting.

On the Other Options tab, users can add watermarks, an overlay, and set secure print and print on demand options. Users also can set account tracking and fax options

(for the analog fax function on the device).

As with other Lexmark equipment, multiple media supplies cannot be selected from the driver’s Paper tab, which could be an issue for some users.

Page Layout Tab

Print Quality Tab

Lexmark X646e

Other Options Tab

Paper Tab



Page 27

Print

Lexmark X646e

Image Quality

Overall, the print image quality from the Lexmark X646e was to a perfectly acceptable level.

Greyshades reproduced well with a slightly blemished look on some mid-shade greyshade large areas. A little definition was lost in areas of high toner concentration such as the middle of the bunch of grapes and areas of the foliage in the tiger photograph.

Fine lines were reproduced well.

Text was crisp down to our lowest 4 point text size with black, blue, and green text being clearly legible. Red text at 4 point size was hard to read, becoming more legible at 6 point.

There was negligible image quality differences between

PCL and PostScript drivers which means that switching between the two will not result in a large variance in document quality from job to job.

Above: High resolution PDF

Below: High resolution digital camera picture

(Both images scanned at 600dpi and reproduced at 100 percent)

Shading and fine line text sample test patterns



Page 28

Print

ImageQuick Direct Print

Drag’N’Print is a direct print utility that is provided as a standard feature for the Lexmark X646e with the driver

CD.

Lexmark’s direct printing will be a popular resource with users looking for fast reproduction of high bandwidth graphic files. It lets users to send PDF, JPEG, HTML,

TIFF, GIF, BMP, and PostScript files directly to the print engine without launching an application or RIPping the file into a PCL or PostScript file. The time alone required to open an application such as Photoshop can be longer than the time it takes to print the file in some instances.

Users are able to set up as many direct PDF queues as they require (see right). This is a valuable feature allowing users to set up a direct print queue with the required document production features necessary for a specific job type. For example, a user could set up one job queue defaulted to duplex output on paper from tray one, while another queue could be set to incorporate an overlay of the company letterhead and print from the bypass tray.

We also liked the ability to use the direct print facility without having to first open a browser or Windows application. Some manufacturers that offer direct print force user to first open a browser and effectively pull jobs into a direct queue. Others have a specific direct queue application which must be opened. The Lexmark just lets you create multiple direct queues which are always available.

Users of the Lexmark X646e have multiple ways in which they can route a job into a direct print queue. They can either drag a file on the desktop onto the ImageQuick icon or they can simply right click on the file and select the direct print queue from the Send To options as shown to the right.

Print settings can be specified for the direct print queue.

Lexmark X646e



Page 29

Print

Lexmark X646e

ImageQuick Direct Print

Another valuable and unique feature on the Lexmark’s

ImageQuick utility is the ability to set up automatic, scheduled print events.

These can be files stored on a local device, networked device or can be URLs pulled directly from the Internet.

Scheduled events can be set up to go out on a one off basis or at regular intervals as set by the user.

The user simply sets up the location of the file, be it a network folder location or the

URL address (if a Web site address), enters the print parameters, and saves the job as a scheduled task.

This function has a broad range of real-life applications. In the example below a stock broker in New York has set up a series of scheduled print events to ensure that when the brokers arrive in the morning that they have the main news page of the valuable.

New York Times

,

CNN

,

Financial Times

and the Nikkei Index to read before the day’s events get underway. In a business where time is money. this can be

In another example a retail head office could set up a specific URL with the flyer design for the day’s promotions.

Each regional store sets up a scheduled print so that each morning the point of sale material and daily flyers are ready to be displayed and handed out immediately.



Page 30

Print

Lexmark X646e

WHAT WE LIKED:

• The upper left hand window on each driver has an option which can be viewed in both graphic and text mode. As a job develops, the current selections can be viewed to help ensure that the correct feature sets are chosen for the current run. The graphic selection supports more visuallyoriented users who prefer to see how the job will be laid out on paper. The text mode uses only words when describing the layout elements.

