Lexmark Rolls Out Web-Connected Touch-Screen AIOs

Lexmark first announced that it planned to roll out the new AIOs back in July. While Lexmark said it is the first hardware maker to come out with a Web-connected AIO printer, three weeks before its announcement, rival Hewlett-Packard unveiled its own Web-connected printer.

The companies can argue over the first-to-market crown, but the main difference is their target markets. HP's Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web is a consumer product, while Lexmark's printers are specifically aimed at SMBs.

The Web-connected printers are the Platinum ($399) and Prestige ($299), part of Lexmark's Professional line, and the Interact ($199) under the Home Office series. All feature Lexmark's myTouch capacitive 4.3-inch touch-screen technology that features SmartSolutions apps. Some of the apps include Cartridge Finder, Google Calendar, RSS Headlines and Picasa Photo Viewer.

All eight new inkjet printers are wireless, and four of them offer Wireless-N (IEEE 802.11n) for customers who need longer range and more reliable signals for faster file-transfer rates

The printers also include Lexmark Vizix print technology and a business card scanning solution that lets users automatically upload contact information to address book applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Windows CE or Palm OSTM.

Lexmark's eight new printers also include the Prevail ($199) and Prospect ($169) models under the Professional line. The Intuition ($149), Interpret ($129) and Impact ($99) are part of the Home Office series.