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    Shopping for a mobile printer

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by yehuda1, Mar 16, 2011.

  1. yehuda1

    yehuda1 Notebook Geek

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    I need to be able to print on the road so I need a printer that is:

    * compact
    * battery powered
    * wireless
    * absolutely reliable

    I don't mind if it can't print on A4 paper as long as it can receive a A4 print and downscale it on A5 paper.

    I'm really new to this market yet I need to purchase immediately. Any idea where I can start learning? Any technology to steer away from? Any good comparative review you would recommend reading?

    Many thanks
     
    yehuda1, Mar 16, 2011
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  2. yehuda1

    yehuda1 Notebook Geek

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    Seems the Canon iP100 would be a solid choice at just above $300 with the optional battery and Bluetooth modules.

    My notebook has Bluetooth. Can I expect automatic connection between the two machines without user interaction?

    I'm not sure about my options as far as thermal printers go. Are they PC compatible at all? Worth checking out?
     
    yehuda1, Mar 16, 2011
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  3. Cin'

    Cin' Anathema

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    Cin', Mar 16, 2011
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  4. yehuda1

    yehuda1 Notebook Geek

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    Yeah, the HP470bwt looks like the primary competitor of the Canon, but it looks like users generally have a more favorable experience with the Canon, for example here: Small Portable Printer - HP & Canon Mobile InkJet Laser Printers (But then again, there's no telling who's behind that website...)

    Has anyone had opportunity to try both and can comment? Any idea which one's more economical with regard to ink?
     
    yehuda1, Mar 17, 2011
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  5. ssssssssss

    ssssssssss Notebook Evangelist

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    Aaah, brings back memories of my IBM/Canon laptop with a built in Bubblejet!

    Not something I've looked at for a lot of years but anecdotally, anyone I see these days with one seems to have a Canon, for what that's worth.
     
    ssssssssss, Mar 17, 2011
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  6. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Canon printers print at a very nice high quality - the only thing that will be costly with any portable printer is ink.

    -> Our first Canon printer lived for 5,5 years if I did the maths right - and we got a new Canon. (not a portable one though.
     
    DetlevCM, Mar 17, 2011
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  7. yehuda1

    yehuda1 Notebook Geek

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    Should I also check out the thermal printer category considering my use is printing invoices on the road and my software only officially supports A4 and I can't plan for compatibility with other paper sizes? I initially thought small form-factor printers would be readily available for the PC with internal support for downscaling from A4 but that niche is apparently too small to develop this far... my manager insists I should look at smaller printers but I think we'll end up with either the Canon or the HP.
     
    yehuda1, Mar 18, 2011
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  8. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    -> If your invoices are A4 best stick with an A4 printer.
    Have you tried to read A4 pages printed at A5 size? Horrible... with plain text it's just about OK.... but add mathematical formulae and it's horrible.

    Same with invoices - you want to be able to read everything easily and clearly.

    I think you should base your decision on a factor you've not given much thought yet -> can you refill the cartridges, because if you can that will save you a lot of money.
     
    DetlevCM, Mar 18, 2011
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