• The ability to view the jobs in the queue from the desktop is a nice feature. Users can see not only what jobs are printing but also the exact order of how they are being spooled. Users also can see copy jobs in this viewer.

• The print quality was very good. Clear, crisp lines and graphic reproduction were apparent across a variety of different resolution settings. Different types of jobs will run well on this unit.

• The PostScript and the PCL drivers were nearly identical in the layout and overall appearance. This similarity allows users to jump from one driver to the next without issue.

• Complex operations such as cover insertion and page insertion were user-friendly, intuitive processes.


• We could not move one job ahead of another in the print queue. This is a necessary feature when some jobs take priority over others, from job to job and user to user.

• When multiple sets of a print run are submitted, the display on the device only shows the number of sets remaining. We would have liked a page count within each set so walk-up users would have a better knowledge of the time remaining before the device is available to use.

• The Scheduled Print function is ideal for those users who have large runs and print them at night. This function allows the user to select the time and day and will begin the print job at that time. However, we would like to see a confirmation of the time and date of the MFP with the user’s PC. That way, the operator can confirm that both are in sync.



Page 31

Scan

Lexmark X646e

Background

In just a few years, network scanning has moved from a luxury item to one of the most important functions on many MFPs.

Virtually all MFPs offer standard or optional network scanning. Document feeder design is now a major focus with users looking for higher speed, low resolution capabilities, more versatile scan functions, and even color scanning on devices only equipped with monochrome marking engines.

Address Book Integration

Integration into central corporate address books on LDAP or NT servers is the de facto standard today, as is the ability to force-populate outgoing email with sender information through an enforced login process. This way, outgoing communications from the remote MFP can be traced back to the user and audited for compliance purposes.

Destinations

Scan-to destinations include email, SMB (Windows desktop locations), FTP, and Internet fax. In some instances, the scan goes directly to the hard drive; an email is sent to the recipient with a URL link so they can quickly download the scan file from the device hard drive location. A growing number of devices are starting to include external media ports to allow scanning directly to

USB memory sticks or digital camera SD chips. We expect to see be commonplace over the next year.

Security

Security is another hot point in scanning. Several devices now include the capability to send scan messages using encrypted PDF or other secure transfer medium. This can be an important factor in many industries sensitive to data theft or misuse.

Integration with Third-Party Applications

The big buzz in the MFP industry is the move toward open architecture, where the firmware backbone of the device is based on an industry standard like Java or .NET rather than a proprietary systems. This opens great opportunities for far greater MFP integration with other software applications through third-party applications created with software developer kits (SDK).

Scan Features Summary

Maximum Scan Speed (Mono) 35 opm

Maximum, Scan Speed (Color) 17 opm

Document Feeder Capacity 50 sheets

Connectivity Options

10/100BaseT/1000BaseT

Ethernet USB 2.0, 802.11g

Scan to email

Scan to SMB

Scan to FTP

Yes

Yes

Yes

Scan to HDD

Scan to URL

Scan to Internet Fax

TWAIN Scanning

Scan to External Memory

Source (USB/SD card)

Network Authentication

LDAP Authentication

File Formats Supported

Encrypted PDF Format

Resolution Options

Ad hoc Subject Line Entry

Ad hoc Message Line Entry

Ad hoc File Name Entry

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

TIFF, PDF, JPEG

No

75 dpi, 150 dpi, 200 dpi, 300 dpi, 400 dpi, 600 dpi

Yes

Yes

Yes

Through these partnerships, scanning from the MFP can take on a new life, doing more than just routing files from the MFP to an email or folder. Now, information can be directed into a sophisticated workflow complete the metadata, billing information, image enhancement, and other functions, all from the initial scanning action, rather than the multi-stage process used previously.

Currently, there is great differentiation in the field of scanning as manufacturers continue to develop this aspect of the device. Watch for more image enhancement and workflow capabilities to become commonplace as scanning continues to pick up the pace as a dominant factor.



Page 32

Scan

Scan to Email

To initiate the scan to email function, users select the icon on the home page of the touch screen to go to the email data entry screen.

