In the days gone past, people had a separate device for every task they needed to carry out. The same does not hold good any longer. We have now reached a stage where multitasking devices are sought after. This fact holds good for businesspersons and frequent travelers who are in need of gadgets that are small and can be carried around.
Laptops were the first devices that came along to the help of these people. However, they brought in a requirement for printing devices that could be carried around. Having a printer that could be carried around was not the only thing that people wanted. They wanted the ability to scan documents as well. Considering all these requirements, companies came up with the smallest printer scanner.
It is well known that buying a separate printer and scanner cannot only be expensive; it is also bulky to carry around. Getting a single device that has both features, not only reduces the costs, but also makes it easier for the user to have a portable machine at hand whenever needed.
Canon
Canon was only the manufacturer that was able to come up with a portable printer with a scanner attachment that replaces the ink cartridge, and turn the printer into a scanner. This is the Canon IS-12 Image Scanner Cartridge that can fit any of the portable Canon BJC 50/55/80/85 Color Bubble Jet Printers. But this combination has long been discontinued by Canon. Although you may still be lucky to find these Bubble Jet Printers available on websites such as Amazon, the IS-12 is quite difficult to find these days. But it may be a good idea to watch out Amazon as they do update their products and prices regularly.
Alternative Combinations
Canon did come up with new portable printers and portable scanners separately that can be attached together to make a combination and can be used outdoors or on the road without being too bulky and heavy.
There is the now popular Canon PIXMA iP100 Mobile Photo Printer that has gained quite a good following due to its outstanding performance – speeds like approximately 50 seconds for a borderless 4” x 6” photo to print using maximum resolutions of up to 9600 x 2400 dpi; Black ESAT Approx 9.0 ipm and Color ESAT Approximately 5.9 ipm, with resolutions for printing in black up to 600 x 600 dpi.
Very lightweight and compact at 12.7″(W) x 7.2″(D) x 2.4″(H) and 4.4 lbs., the iP100 is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS. It has wireless connectivity solutions via PictBridge (Cable not included), USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, IrDA, Bluetooth® v2.0 + EDR4.
It retails at $250 but can be found at much less at Amazon for around $220 only. However, for the iP100 to be fully portable you will need to attach the Canon BU-30 Bluetooth Adapter which is not available also at Amazon for about $49; and the Canon LK-62 Printer portable kit battery & attachment for another $96. Therefore, to be a complete portable tool, you will need to shell out at least $365.
You can match the iP100 with Canon’s first offering in the line of personal scanners, the Canon imageFormula P-150. It’s compact and small size, combined with its simple use but advance features takes scanning of documents and photos outside the office walls to the convenience of any location the user may decide to take the machine with him.
Also known as Scan-tini, it was designed to improve personal productivity and efficiency while in transit or at a small home office, with its outstanding advanced features offered to meet the various scanning needs of the traveler.
The P-150 scanner is a plug and play machine using only a single USB cable connected to a PC, and with Canon’s bundled CaptureOnTouch Lite software, the ease of use is one of its advantages.
Currently listed at the Canon site for $295, you may be able to get it for less at Amazon for around $251 only.
Smallest Printer Scanner All-in-One
If you would prefer the all-in-one with various functions, i.e. printer/scanner/copier/fax in one machine, Canon’s smallest offering is the PIXMA MG3120 Wireless Inkjet Photo All-In-One. Small and compact with dimensions of 17.7″W x 12.0″D x 6.0″H and weighing only 12.1 lbs, it is lightweight enough to bring along with you on important occasions or business assignments.
It delivers versatility, fantastic quality, and ease of use. It furthers productivity with its Built-in Wi-Fi®1 technology that allows you to easily print and scan wirelessly virtually anywhere around your house or office. Print gorgeous, borderless photos at home up to 8.5″ x 11″ size with a maximum print color resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi and the much praised FINE ink cartridges.
Auto Duplex Printing is a feature that allows you to automatically print on both sides of the paper and can help reduce paper usage and cost by up to 50%. Speaking of web printing, Software included such as the Easy-WebPrint EX lets you easily collect and combines multiple web pages to create and print your own layout. You can even turn your HD Movie clips into beautiful photos.
With its advanced image analysis and area-by-area data correction, you can view your scans clearly and vividly, automatically beautiful easy-to-view scans. Plus, with its wireless capability, you can print and scan JPEG and PDF files from compatible iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Android devices.
At Amazon, it’s priced from $80, not too far away from Canon’s listed price.
In a Nutshell
Before you make a purchase of the smallest printer scanner available, look at the prices that are on offer. More often than not, combining two separate machines, a printer and a scanner, can turn out to be quite expensive. Check which one would give the most value for your money.
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About James Wikkee