Other ways to print

Posted in: Printers, blog by Jack on 18 August 2010

Most of the time when we discuss “printing” we are talking about a traditional computer-printer setup; the printer connected to the computer with a parallel or USB cable and print jobs sent from a word processor or image application to the printer.

But did you know there are other ways to print?

Many modern printers are being sold with wireless capabilities. Used to be if you wanted to connect your printer to your wireless network you had to buy and configure a print server, one of the most frustrating and problematic pieces of technology released to the public. When I worked on the help desk of a major networking hardware manufacturer we used to hate receiving calls about print servers. Not very many home users saw the need for print servers, most were sold to businesses. The difficulty with configuring them and getting them to stay connected to the network made them unpopular.

This was before the wireless device revolution we’re now experiencing. Now your cell phone can connect to your wireless network, you can connect external storage devices, MP3 players, cameras, iPads and the list goes on and increases almost daily. Eventually all of our electronic devices will be able to network together and send data from one device to another.

A printer that’s a part of a wireless network can receive print jobs from any other device on the network. My camera can send an image to be printed. I can print out the webpage I’m reading on my wireless laptop. You no longer have to be sitting in front of your computer at a desk in order to print.

There are even wireless printers that, by means of a modified browser, allow you to surf and print directly from the internet, no computer required.

Another technology that has become nearly ubiquitous in cell phones and other personal electronic devices is Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a wireless technology with a shorter range than the 802.11 b/g/n routers most of us have, generally 30 feet as opposed to the average 300 feet of 802.11 wireless devices. Bluetooth is ideal for sending data to another device quickly and securely. Bluetooth in a printer is less beneficial than is wireless since the distance is more limited by Bluetooth. In some homes and offices you could easily be too far from the printer for it to connect.

There’s also been an increase in the number of ethernet-networked printers. These printers are connected to your network’s router with a standard ethernet cable like the one connected to your computer. Connecting to the printer by ethernet cable instead of making a wireless connection requires more cables running everywhere.

Finally, did you know you can “print” without even owning a printer?

Most word processing applications offer a means to “print to file” instead of sending a print job to a printer. This option is a bit different than simply saving a document. By printing to file you are saving a copy of your document as it would appear if printed out. Some applications also allow you to “print” your document to a file in PDF format.

Some people believe they need to print out every interesting thing they get in email or see on the web. You could save paper and ink by printing instead to a folder on your computer or external storage device.

Portable inkjet printers reviewed

Posted in: Printers, Reviews, blog by Jack on 21 May 2009

One of our customers inquired today about portable inkjet printers, and while there isn’t a source of reviews comparable to the ones for laser printers that I could find, I did run across the following that I hope will be of some help.

Portable inkjet printers are a compact and lightweight option for use with laptops. They can run on battery or electrical power; some even have an optional adapter to run off a car’s cigarette lighter. Reviews say that portable printers can’t match the speed of desktop printers and cost much more both to buy and to run. They are made for low-volume use. Many portable printers are Bluetooth compatible, which means that they will work with a wireless adapter and can receive input from a PDA or mobile phone.

The Canon Pixma iP100 (*Est. $235) receives great comments from CNet.com’s Justin Yu, who says that its speed and resolution are top notch for a portable printer. Print quality is also praised and text is said to be clean, with Simon Williams of TrustedReviews.com stating that the iP100 is on par with full-sized, desktop inkjet printers.

The iP100 is an update of the Canon Pixma ip90v portable printer, and there are several notable improvements. These include a larger number of printheads, higher color resolution, 50-sheet input capacity (an increase of 20 sheets), faster printing and, according to the CNet.com review, a slight improvement in print quality. Connectivity options include PictBridge, USB and infrared for connection to cell phones. There are no memory card slots and the iP100 printer does not offer Wi-Fi connectivity.

HP’s Officejet H470 portable printer (*Est. $220) does not fare as well at CNet.com, where Justin Yu says problems include “fuzzy” and “blurred” text. Photos print out smooth, Yu says, but colors are flat and lack saturation. PC Magazine’s M. David Stone largely agrees, saying the H470′s text quality is “subpar,” and notes banding when printing in certain modes. U.K.-based PC Advisor sees similar issues, but the reviewer writes that swapping the default black ink cartridge for an optional six-ink photo cartridge resulted in “superb” output on photo paper. Simon Williams of TrustedReviews.com, on the other hand, feels that the H470 performs well for a portable printer, and that its print speeds actually exceed HP’s specifications. He also disagrees with negative assessments of the H470′s text printing, saying that even when reproducing small fonts there is only “slight fuzziness” around the edges.

Reviews that contrast the HP Officejet H470 with the Canon Pixma iP100 are inconclusive as to which is the superior product. M. David Stone at PC Magazine notes that while the iP100 is superior in speed and some aspects of print quality, the H470 wins out in such areas as ink cartridge yields. Both printers have some similar costly, optional add-ons, such as Bluetooth adapters and lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.

If you are searching for a portable printer, there are some key differences in features between the Canon Pixma iP100 and HP Officejet H470 that may help you choose the best model. Most notably, HP’s H470 offers Wi-Fi connectivity and memory card slots. It also costs less to equip and operate; for instance, the H470′s optional battery costs around $50, while the iP100′s is twice as expensive. HP even offers a soft carrying case — a frill missing with the Pixma iP100. If you do not need these options and value print quality above all else, however, reviews indicate that Canon’s Pixma iP100 is the better performing portable printer. (Source – Consumer Search)

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