Portable Printer

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The Canon PIXMA iP100 Mobile Photo Printer is light and small enough that you can print documents wherever you go.  This product’s high resolution makes it one of the leading travel printers on the market and those who are familiar with the Canon name will find that this printer lives up to the brand’s reputation.  If you are looking for a way to print photos or documents while on the road, the Canon mobile photo printer is a great option.

One of the biggest draws for this printer is the fact that it not only prints photos with great clarity, but that it is capable of printing letter sized documents as well.  This feature does add a little bulk, but it makes it an appropriate addition to any business traveler’s list of must have items.  The black and white printing speed is not as fast as most desktop printers, but it is more than sufficient for the needs of most people on the go.  For those who are looking primarily for a printer from which photos may be printed, the printer is more than capable of printing frame worthy photographs quickly.  The software that accompanies the model allows users to color correct, saving time and money on additional software programs.

In addition to the now standard USB hookup for laptops and desktops, the Canon PIXMA iP100 is equipped with Blue Tooth technology.  This allows one to wirelessly print photographs and documents from mobile phones and PDAs.  Not only does this make it easier to retrieve cell phone pictures, it is a great asset for those who draft documents and store files on the memory of their PDAs.  For home use, it can be easily added to an in house network for use by any computer in your home.

At 4.4 pounds and 7.2 x12.7 inches, this Canon model is larger than many of the other photo printers currently on the market.  When considering this size differential, it is important to keep in mind that it is capable of printing much more than just photos.  With this added weight comes the ability to print standard documents that more traditional photo printers cannot produce.  The speed, durability and quality of prints has made this printer the printer of choice for many both while traveling and at home.

The Canon PIXMA iP100 can be purchased almost anywhere that Canon products are sold, and is available at most of online electronics retailers.  The manufacturer’s list price of $250 makes it a more expensive option than some lower quality photo printers, but it can be found for significant discounts with little searching.  Customers should keep in mind that use without the USB hookup will require the additional purchase of a battery pack, which is typically offered at around $100 or a car adapter, which may also be purchased separately.  The Canon PIXMA iP100 Mobile Photo Printer can be used with all Windows or Mac operating systems.

Canon PIXMA iP100 Mobile Photo Printer Sale Price: $164.00   Eligible for free shipping!

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For someone looking to print exclusively photos, the Canon Pixma mini320 photo printer is the solution. Though not a small printer as the name suggests, it is indeed a good printer, that is easy to carry around and can be set up anywhere without any problems. The set up is easy, which just requires you to open the top and front covers to turn them into trays, open up the inside cover and load the cartridges. When you load the paper tray, the printer is all set.

Being a portable printer, Canon Pixma Mini320 gives you the option of printing from memory cards and PictBridge cameras as well. You can carry it along on your holidays and print your favorite pictures instantly from the camera. You can connect the printer to a computer using the USB cable or buy an additional Bluetooth adaptor. The disadvantage is that you cannot print using USB keys.

The Canon Pixma mini320 has some features worth mentioning. It can print different photo sizes like 4X6, 5X7 and 4X8. There are some photo editing features as well. You can crop the photos the way you want to. On the advanced menu, you will also find features like adjusting brightness, contrast and red-eye reduction. You can play around with the photo border options and give some really nice borders for your photos.  The printer will print just about anything – photos, calendars, collages and even a picture index.

The photo print quality is excellent. The prints are as clear as it can be, crisp and you can expect photo-lab quality prints with Canon Pixma mini320. The only issue with the quality is a little tint in a monochrome photo. This is not an issue if you are not printing black and white photos and you will not be disappointed if you need high quality prints. You can also expect the photos to last for a long time without fading. An issue with the photos printed on Canon Pixma mini320 is that they are not scratch resistant. Be careful when you stack photos one over the other.

The speed of the printer is good at 47 seconds per print for the smallest size. The ink cartridge on an average lasts for about 75 prints and stops printing when it runs out of ink. It resumes printing as soon as you replace the cartridge without a break and you get the same quality prints. The cost of printing can be high even with cheap quality photo paper. The price per print is comparable to expensive prints at a photo lab.

With the combination of features that Canon Pixma mini320 has – speed, quality, choice of paper sizes and portability – it is a very good choice. It can do better with a cheaper ink tank. However, you can outweigh it considering the long lasting high quality prints it produces. With the Canon Pixma mini320, you can be sure to create impact with your photos.

Canon Pixma mini320 Compact Photo Inkjet Printer (2172B002) Sale Price: $56.89   Eligible for free shipping!

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This product has been replaced by the HP Officejet H470.

As the name implies, the HP Deskjet 460c mobile printer is designed for the people on the move. While on travel, the HP Deskjet 460c ensures that you are able to print from anywhere – be it a hotel lounge or the airplane. The speed of the printer can be compared to many of the printers offered by competitors. It has high performance standards with excellent text prints. However if you are printing graphics or photos, you are left with desiring more out of the printer. This can be discounted since the printer is not intended to be used much for printing graphics or photos and is designed mainly for text prints.

Another remarkable feature, again intended for the traveler, is the Wi-Fi printing. It means that you can print directly from computers that are present on the same network without any hassles. This feature is of great use if you are going out as a team for a meeting and need to print text. Another great advantage is that the HP Deskjet 460c is relatively compact when compared to other printers in the portable category. The printer can be neatly tucked away into some of the larger laptop bags. But unfortunately the accessories such as the adaptor and the extra cartridges will have to be carried separately. It would have been if the printer came along with a carrying bag to taken in all that it needs.

