Portable notebook computer printers are a convenient way to print documents on the go. Businesses that require employees to travel or have roving points of sale benefit most from these products. Portable computer printers are 2 to 8 inches in size, measured by paper width. A 2-inch printer is perfect for businesses that use portable computer printers to print off credit card receipts.

There are many factors that go into the pricing and costs of portable computer printers. These models are finely tuned to perform from a tiny box, but can still provide many custom options. The price of portable printers for laptop computers varies by:

1. The size of the machine.

2. The portable computer printer's functions.

3. Whether or not the product prints color documents.

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Choose portable computer printer providers that offer small printers

Portable printers are available in a range of sizes, from 2-inches wide to a full 8 1/2 inches. Smaller versions that print on non-standard paper sizes are often used to print customer receipts. This is a great way to provide point of sale service from wherever your business needs to be. Smaller portable printers cost $375 to $500.

I recommend: BuyerZone offers a guide to choosing the right portable printer for your needs. Current Components offer many small 2-inch printer models that are perfect for printing receipts and other materials. TotalBarCode.com provides many models with thermal printing and ink jet options.

Find suppliers of portable computer printers that offer a thermal model

Thermal portable printers are more convenient than printers that use ink jet or regular ink cartridges. With a thermal printer, you will never have to worry about leaking ink cartridges while traveling. These products can also print out documents in a hurry, but are not recommended for projects that require high quality. Portable thermal printers cost $350 to $400.

I recommend: The MW-120 from Brother is a lightweight thermal printer that weighs just 11 ounces, including the battery and paper. Brother also provides downloads, manuals and troubleshooting for its portable printing products. MobileTechReview.com has a review of the Pentax PocketJet 200 Portable Thermal Printer.

Consider a portable printer for laptop computer that prints in color

If your employees need to print documents for presentations or meetings, a color print is a great asset for creating lively materials. Portable laptop printers are available with color printing capabilities, but are often relatively large. In this case, the portability refers to the lightweight structure of the printer. Portables that print in color can cost $200 to $300.

I recommend: Canon provides a portable printer model that can produce as many as 12 pages per minute in color, and 16 pages per minute in black and white. ConsumerSearch offers a review of the top portable ink jet printer models.

Use portable printers to take your business to the next level, by having access to your business plan or presentation at a moment's notice from wherever you are. When looking for portable printers, consider the options of computer printers: portable, standard, multifunction and photo. Among portable computer printers there are choices as well, including portable notebook computer printers, portable all-in-one printer from a variety of portable computer printer providers.

To find the right portable printers for laptop computers and all your portable printing needs, you should:

1. Decide on the portable notebook computer printers that are right for your company's travel needs.

2. Buy from reputable suppliers of portable computer printers to get great products and prices.

3. Stock up on portable notebook computer printer supplies such as toner and paper so you're always prepared.

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Use a portable notebook computer printer to address travel needs

Portable printers are available with a variety of features to fit the many facets of your business. To determine which portable printer best fits your needs, you should consider how heavily you plan to use it, the workload you expect from the portable printer and the conveniences you need from this new piece of hardware. Compare portable computer printer prices and customer service for the best overall package

I recommend: Check the CNET review on tiny portable travel printers to learn more about some of these small printers that are on the market. From this page, you can also compare several of these portable printers by price and features, as well as gain access to ordering information. Similarly, at Epinions, you can read reviews, compare products and prices side-by-side and purchase all at the same site as well.

Purchase from a portable computer printer provider

Purchase your new portable computer printer from a reputable provider with a good track record of sales and service.

I recommend: O'Neil offers portable printers with specialized applications like retail label printers and portable printers with dot matrix, thermal and other abilities. They also offer printer supplies and accessories for one-stop shopping. Printronix offers a portable printer workstation. It's a cart with a printer built on to it for ease of use and portability.

Purchase a good supply of ink and paper for portable computer printers to avoid down time

Stocking up on portable computer printer supplies is most helpful to your organization if you make sure you have plenty of supplies to keep your new hardware running. By keeping a good supply of toner or ink cartridges and the proper paper on hand, you'll know you always have what you need to operate your portable printer. Consider both OEM and remanufactured supplies to compare cost and quality

I recommend: PC Mall carries a large supply of portable printer supplies that include paper, ink, cartridges, toner and carrying cases. Blue Dog Ink offers a large selection of both portable printers and the necessary supplies and nice-to-have accessories.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Portable computer printers and supplies can be claimed on your taxes as legitimate expenses, so always save the receipts or purchasing invoices for your tax professional.

Suppliers of portable computer printers offer a variety of products that satisfy today's mobile computing market. More and more portable printers are coming out, but how do you choose the right one for you?

There are many features to consider when investigating the various brands. Computer printers: portable advice and ratings from various sources can give you important information. As you examine sources, keep in mind whether or not you need the following features:

1. The print capability. Some portable computer printers are able to print full-sized sheets, but many only print shapshot-sized photos.

2. The power method. For the ability to print a photo no matter where you are, you might want a printer that runs on batteries.

3. The ability to use a memory card. If you think you'll want to print directly from a memory card instead of only from your computer, look for printers with that capability.

4. The type of cable connection. