What They're Saying About: The Lexmark P315 Photo Printer

Sometimes Sondheim's song "You Gotta Get A Gimmick" applies to printers as well. The Lexmark P315 photo printer doesn't need a computer to print its photos -- in fact, it doesn't even have a connection for a computer, which has kept the price below $100. However, reviewers were not enthusiastic about the speed or quality of the output. And strangely enough, while the P315 has a handle so that carrying it around is easier, it doesn't run on battery power, so it is not really a portable.

Price: $99.99
Type: Color thermal inkjet photo printer
Max. Print Speed: One 4 x 6 color photo in 38 seconds
Max. Print Resolution: 4800 x 1200 dpi
Special Features: Reads flash memory cards, handle for easy carrying, preview display

BIOS Review

Rating: N/A

Liked: Memory card slots; adjustable colour LCD; PictBridge support

Disliked: Poor print quality; no wireless printing; low duty cycle.

In Short:: Whilst its versatility is limited, the P315 could complement a general inkjet printer for occasional high-resolution photo prints.... Nevertheless, the print cost will still likely limit your creativity to short-run output and poor output quality will give you a false impression of the potential of home digital studios.

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PC Magazine Review

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Liked: Prints from PictBridge cameras and memory cards. LCD for previewing photos. Highly portable, with a built-in handle.

Disliked: Does not print from computers. Photos are tacky immediately after printing. Even after drying, they are easily hurt by water.

In Short:: The Lexmark P315 takes the idea of printing from cameras and memory cards one step further than most 4- by 6-inch photo printers by not printing from computers at all. It's portable enough to take anywhere, but as it doesn't have a battery, you can use it only where you can plug it in.

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Pocket-lint Review

Rating: 6 out of 10

Liked: Low price point.

Disliked: Bulky, no battery support, mediocre print quality.

In Short:: We rate the P315 as an inexpensive photo printer, handy to have tucked away somewhere in your home. If it were a car, it would be a VW Beetle. As a portable photo printer, we don't think though that it competes because of its size and lack of a battery pack.

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