Mini Printer Review

The mini printer is a convenient upgrade of the already convenient wave of at home printers. When computers began to be produced for people to own in their homes (rather than just in research facilities and government agencies, such as NASA), the average consumer suddenly had a whole new world open up to them. Computers with word processors and, yes, printers, let people type up, edit, and save documents, rather than type them out one time (errors and all) on a typewriter.

The printer is an important part of this convenience, and with the advent of smaller and more portable computers, it is only natural that printers would become smaller and more portable as well. Hence, the mini printer.

These printers are not super-tiny, in that they must be at least the width of a sheet of paper (generally 8 inches by 12 inches for most office and printing documents). But besides that constraint, the modern mini printer is more convenient, lighter, and easier to transport that the large, clunky, desk space-hogging printers that were produced even a few years ago.

Of course, the advantage of the larger, bulkier printers is that they come with a great many functions (or at least they should, to justify the size). Large printers will often include faxing, scanning, and copying functions as well.

But the small, portable printers are intended for another purpose. That is to simply give you the option of printing out documents whenever, and wherever, you need to. Modern, convenient portable printers will attach to your mini laptop (or desktop) via USB cable. All you need to do is make sure you have the correct driver installed to allow your computer and printer to ‘talk’ to one another, and voila- you can print things out right at your business meeting, or even in the coffee shop!

This convenience is the number one reason that people are flocking to these smaller, lighter mini printers. But they have a lot more going for them. Because they are portable, they are smaller, meaning that even in at-home use, they take up less space. They’re easy to store on a shelf and just pull out when you need them. And because they use less materials (and are simpler in their functions), they often cost less, as well.

If you work from home but aren’t sure exactly what sorts of office equipment are best suited to your needs, then one thing you should make sure you look into is a mini printer. Many people who do freelance work, or who run a whole business from their home, have trouble finding exactly which equipment is right for them. They need more functionality and options than standard personal office equipment. But they don’t have the space or budget (or often, even the need) to buy the large, industrial or business grade equipment like you would find in a large office.

The mini printer makes a lot of sense for these folks for a number of reasons. The biggest reason of all is that it is portable and easy to use. Because small business owners often meet at cafes, coffee shops, or restaurants to have business meetings with clients (or, in the case of freelancers, just to get some work done), the portable printer is especially ideal.

Imagine meeting with a client or potential client, discussing an upcoming business deal or sealing the deal that they will go with your company. You can print out information (or even a contract) for them, right on the spot, because the small and portable printer hooks up easily to your laptop with a simple USB cord.

Or say you are going to the post office to mail some invoices and realize you forgot to print one for one of your highest-spending customers. Just pull the mini printer out of your trunk, hook it up to your touch tablet, print the invoice, and mail your bills promptly, without having to back track or delay the mailing.

In the case of many home businesses, you will find that the mini printer works very well on its own, but may be even better when used as a ‘travel’ printer, in addition to the larger printer you keep in your home office. Larger, more heavy duty printers often fulfill multiple functions. They can print, scan, photocopy, and fax, making them ideal for a home business, but they are also larger. This makes the small, portable printer a perfect complement to your main printer, for those times you need to print but aren’t at your office.

If you frequently do work on your laptop and find yourself wishing you were near your home or office printer, then the advent of the mini printer is great for you. Smaller and more convenient than the bulky desktop printers, these tiny printers are made with one thing in mind: convenience.

Firstly, they are convenient because of their small size. They are easy to carry around because they take up so little space. So, if you are meeting a potential client for lunch, you can bring a printer along with you and print out a contract right then and there (assuming, of course, that the lunch goes well!)

The second huge advantage of the mini printer is the ease of use. These are made to be laptop compatible. Of course, you can use them with a desktop computer, but the emphasis, in either case, is on ease of use. These tiny printers connect to your computer most often via USB, rather than the nearly obsolete printer cord/printer jack. Some even connect via Bluetooth (such as wifi printers), so if your laptop has that enabled, you don’t even have to worry about a cord at all!

