Inkjet all-in-one machines are definitely beginning to take over from inkjet printers as the main consumer printing device. For very little more money, you have all the extra functionality of scanning and copying.

An inkjet multifunction printer sounds like an expensive piece of equipment, but these days, you can bring one home for a measly $100. The Lexmark X5470 is one such printer, combining printer, scanner, fax, and copier into one useful device.

Inexpensive; nice range of features; built-in memory card slots and PictBridge port; fast text prints; decent scan quality; built-in ADF

Poor to mediocre print quality; slow copy speed; very limited paper handling options

The X prefix denotes that Lexmark aims this printer at small-to-medium businesses, but that's ambitious at this price. We'd suggest it's much better suited to small offices right down to personal use. Mono text documents had only the faintest trace of spidering, perfectly acceptable for an inkjet.

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Stylish design; Very quick black printing

Prone to paper jams

The X5470 is easy to use and reasonably affordable to run, so it's ideal if you need a fax but are on a tight budget.

First impressions are often correct. As such, a quick glance through the Lexmark's X5470 impressive-looking feature list and specifications might have you scurrying for your credit card.

Clever paper auto-sensing; It is cheap

Wonky printing; Smudging; Poor photo quality prints; Slow print speeds

The Lexmark X5470 cuts some corners to achieve its exceptionally low $100 price tag (as of 10/25/06), but it still packs a remarkable set of features

Low price; Built-in fax and automatic

Slow photo printing; Mediocre overall

All-in-one printers, scanners, copiers and fax machines are one of the best ways to go if you need all the devices on offer but suffer from a lack of desk space. The X5470 may not be particularly small but it looks quite nice thanks a clean and stylish design and nice grey and white livery.

Price; range of features; design; good photo output with additional six-ink cartridge; an attractive design and excellent sub ￡100 make this great value for money

Photo printing is slow and very mediocre with "basic" four-ink print cartridge; ADF jams too easily

You've heard the anecdote about how, if automotive technology had progressed as quickly as PC design over the past decade or two, we'd be driving cars that cost $50 and got 2,000 miles per gallon and so on. But that's nothing.

Although the X5470 is attractively priced, it is only recommended for those who don't have serious photo- and colour-printing needs.