On the email data entry screen, searching for previously stored email addresses is simple. Users just enter the first few letters of the email address, and it is located in either the local or central address list.

Locally stored email addresses can also be retrieved using the shortcut feature which acts like a one-touch redial button on a fax.

Multiple addresses can be added using the next address button.

Lexmark X646e



Page 33

Scan

Scan to Email

Within the Options menu, users have a wide range of adjustment and customization options including the ability to add a file name, subject and message line Users also can select from various file types, resolutions, original types and chose color or monochrome.

The Advanced Options menu offers even more capabilities. The Advanced Imaging tab lets users to adjust the background (more/less) and other contrast settings which can assist when scanning documents with a colored background.

The Custom Job menu offers the same advanced job build capability found in the Copy section, letting users scan pages from both platen and document feeder.

The Scan Preview menu is possibly the most interesting and novel feature. Users can view a thumbnail of the first page of the scan, allowing them to accept or reject the job before sending. This is a valuable feature that no other manufacturer currently offers without the costly addition of third-party hardware.

Lexmark X646e



Page 34

Scan

Scan to USB Memory Stick

The Lexmark X646e has a USB port on the front panel to the left of the color touch screen.

When a USB drive is plugged in, the touch screen will automatically go to the Held Jobs/USB Drive screen. Users can view any existing documents on the USB stick, scrolling up and down if necessary.

To start a scan, the user presses the Scan to USB Drive button to open the universal “scan” screen. This screen

(bottom left) is virtually identical to the scan-to-email screen, except for the green button in the bottom left corner that says “Scan It” versus “E-mail It”.

When users press the File Name button, a QWERTY keyboard (bottom right) appears so they can enter a file name (SCAN TEST USB in the example).

The same options and advanced options that described for Scan to Email on the previous page are available in this workflow as well.

Lexmark X646e



Page 35

Scan

Lexmark X646e

Scan Data Capture Accuracy

One of the fastest growing needs for highspeed scanning is the conversion of legacy hard copy documents into an electronic format for better information sharing, reduced storage space, and easier search and data retrieval.

A scan converts a page into an image which is not very manageable. Most companies use optical character recognition (OCR) software to convert the images into editable text which can then be searched, changed, or incorporated into a new document as required.

The OCR engine recognizes individual images on the page, converting them into letters, numbers, and other symbols. The OCR engine then runs complex analysis on the text in conjunction with spell checkers, technical dictionaries, and other data sources before offering up its best conversion into electronic format.

This stage can be very time-consuming, especially if the quality of the scanned data is poor leading to character recognition errors.

To look into this important workflow issue, BERTL ran a series of standard test patterns with multiple font types, sizes, and colors capturing the data at various resolutions using both text and text/photo settings. Text is the default setting for most OCR work due to its 2-bit format which tends to produce the best text reproduction.

However, as more documents incorporate images and color elements, text/photo, which operates in 8-bit and reproduces grey shades for better reproduction of images and colored text elements, is also being used.

After scanning each page of its test originals, BERTL analysts then ran the scanned files through ABBYY

FineReader 8.0, in default configuration. The impact of the accuracy of the scanning process at the various resolutions and settings is reflected in the number of manual confirmations that the OCR application demands before the document is deemed clean and ready to use.

The higher the human intervention rate, the higher the cost of carrying out the action. As expected, the greatest difficulty in OCR recognition was found on the smallest 4 point text sections of the test documents.

Above is a portion of BERTL’s OCR test chart scanned at

200 dpi (top), 300 dpi (middle) and 600 dpi (bottom) in text format and saved as a PDF file. The image has been zoomed to 400 percent in Adobe Acrobat and screencaptured for display.

The top line is 4 point, the middle line is 6 point, and the bottom line 8 point.

The choice of OCR application will also have a dramatic effect on the level of human intervention that is required after the initial scanning has taken place. For that reason, we have standardized on ABBYY, a well-respected leading

OCR software developer.

Our tests are run using the latest level of ABBYY’s

FineReader 8.0 software in default modes. Through fine tuning of the rich feature set in ABBYY, an additional portion of the manual intervention could be removed.

