Visualize travelling to an important meeting on the local public transport. On your way you realize you forgot to print out some paperwork. If you had a portable printer you could print the document using your smart phone, attend the meeting, and never miss a beat.
The potential of a portable, mobile, or travel printer is pretty awesome. Whether you need to print an e-ticket for your next flight or print papers for a meeting, a portable printer can really live up to the occasion. These small printers are more expensive but they are generally worth the convenience factor.
Portable printers have a smaller footprint but they have all the same capabilities as any other printer of larger size. Many of these printers are WiFi/Bluetooth capable, can operate using a battery, and are much smaller and lighter weight.
Not all small printers are created equal. When looking for a new mobile printer you should evaluate its capabilities. Small printers are slower at printing, so check how many pages they will print per minute (check the color speed too). The print resolution is lower, so printing photos is not possible on some models. Other factors to check for are WiFi/Bluetooth capabilities and whether or not the printer can be battery powered. Generally, ink jet printers are best but thermal printers and their advantages will be discussed later.
Bluetooth and WiFi capable printers can connect to many devices such as smart phones, tablets, and netbooks. WiFi is available on larger printers while smaller printers are only Bluetooth capable. Additional hardware, is usually required to operate either Bluetooth or WiFi. When pricing a new printer be sure to budget in the extra $50 or more for this technology, if you need it.
The smallest of the small printers all use thermal technology. This technology is very reliable, but it’s slow, low resolution, only black and white, and has limited wireless connectivity options. If size is the most important factor then thermal technology might be right for you. Otherwise, go with the more familiar Ink Jet technology.
In summary, small printers have all the capabilities of a larger printer with the added advantages of portability, battery power, and wireless connectivity.
Want to find out more about the best small printers, then visit AJ Jensen’s site on how to choose the best small printer for your needs.