Two Very Different Portable Printers for Laptops
When it comes to portable printers for laptops, there are two ways to go. You can take the traditional approach and purchase a model that weighs 4 to 6 lbs, offers decent speed and good quality; or you can buy a direct thermal printer, which doesn’t require any ink or toner and weighs only 1.5 lbs yet is much slower and doesn’t compare in quality. Your decision will have a lot to do with your needs. If you’re someone who likes to travel super-light and only needs basic text prints, then a direct thermal printer is going to be your best option. If you’re someone who needs high quality prints or speed, then you’re going to need to carry the extra weight and go with a standard model. The difference in price between these two types of machines is moderate. While the standard machine offers more, it’s also cheaper. The primary reason the direct thermal printer is about 50% more expensive is because it’s tiny and offers a lot of convenience. It’s also relatively new technology, which is always going to cost more. A few models will be reviewed below so you have a better idea of what might be a better fit for you.
While looking through discount portable printers for laptops, you might come across the Hp Officejet 470 Mobile Printer. This is a color ink-jet machine that will run you about $130. Its stats are impressive for a laptop printer, especially its speed. The 470 can print up to 23 pages per minute black and 16 pages per minute color. These numbers are average for a desktop, but well beyond average for a portable. The 470 can hold up to 50 sheets at one time, which is another impressive stat. Resolution of prints, can reach as high as 1200 x 1200 dots per inch. Connectivity options are USB 2.0, 10/100 Ethernet, and Bluetooth (optional). The Officejet 470 is also PictBridge-compatible, so printing from your digital camera is a possibility. The 470 is easy to use and the cost per page is low. The battery life is also strong. The negative here is that you must purchase the battery separately. Some additional features for this model are a control panel, a print cancel button, a low ink indicator, and a paper jam indicator. The maximum page size is a4. The 470 can handle 500 pages per month and works on a 4-ink system. Its dimensions are 3.25 x 13.4 x 6.5 inches and it weighs 4.5 lbs. If you’re carrying the power adapter, it will weigh 5.3 lbs.
If you want to take the other route and purchase a direct thermal printer, consider the Planon PrintStik PS900 or PS905. The only difference between the two is that the PS905 is Bluetooth-compatible and more expensive. The PS900 sells for $137 and the PS905 sells for $239. As with most new printer items, you will almost always find the best deals on Amazon, so check their first for competitive pricing. As far as features for these two models go, they can only print up to 3 pages per minute and only hold 20 sheets. That said, the 20 sheets are self-contained and there is no ink or toner. There will be no need to worry about carrying paper or having to deal with messy ink. The dimensions for these two models are 1 x 2 x 11 inches. They have been referred to ‘an office in your pocket.’ Resolution will reach as high as 200 x 400 dpi, which isn’t very high, so it’s something to keep in mind. The PS900 supports USB connectivity only. Both models use 7 year rated paper and you should get about 30 pages per charge.
Aside from being portable printers, the two options above are polar opposites. If you’re looking for one of the best portable printers for laptops, consider the Hp Officejet 470 Mobile Printer. If you’re looking for something fast and convenient, the Planon PrintStiks are the way to go.
