If you’re looking for a mobile printer scanner, you need to know exactly what it is you’re looking for. There have been many misconceptions about what a mobile printer scanner is. Normally, what comes to mind when you think of printer scanners, you associate that with all-in-ones or multifunction machines that include printing, scanning, copying, faxing, and sometimes even pc-faxing functions.
However, we look for these multifunction units in its mobile form. I think this is where everyone stops looking as there are none in the market, as we write this article. There may be compact units of this all-in-ones but still not considered as mobile as they would still be on the slightly heavy and bulky side; you wouldn’t think of carrying them together with your laptop.
Considerations
Therefore, having said that, the nearest one can go with as having a printer and a scanner combination is putting mobile printers and personal document scanners together.
To help you with your choices and decisions, I am going to list down some of the basic and major factors that you will need to consider before making that important decision of a purchase.
Size Matters
The size is a criterion that is subject to the buyer’s preferences. Some people may find small gadgets still too bulky for their tastes. Whatever size they come in, it is important that the whole package in itself is of a size or makeup that is very easy to carry around. There’s no point to calling it a mobile if it only sits on your desk because it’s too bulky to carry around. You might as well call it a desktop printer scanner.
Printing and Scanning Resolutions
This is one of the most important parameters of a printer and scanner test. In order for the gadget to be an effective printer and scanner, it should have a printing and scanning resolution that is capable of printing decent photos and producing quality digital images of scanned documents or photos.
Printing and Scanning Speeds
Most people don’t mind having a slow printing and scanning speed. However, for others, especially those who live in a portable lifestyle and are always in a hurry, speed is a very important thing. This criterion is still also subjective to the user. For others, a printing speed of 10ppm is a decent speed for portable printers. However, for some, especially those who have experienced far faster speeds, this number is not quite acceptable. Scanning speed is also the same. If you’re on the go, your scanning unit must be able to catch up with your need.
Reproducibility Test
Most people don’t usually do this kind of test. When buying a printer or scanner from a retail store, they usually just try printing a page or two and then they wrap it up and pay for it. This test is a combination of testing the printing and scanning resolutions. This test allows you to see how exact your machine can make a duplicate of your document. In order to discern better, you should use a photo as a testing subject. Texts are harder to test because a resolution of 300dpi is enough to recreate documents. You should use a photo and see how exact it can make another photo similar to the original. If they are the same, if not almost, then it’s safe to say that your printer scanner is up to the challenge.
Different people have different criteria when buying different gadgets. The criteria mentioned above are just the basic but major factors that one needs to consider before purchasing mobile printers or scanners.
Recommendation
Among the highly regarded manufacturers of both printers and scanners, you may already make the comparison and check out which combinations would suit your preferences best. Here is one mobile printer and scanner combination that I believe is at the top of the list.
Canon has for its latest offering of mobile printers, the PIXMA iP100 Mobile Photo Printer is by far the best and most popular. A very effective and most helpful tool for today’s mobile professional, it enables him to conduct his business anywhere and on the go at anytime. With the highest resolution to date for a mobile printer, it can produce outstanding quality borderless photos with its 9600 x 2400 dpi maximum resolution. A 4” x 6” borderless photo takes only about 50 seconds to print.
The iP100 offers IrDA compatibility, and with the option of adding the BU30 Bluetooth adapter, it allows user to print wirelessly from any Bluetooth enabled device such as a laptop, a PDA, or even a camera phone.
At Canon’s online store, the iP100 is listed at $250, but you may be able to get it for much less at Amazon, where it is currently listed at $190.
With the iP100, you may attach the personal document scanner offer from Canon, the imageFORMULA P-150 Scan-tini, completing the combo that provides value, productivity, and practicality. It is particularly designed for professionals with document capture needs and a view to improve personal productivity and efficiency while in transit or even at home or in small offices. This scanner meets energy efficiency guidelines making it qualified for an Energy Star® rating.
The P-150 is a bit pricey at around $270 on Amazon but keep checking as prices are constantly changing.
Between the PIXMA iP100 and the imageFORMULA P-150 Scan-tini Portable Document Scanner, mobile productivity and efficiency is given a new meaning.
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About James Wikkee