However, to maintain benchmark comparison procedures, default settings were selected.



Page 36

Scan

Lexmark X646e

Scan Data Capture Accuracy Results

The device fared well on 8 point and 10 point type, which is standard in most documents. Four point text, which will be processed on diagram labels, and terms and conditions on contracts, did not fair as well with a very low recognition rate at 300 dpi, even on the bold black font.

As the chart shows, within the 200 dpi scanning range, text/photo mode delivered a higher level of OCR accuracy across the smaller font point sizes than the text algorithm.

By raising the scanning resolution to 300 dpi, which is the more common default for OCR applications, the OCR accuracy was greatly improved with text/photo delivering a near-perfect test on all but the 4 point fonts.

The accuracies that should be critiqued the most are 10 point Arial and Times New Roman as these are the most commonly-used settings in general office work today.

These fonts came through at pinpoint accuracy across all four resolutions in black text, with blue and red text only dropping a few percentage points on the Times New

Roman.



Page 37

Scan

Lexmark X646e

Scan Data Capture Productivity

Judging scan productivity is another difficult task. The impact of the user on the overall process will be largely determined by the amount of work required at the initial scan operation. In other words, if the scan operator is expected to enter copious amounts of metadata using the device touch screen interface before hitting the scan start button, then the overall productivity is going to be governed more by the user-friendliness of the interface rather than the scanner technology or transfer rate.

However, if the user is merely scanning a file to a preconfigured location, then the scan productivity can be measured looking at two aspects: the time the user must wait until they can return to their desk with originals in hand, and the time they must wait before the files can be accessed.

BERTL looks at both of these factors across a selection of scanning settings.

Scanning time is only one part of the time required to support image creation. Getting it to your destination is another. The chart below shows the scanning time but also reflects something just as, if not more important: the time it takes to actually use this image. This is a frequently overlooked aspect of scanning. There are differing time elements in the actual scan side of the operation but also in the time to desktop.

BERTL’s test included different resolution settings (200 dpi and 300 dpi) as well as different capture levels: text only and text/photo.

Users will delight in the ease of use and quick turnaround time for a MFP scan as they find more and more reasons to scan their documents and support requirements ranging from knowledge sharing to records management.

Scan Data Capture Productivity Results

As the chart shows, the Lexmark X646e showed no slowdown when moving from 200 dpi to 300 dpi resolution and scanned at the same rate as data was transferred which meant that there was no delay from the time the last page being scanned to the file being available.

The scanner slowed by 62 percent when we switched to color mode but again there was no further slowdown when we switched from 200 dpi to 300 dpi.

Mixed Media Size Scanning

The Lexmark X646e includes a feature that allows users to scan a mix of letter and legal documents as a single batch. Unlike copy mode, there was no slowdown when we switched to legal/letter mode which will be appreciated by users of mixed media document files.



Page 38

Scan

Lexmark X646e

WHAT WE LIKED:

• The large, color touch screen made the entire process quick, efficient, and accurate.

• Users have a wide variety of customization options available to them including subject and message line capabilities and resolution capabilities down to 75 dpi

(which is lower than typical MFPs) allowing for even higher bandwidth saving on archive tasks.

• The device offers color scanning capability, a valuable feature missing from most monochrome MFPs on the market today.

• Job build allows document feeder and platen scans to be build into a single scan to email. This is a feature missing from many MFPs and saves time and expense for many users.

• Preview Scan lets users check that the selected scan settings are OK before initiating the scan process.

• A user-friendly search facility makes it easy to find stored email addresses. A large QWERTY keypad makes ad hoc email entries a fast process.

• The single-pass duplexing document feeder scans double-sided documents quickly, minimizing user time at the device.


• The ability to encrypt PDF files with a PIN before attaching and sending—a feature that is now available on some MFPs—offers greater security safeguards when communicating confidential information.

• The ability to attach files to an email directly from the

USB memory drive would provide a fast method to send portable documents.

• There is no scan-to-desktop via SMB feature, something offered on some rival devices. We would have liked the ability to scan a file directly to a folder on our PC on the fly, with the capability to browse—using the SMB protocol—across the network to the folder location.

• A scan-to-URL feature which scans large files to a storage location (either on the device itself or to a file repository) and sends the recipient an email with a URL link to retrieve the file would give users control of when they could download large files, rather than having a bottleneck in their email service.

• The Preview Scan would have been even more useful if you could have seen all the pages rather than just the first page and if you could have zoomed in to look in closer detail.

• With the color scanning capability included, it would have been even more valuable to have included a color dropout capability. This removes a color spectrum during the scanning process and is an valuable factor for automated processing of forms and other documents.



Page 39

Summing Up

Lexmark X646e

The Lexmark X646 family of products will be tough to beat in environments where the more advanced document production and finishing capabilities are not an important factor.

Its fully loaded price would put a shiver down most traditional MFP sales reps. The device can be installed and maintained by the general office workforce, which will be attractive to many as it removes the need to have a long-term service contract and periods of downtime waiting for engineers to arrive.

Its compact size makes the Lexmark X646e a serious contender in the executive office as well where the highest paid members of an organization are looking for an all inclusive document solution that can copy, print, fax, and scan quickly and easily right at their desk.

Indeed, it is hard to assign fault or weaknesses to the

Lexmark X646e when you remove the device’s lack of finishing from the equation. In fact, many of the “We Would

Like to See” features listed throughout the report are not actually weaknesses versus rival units, they are suggestions on how the advanced technology that the device has can be better utilized in future generations of the product.

The Lexmark X646e is not alone in the market with other rival printer manufacturers introducing legal-capable MFPs at low price points. However, the Lexmark X646e still distances itself from its competitors in many ways with its direct USB port, ImageQuick direct print capability, and other innovative features designed to make the process of working in a world of hard and soft copy documents a more seamless process.

We are already looking forward to seeing how competitors rival this new powerhouse and hope that some of our suggestions become a reality in the next generation of what is becoming a product range to beat.



Page 40

About BERTL

Lexmark X646e

About BERTL

The success of an organization depends on its ability to manage its information and assets. An effective workflow process requires the complex integration of information, devices, software, and people.

IT managers, office managers, and other knowledge management professionals need to know which digital imaging devices would best serve their specialized workflow processes.

BERTL’s services are designed around this real-world framework, delivering business consumers the independent analysis and insight they need to make critical decisions about digital imaging’s role in their organization.

Independent Analysis and Insight

BERTL’s reports, comparative data, and strategic guides look and digital imaging through the eyes of the business user. The research examines not only the technical features, but also vertical market applications, and business benefits. The impact on worker productivity is a primary concern.

BERTL is 100 percent independent. It receives no funding from manufacturers and all product evaluations and reports are published at BERTL’s own expense for its subscribers.

Business users worldwide trust BERTL for objective, unbiased analysis of digital imaging systems.

BERTL Services

Reports and Star Ratings

BERTL analysts provide detailed reports of the technical and practical benefits of thousands color and monochrome workgroup, office, graphic arts, and production devices.

Product Specifications

DataCheck Gen II provides the most current competitive data on printers, copiers, MFPs, fax devices, wide format printers, scanners and more.

News, Interviews, and Analysis

The ITchat online magazine provides insight into the dynamics and trends of the digital imaging marketplace through interviews, feature articles, and software reviews

BERTL Awards

BERTL analysts recognize the leading devices and software solutions in the annual BERTL’s Best awards. BERTL also honors the performance of manufacturers in the annual

Readers’ Choice selections.

Contact BERTL

200 Craig Road

Manalapan, NJ 07726 USA

Tel 1.732.761.2311

Fax 1.732.761.2312

Email: [email protected] www.BERTL.com



Page 41

Lexmark X646e MFP manual

Lexmark X646e MFP

50 ppm Monochrome

Print ▪ Copy ▪ Scan ▪ Fax ▪ Internet Fax

www.BERTL.com

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