Any businessperson worth his or her salt in today’s business world owns a portable printer. It’s one of those technologies that comes along every few years that allows business to move faster. If you don’t own one, you’re going to be at a severe disadvantage.
If you’re a salesman and you only own a desktop, what are you going to do if a potential customer asks for a piece of information that you don’t have while you’re on a sales call?
You’re most likely going to stutter, sweat, and attempt to make up a ridiculous excuse, and eventually lose the sale. Some people say luck is more often found by the prepared. In order to be prepared in today’s business environment, you need to own a portable printer. The question is, where do you begin?
HP DeskJet 450 Series (450ci)
Many portable printer enthusiasts feel that models in the HP DeskJet 450 series are the best portable printers. As long as you’re not looking for stellar customer service, HP usually delivers.
For instance, the HP DeskJet 450ci Mobile Deskjet Printer are high quality machines that are currently selling for $330 brand new, and as low as $59 used at Amazon.com. You might want to consider the ones that are several years old. As when you’re on the road, you don’t need bulk printing speed or pro-photographer quality. You need something that’s reliable and can get the job done.
The HP DeskJet 450 models fit that mold. They can handle 8.5 x 11-inch documents and offer high-resolution photo prints. The only negative is that they’re a little bulkier and heavier than most portable printers are. The HP Deskjet 450ci is the base model which the Lithium Ion battery is optional. The battery comes standard with the HP Deskjet 450cbi that is available on Amazon at $330 new, and the HP Deskjet 450wbt, $329 also new on Amazon.
Canon Pixma iP90 Photo Inkjet Printer
Another popular portable printer is the Canon Pixma iP90 Photo Inkjet Printer. This model is also a few years old, which makes it quite a bargain. You should be able to find it new for around $298 and used for $40.
This model can also handle 8.5 x 11-inch documents and weighs 4.5 lbs with the battery. Print speed is up to 16 ppm in black, 12 ppm in color, and approximately 51 seconds per 4×6” borderless color photo print at a high resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi in color.
Like the popular i70 and i80 models that preceded it, the Canon Pixma iP90 is a sleek, lightweight, go-anywhere portable inkjet printer that creates full-size documents and color graphics. You can also print directly from your digital camera, cellphone or PDA thanks to built-in PictBridge and infrared (IrDA) ports without a PC. The Bluetooth functionality, a battery, or a power adapter for your car are add-ons.
When you buy a Canon, you know you’re going to get high quality photo prints, regardless of the model. The big bonus here is that this model also prints documents at a decent speed, especially for a portable printer.
HP PhotoSmart
If you’re looking for a cheap portable photo printer, consider one of the HP PhotoSmart models. These machines aren’t very fast, and they can only print up to 5 x 7” photos, but they’re durable and reliable. They’re also some of the most compact portable photo printers on the market.
The HP PhotoSmart A826 Compact Photo Printer, Their dimensions are 10.4″ x 14.65″ x 15.12″-inches and they weigh 8.46 lbs. This might not sound like a big difference from the printers mentioned earlier, but you will definitely appreciate the lightened load after an hour of walking around with one of them.
Choosing your portable printer
There are few universal things to look for when choosing portable printers. The first thing you have to find out is if the printer comes with a battery. This is important because they usually cost around $100.
It sometimes is a lot cheaper to buy the model that comes already with the battery, as if you buy it separately, it comes out more expensive. You can also get a portable printer that sells a battery and charger kit.
Another useful option if you want a spare battery and a charger to recharge your spare while the first battery is in use.
The next step is to find out if you can recharge your portable printer in the car. This convenience can save you from many potential bombshell situations. Most portable printers do come with an auto charger that provides you great portability, as you can use it in your car, and practically just anywhere.
Finally, keep in mind that there are some wireless portable printers. Look for Bluetooth-compatible models if you think this might be beneficial for you. Canon and HP models offer the Bluetooth option to most of its portable printers.
While you don’t need the fanciest model, it’s important to stay competitive at all times. Owning a portable printer gives you that edge.
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About James Wikkee