The control panel of the HP Deskjet 460c is simple with just a few buttons. The buttons are for the basic functions of power, cancel and resume printing. It also houses some indicator lights to let you know about battery charging and ink levels. The rear side of the printer houses the USB ports. There are two ports of which one is to connect to a computer while the other is for flash drives. You also have slots for memory cards, which are housed on the side of the printer. It has two slots one each for CF and SD/MMC.

The CF slot of the printer can be used to enable the wireless printing option with the use of an adaptor. The Wi-fi option can be enabled by a three-way switch, which is located at the rear of the printer. You can use up to three wireless profiles, which works great for someone who uses the printer at three regular location say home, office and a favorite café.

The paper handling of HP Deskjet 460c is designed very simple though it runs into some difficulties with photo paper. But this can be overlooked considering the fact that the printer is designed more for text prints than for photo prints. It can print both black and color prints at a reasonable cost per print. Overall the printer is great for those who are on a constant move. The option of Wi-Fi printing is also a plus.

HP Deskjet 460c Mobile Printer (C8150A#A2L)

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The HP OfficeJet H470 Mobile Printer is designed with the business traveler in mind.  It is made to be small enough to carry easily, but features a print speed and quality that will allow any user to print all necessary documents in time for a meeting.  This printer is probably not the best option for those who are looking for a travel printer for personal use, such as photo printing on the go, but it is among the best on the market for the business traveler.

The print speed is the feature that really sets this model apart from the competition.  It is capable of producing 22 black and white pages per minute or 18 color pages.  This is comparable to some desktop printing models and even at this speed, the quality remains high.  High resolution photo printing is also available, but users should be aware that this will require special ink and changing the default settings.

Unlike many of the other travel printers on the market, the HP OfficeJet H470 does require an external power source.  The included adapter can be plugged into any outlet, but it is required for use.  For those who prefer not to be tethered to an outlet, HP does sell battery packs and car adaptors that make this printer more portable.  These accessories do represent an additional cost, but are well worth the money for frequent business travelers.

Another upgrade that is not included in the standard package but is well worth the investment is the wireless capability.  Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adaptors can be purchased that will allow for easy printing from laptops or hand held devices.  Without these add-ons, print jobs must be transmitted through the included USB cables.  This is a small concession, given the quality of the printer, and many who print primarily from laptops, as opposed to mobile phones, may not miss the wireless capability at all.

This mobile printer is slightly larger than some of the competition, weighing in at 4.5 pounds with a tray for ease of paper feeding.  While the added bulk may turn some would be customers off, this printer is far less likely to jam than other models and can print large jobs without the need to constantly refill the paper.  It is this feature, perhaps more than any other, which really sets it apart as the ideal choice for the business traveler, as printing may be done with little supervision.

The HP OfficeJet H470 Mobile Printer has a list price of around $300 and is priced comparably to other high quality travel printers.  This model is really set apart by its print speed and quality.  Travelers will not miss their desktop printers when using this option on the road.  While designed with the business traveler in mind, this model is more than capable of handling the print load in most homes, and makes a great alternative to bulky desktop printers.

HP OfficeJet H470 Mobile Printer Sale Price: Too low to display   Eligible for free shipping!

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Users will be amazed at the tiny size of the Polaroid CZA-10011B PoGo Instant Mobile Printer.  It is no larger than most digital cameras or PDA devices and can fit easily within the user’s pocket.  For those who want the ability to print photos anywhere, this may be one of the best options out there.  However, with the small size and low price come some shortcomings as well.  While this model is great when functioning as advertised, it will not help you ease your reliance on your desktop printer.

Weighing just 8 ounces, it is one of the lightest mobile printer options available by far.  With dimensions of 4.7 x 2.8 x 0.9 inches, some users will find that it is one of the smallest electronic devices they own.  This size is certainly one of the biggest strengths of this printer.  It is truly pocket sized and portable, in a way that few of the other travel printer models are.  When on vacation, it will take up no additional room in your luggage or travel bag, and can easily be lugged on all your sightseeing trips.

This printer is designed to print only small, black and white photos.  Using ZINK, the Zero Ink paper, it is a return to the Polaroid ink cartridge free technology of old.  By eliminating the need for printing cartridges, this printer is less expensive to operate than some of its counterparts, and ensures that as long as you have paper, you can continue to print.  This paper takes little time to expose, printing about one 2 x 3 inch picture a minute.  However, as this size is smaller than the standard photo sizes, users may find that the prints are not frame-worthy.  In addition, the resolution is not great but more or less in line with other low cost photo printers.

The Polaroid CZA-10011B PoGo Instant Mobile Printer is Bluetooth enabled, and ready for use with most cell phones and computers.  Before purchasing, make sure to check compatibility, as it will not work will all cell phones.  If your hand held device is compatible, sending photos to this printer is easy and most users will find that there is little need to consult the manual.  This user-friendliness is something that the Polaroid Company has always done well, and it remains the case with this mobile printer.

On a scale of 1 to 5, this printer merits a 3.5.  While the 2 x 3 inch black and white prints are of an acceptable quality, its limited scope makes it a less than ideal choice for most users.  This printer costs less than $50, and it is certainly worth this purchase price for those who would like to see proofs of their photographs or those who would like the ability to share small, wallet-sized photos instantly with friends.  However, this printer will not become your primary printer, nor will it truly replace other at home photo printer models.

Polaroid CZA-10011B PoGo Instant Mobile Printer (Black) Sale Price: $34.95   Eligible for free shipping!