Which Travel Printer?

Need a travel printer? If you want to produce high quality photo prints on the move, but would like something that doesn't weigh too much or take up loads of room, then a portable printer could be just what you need.

They are usually very compact, and some are designed to fold up to make it easier to transport. Some are small enough to fit in your pocket! The picture to the left shows the Polaroid CZA-20011B PoGo Instant Mobile Printer. It looks like a small camera or phone at first glance but I promise you it is a printer!

Portable printers are available using inkjet, thermal, and laser technology and the quality can be quite high, so you are not obliged to swop quality for portability, although the printer may lack some of the features you would expect with a normal ink jet.

Some are very small and can be connected directly to a digital camera, a mobile phone or PDA allowing you to print pictures without using a computer or PC.

Who Would Benefit from a Travel Printer?

Travel printers are useful for people who want to produce photos instantantly at events, presentations, family outings and other settings where they may not have ready access to a printer otherwise.

1. On the move: a portable printer may be a useful tool because you can check things like composition, color balance, and so on to ensure you are getting shots that are usable.

2. Events: if you have a camera with PictBridge you can print directly to a portable printer without using a computer. This allows you to give prints to whomsoever you wish, on the spot. If they like them, you could find yourself with more orders than you can handle!

3. Travelling: if you would like to give prints to the people you have just photographed, you might like to consider a portable printer. It's wonderful to be able to thank people for their time by rewarding them with a photo of themselves or their family and friends.

4. Business People: if you are a business professional who is on the move and you want to produce marketing material for clients, you might benefit from a small, lightweight printer.

5. Families & Friends: because you can see the photos straight away, it's a great idea for families, particularly with babies and young children. It brings people together when they see the images appear so quickly and is especially fun on holidays or if you are out for the day or at a friend's house. And of course you can use it when you are at home as a stationery printer.

Things to Check Before Buying

1. Print size: the Polaroid PoGo prints 2x3-inch prints, for example which may not be large enough for your needs - others print 4 x 6 and larger
2. Ink consumption: thermal heat models are available, such as the Polaroid PoGo, which uses paper with dye crystals embedded within it so you never have to buy ink cartridges
3. Manufacturer: if you want to stick to one of the main printer companies, then choose either Epson, HP, Brother or Canon
4. Image enhancement: Some travel printers have an image enhancement function, manual or automatic
5. Weight: some are more portable than others starting as low as 8 ounces and designed to fit in your pocket; others may be as heavy, or even heavier, than the laptop to which it's attached.
6. Power source: most work on AC power - some need to be plugged in to the wall, while others may be powered by a rechargeable battery
7. Speed: the better models can produce a print in as little as 45 seconds
8. Wireless: wireless tends to be slower because data can be transmitted more quickly to a computer with a cable but some travel printers offer both capability
9. Color or b/w: travel printers which offer both are available
10. Quality: some are inexpensive and produce images of reasonable quality, while more expensive printers can print to a very crisp and high-quality standard

My Top Recommendation

My top recommendation is the Polaroid CZA-20011B PoGo Instant Mobile Printer Unlike ordinary printers, which use ink, the PoGo uses ZINK (Zero Ink) technology which works by using a special paper filled with yellow, magenta and cyan dye crystals. Heat is applied by the printer to activate and colorize these crystals. Because there is no ink cartridge, you never have to buy ink!. It is small, simple, elegant, and environmentally friendly.

The PoGo can print 2 x 3 inch borderless prints in less than a minute that are dry to the touch. Also, it is wireless-enabled so you can easily use it with a digital camera or some cell phones. So small it fits in the palm of your hand, it weighs 8 ounces (with the battery) and comes at a ridiculously low price. List price is $99.99 but Amazon.com are currently offering it for less than $40.