So what’s what in the printer world? Well HP has a range of photo printers that promise to get the job done. The company has two ranges that it focuses on – its all in one models aimed at small medium businesses such as home workers looking to print, scan, copy and sometimes fax documents and a portable range of printers that are the size of a large wash bag. The portable range fondly known within the industry as the toaster range will let consumers print 6×4-inch prints quickly via a computer, a camera through PictBridge or via a memory card. Most of the company’s models feature touchscreen’s so you can see the picture you are printing as well as make slight adjustments like fixing Red-eye.
But HP aren’t the only company to offer printing solutions with a difference, some of Lexmark’s printers come with CD drives built in so you can back up your images without the need for a computer at all. It also means you can print directly from the disk, again without the need for a computer.
Kodak’s unique selling point over its rivals is its price. Ink, which is always expensive, promises to be 50% cheaper from Kodak making a big difference when it comes to managing a budget in an office. The Kodak models might be cheaper to run, but they are big beasts.
The same can’t be said for the Polaroid PoGo. A pocket sized portable printer that comes without ink and is tiny. In development for over 10 years, the printer offers users the chance to print business card sized (2 x 3 inch) colour photos from their mobile phone via Bluetooth or digital camera via PictBridge without the need for a computer. The size of a large smartphone (0.93 x 2.83 x 4.72 inches), the Polaroid PoGo printer uses thermal printing meaning there is no ink needed.
Instead users will use Polaroid’s specially designed paper, which will cost an expensive 3 pounds for 10 sheets. The process takes just 60 seconds from pressing go to a print in your hand and the photo paper will have a sticky back so you can stick them to your mates, the wall or anything that moves. The printer does come with a lithium-ion battery, however it will be able to print just 15 images before needing a recharge.
Of course if none of those sound your cup of tea you could always opt to get everything printed online. Kodak, Photobox and a number of other companies offer to print your images for you and then send them in the post. You can even use the image galleries online to publish books, t-shirts, photo mugs or wall paper with your ugly mug on it as well as push them to a digital photo frame saving you having to print them at all. All this is a long way from my first dot matrix.
Technology expert studies the importance of valid printer reviews when buying a new printing device.
from:asovactachira.org