The third advantage of the mini printer is that it works well as a compliment to a multi-function office computer (or home office). Most small printers don’t have the same range of functions and options as larger desktop computers. That’s because desktop printers are intended to be stationary. They serve as printers, scanners, photocopiers, and even fax machines. But the smaller printer, in most cases (although some do offer scan options), is to be exactly that: a printer.

This makes it convenient to take away from the office when you need it, or even to keep it in your car or briefcase for when you are on the go. Then you have your full function printer at home, but printing capabilities on the road.

If you’re looking to buy a mini printer at the store or online, it’s good to stick with some of the most trusted brands in home printing: Canon, Samsung, HP, Sony, and Pentax. These companies have been doing small printers the longest, so while there are many other options as well, you know that with these, you are most likely to get a reliable piece of equipment.

Taking the time to decide whether something is right for you before you spend money on it is a smart decision. Some people will just throw money at any gadget they see, just because it seems like a good idea. But smart consumers and smart business owners weigh the facts to make sure that the item is a good use of their resources and space.

The mini printer is a wonderful invention that really is beneficial to many people. But is it right for you? Here are some of the pros and cons of this tiny and convenient printer. Weigh your needs against these aspects to decide whether moving forward and comparing models is right for you!

Pro’s/Benefits of the mini printer:

• Very small in size
• Easy to store
• Easy to transport/carry around
• Often more affordable than full size printers
• Streamlined design
• Generally connect via USB/Bluetooth
• Compatible with most laptops
• Simple, no clutter or unneeded functions

Some of the downsides:

• Generally print slower than desktop printers
• Many do not hold as much ink as full size printers
• Limited function: need a second printer to scan, fax, etc.
• Relatively new: price hasn’t gone down too much (yet)

Just in number alone, the benefits of these portable printers outweigh the downsides. For people who find themselves working away from the office often, such as in coffee shops, restaurants, or on business trips, these printers are probably well worth the investment.

However, for most people, they don’t make sense as the only printer. If you want just one printer, it may be a better idea to buy a desktop printer with more durability, speed, and functions.

But if you’re willing to buy a second printer for use when you’re on the run, the mini printer is a fabulous way of taking the print function with you wherever you go, but still having the extended functions of your ‘main’ printer when you return to the office.
As they stay on the market longer, they will get better and, inevitably, the price will go down. It’s likely that the more you look into portable printers, the more likely you’ll be to get one.

Having a home based business is a great thing that offers a lot of flexibility and control to the people who bravely pursue it. However, it’s easy to feel limited when you run your own business as well. You quickly learn how expensive many of the larger office machines (photocopiers, fax machines, etc.) were that you were so used to when you had an “office job.”

Fortunately, there are a number of products on the market that make it easier than ever for people to go out on their own and take charge of their careers. The mini printer is one of those products.

A mini printer by itself doesn’t give the range of functions that you probably need for a business. While a home office can be quite cramped when you try to fit a lot into a small space, using a mini printer as an effort to try and safe space is not the best application of this new technology. A home office should really have a printer that does a variety of functions in one machine, such as printing, faxing, copying, and scanning.

Where it really does come in handy is as a complimentary device to your existing primary printer. The small printer, due to its size and design, is great for when you need printing capability away from the office.

For example, say you have a meeting over coffee with a potential client. She mentions that she’s interested in more of what you do but would like to have some printed information to take with her before she decides. You pull the portable printer out of your briefcase, attach it to your laptop with an easy USB cord (or with no cord using Bluetooth), and print the personalized information for her, on the spot.

It’s also great if you travel on business a lot and would like to print without having to bother with the hassle of a hotel printer. Essentially the mini printer, with its simple function, simple design, and simple size, gives you more options and more flexibility. These are key to running a successful and fulfilling home business, and the portable printer is a smart way of making that business run more smoothly.