Just in case you needed any more proof that touch screens are going about as viral as a talented cat on YouTube, Lexmark on Tuesday announced a dozen new workgroup printer models, and “touch” is the star of the show.
Lexmark has announced new models across its X792, C792, X925, and C925 series of printers, all featuring varying sizes of color touch screens that the company claims will give users more productive access to the features they need.
The X792 family of multifunction color laser printers for workgroups, for instance, features a 10.2-inch touch screen, which Lexmark claims is the largest in its class. The screen’s generous real estate can be put to good use as a print preview window for selecting documents or specific pages within a document to print. Lexmark says the X792 family features the fastest print and copy speeds in its category with 50 pages per minute (PPM) and has six configurable models, including one that offers hole punch finishing capabilities.
Scaling down a little, the C792 family of color laser printers are single-function versions of the X792 line, featuring a 4.3-inch touch screen and a “flash interface… similar to a smart phone for intuitive navigation.” The C792 family also has four configurable models with media handling and input/output options.
The X925de and C925de round out Lexmark’s new hardware for businesses with A3 (11-inch by 17-inch) printing needs. The former features the X792 family’s 10.2-inch display, while the latter is the only single-function A3 color printer in its class with a 4.3-inch touch screen.
Lexmark didn’t announce prices for these printers. We’ve asked the company for that information, and we’ll post an update once we get a response.
On the software front, Lexmark also released Markvision Enterprise, a Web-based tool that lets IT admins monitor anywhere from a handful to 20,000 devices, regardless of manufacturer. For bonus points, a permission system allows admins to grant access to other employees based on their level of responsibility.
Lexmark says that its new printers will be available through channel partners and at Lexmark.com. Markvision Enterprise should ship later this year.