When Should You Get a Portable Printer For Your Laptop?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Robert_Knechtel]Robert Knechtel

Thinking about buying a portable printer? There are a lot of options out there now. Once upon a time, printers were large and unwieldy. Now, they're not as easy to tote around as your laptop, but they do come in smaller formats that are easy to move and convenient for everyday use - no matter where you go. Let's take a look at portable printers, what they're good for, and when you might need one.

Because we can readily take them with us wherever we go, laptops are a great convenience. However, we often run into the issue of having to print information on the spot either for business or personal purposes, and we cannot do so until we can transfer the file to another computer that has access to a printer. Mobile printers for laptops resolve that issue. They are easy to use and they connect to your laptop via a USB cable.

First, you're going to have to think about what you need to print and how often you need to do it. People who need to make lots of archival-quality color prints won't be served as well by many of the portable printers on the market. After all, you sacrifice something when you choose a portable model. Archival inks, large format prints, and very high resolutions may not be available in smaller formats.

Compact Printers Are For Smaller Jobs On the Go

Large volumes may also be difficult for portable printers. While there are plenty of small printers that allow a relatively fast print speed, you may find they don't hold up for large jobs, or that they need ink and toner refills much more often. If you want to print a book manuscript on the go, you might be better off using a remote printing service, instead of buying a portable unit.

What's a portable printer useful for? Anyone who needs to print a few pages at a time for current reference while they're on the go will find this kind of printer incredibly useful. Imagine being able to print out tax forms on location, hand over relevant documentation at a business meeting without bring it along, or print out customized character sheets at a gaming convention. Portable printers make all these tasks much more convenient. You'll be surprised by how much they can do for you.

Relatively Inexpensive

Relatively inexpensive portable printers are available from all the big manufacturers. Most are inkjet, owing to the lighter weight and lower cost of these printers. However, you will find a few laser printers that work on the go, as well. There are even battery powered models capable of printing small photos - convenient for photographers at shows. The smaller the printer, the pricier it's likely to be, of course. It costs a bit to shrink down all the components.

For a lot of us, a new Canon, Epson, HP, or Samsung portable printer could make work on the go much easier. If you like the idea of a portable printer, why not check out the possibilities? You may be surprised by the improvement in quality and portability over the past few years. A portable model might not handle everyone's printing needs, but it can do a lot to help you print on the go.

Robert Knechtel is the creator of a number of websites addressing and discussing various aspects of consumer electronics. With regard to the topic of this article, and for more information, you're invited to visit his site concerning [http://www.compactprinter.org]Compact Printers for Laptops which also discusses the great [http://www.compactprinter.org/mobile-printers-for-laptops]convenience of mobile printers.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?When-Should-You-Get-a-Portable-Printer-For-Your-Laptop?&id=4299584] When Should You Get a Portable Printer For Your Laptop?