Nowadays you can work just about anywhere. All you need is your cell phone and a laptop.
Of course, a comfortable chair doesn't hurt. You may also want food, water, and an occasional bathroom break. But what about a printer? At some point, you'll probably need a hard copy--whether it's a map with driving directions, a spreadsheet, or a photo of your boss drunkenly leading a conga line up a down escalator.
Is it worth the expense and effort to pack a portable printer? To find out, I tested HP's Deskjet 460wbt, the Bluetooth version of the Deskjet 460. It's $349 on HP's site, but you can get lower prices elsewhere. I tested an earlier version, the Deskjet 450, back in 2003, so I was curious to see how the updated model compared. Here's what I learned.
Portable? Yes. Petite? No.
Before a recent trip, I packed HP's printer in my wheeled notebook carry-on bag, along with my computer--the ultraportable Sony Vaio TXN19P. It's not an experience I recommend. The Deskjet 460wbt is about as hefty as its predecessor. At 5 pounds, 3.4 ounces including a battery and two inkjet cartridges, it weighs more than many notebooks. Add its AC adapter and the printer weighs just over 6 pounds. It's bulky, too, measuring 13.4 by 7.28 by 3.25 inches. Once I put it in my carry-on bag, there was no room left for reading materials, files, or other carry-on essentials.
FYI: Canon offers two portable printers, the iP90 and the iP90v, each of which weighs 4 pounds, according to Canon, and is smaller than HP's printer. The Canon iP90v is slighter larger than the iP90, measuring 12.3 by 6.9 by 2.1 inches. I haven't tested either printer, however.
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi?
The Deskjet 450 can connect to a computer wirelessly via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, depending upon which model you buy. It can also connect via USB 2.0, though the cable is not included. By comparison, the Deskjet 450 offered Bluetooth but not Wi-Fi connectivity.
The Deskjet 460wbt comes with a CompactFlash Bluetooth card that you insert into a card slot on the printer's left side. Alternatively, you can buy the Deskjet 460wf, which includes an 802.11g CompactFlash card for making connections over a Wi-Fi network. As of this writing, both printers cost the same.
Whichever wireless configuration you choose, you can add the other via an optional CompactFlash card. The Bluetooth card costs $97; the Wi-Fi card costs $70.
Which wireless option is best? It depends. In my tests, configuring the printer to connect via Bluetooth was easier than making an initial Wi-Fi connection. Because my home Wi-Fi network is security-protected, connecting the printer to the network took a few extra steps--which could be cumbersome if you hope to access different secure Wi-Fi networks during your travels. The Deskjet 460 has a rear switch that lets you toggle between three different Wi-Fi networks, however. Also, Bluetooth connectivity is limited to up to 30 feet in range, whereas a Wi-Fi connection can extend much farther.
Printing via Wi-Fi--at least over my 802.11g home wireless network--was faster than using Bluetooth. In my tests, printing an article from a Web site that ran over four printed pages and included text and color photos took 2.25 minutes over the Wi-Fi connection. Using the Bluetooth connection, the same print job took 3.04 minutes.
Bottom line: The Bluetooth 460wbt option would be better than the Wi-Fi 460wf for those who frequently travel to many different places. That's because once you've made a Bluetooth connection between your printer and notebook, you're done. You can use the same connection wherever you go. But if you will primarily use the printer in no more than three different locations and each has an 802.11g (or faster) network, the Wi-Fi option is best.
Print Quality: Good
In my tests, the Deskjet 460wbt produced good-quality color, grayscale, and black-and-white prints. None of the prints I made would win awards, but I wouldn't be embarrassed to hand them to a client, either.
In her recent PC World review, Melissa Riofrio wrote that the Deskjet 460wbt "printed smooth, black text on plain paper. Color and grayscale photographs looked slightly grainy on plain paper, but more natural on glossy paper. On both types of media we noticed some splotchiness in densely colored areas, as if the ink hadn't soaked in completely." Her overall rating of the printer was 63 (fair).
The Other Option: Print Remotely
You don't have to carry a portable printer to get hard copies on the road. FedEx Kinko's and EFI's PrintMe enable you to print over the Internet to remote devices in hotel business centers and other locations. I've tried both and found them to work well, though they aren't as convenient as having your own printer.
So Who's It For?
If you frequently need prints on the go, and you mostly travel for business by car, the HP Deskjet 460 is a good option. I could see real estate agents and other professionals stowing one in their car trunk, to print updated contracts and other documents at a client's home or other location. But those who travel mostly by plane will balk at how much space the printer takes up in a carry-on--don't even think about packing it in a checked bag. If you fall into that category, consider one of Canon's smaller printers or print remotely via FedEx Kinko's or EFI's services.
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