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.
HP Officejet H470 Mobile Printer
[easyazon-image-link asin="B0010Z3KZG" alt="HP OfficeJet H470 Mobile Printer" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21%2BgqBDZ5XL._SL160_.jpg" align="left" width="160" height="160"]While looking through discount portable printers for laptops, you might come across the HP OfficeJet H470 Mobile Printer. This is a color inkjet machine that will run you about $200. Its features are pretty impressive for a laptop printer, especially its speed. The HP H470 can print in black up to 22 pages per minute and in color, 18 pages per minute. These numbers are average for a desktop, but well beyond average for a portable. Resolution of prints can reach as high as 1200 x 1200 dots per inch.
The OfficeJet H470 can hold up to 50 sheets at one time. Connectivity options are USB 2.0, 10/100 Ethernet, and Bluetooth (optional). The H470 is also PictBridge-compatible, so printing from your digital camera is a possibility.
The H470 Mobile Printer can handle 500 pages per month and works on a 4-ink system. It is easy to use and the cost per page is low. With the HP 94 Black Ink Cartridge that can print up to 500 pages per cartridge, comes up to $0.05 per page; and the HP 97 Large Tri-color Ink Cartridge that prints up to 600 pages, per page comes up to $0.07 per page. But of course, the actual yield varies based on the content of the printed pages and other factors.
The HP Lithium Ion Battery has long-life capabilities, and can print up to 450 pages per charge. The downside is that you must purchase the battery separately. Available at the HP online store for $80 but you may get it as low as $72 at Amazon.
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. 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.
Planon PrintStik PS900
[easyazon-image-link asin="B001U8KKAG" alt="Planon PrintStick PS900, Full Page Mobile Thermal Printer with USB Interface" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/11tS1TQe0HL._SL160_.jpg" align="right" width="160" height="160"]If you want to take the other route and purchase a direct thermal printer, consider the Planon PrintStick PS900 or PS905. The only difference between the two is that the PS905 is Bluetooth-compatible and more expensive. The PS900 sells for $200 and the PS905 sells for $300 at the Planonstore. And as always, you will find the best deals on Amazon. The PS900 you can get as low as $160, and the PS905 around $240.
As far as features for these two models go, they can only print up to 3 pages per minute and only hold 20 sheets per paper cartridge. 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. Print resolution is up to 200 x 400 dpi, which isn’t very high, so it’s something to keep in mind.
They have been referred to ‘an office in your pocket.’ The dimensions for these two models are 1″ x 10.75″ x 1.5″ and both weigh 1.5 lbs. only, making them very lightweight and easy to take along with you anytime anywhere, with no mess.
The PS900 supports USB connectivity only, whereas the PS905 offers Bluetooth® connectivity. The Lithium Polymer battery that comes with it charges up to 180 minutes to full charge, and can print up to more than 30 pages.
Conclusion
Aside from being portable printers, the two options above are polar opposites. If you are looking for a portable printer that offers good print speeds and excellent photo and text documents, consider the Hp Officejet 470 Mobile Printer. If you’re looking for something fast and convenient, the Planon PrintStiks are the way to go.
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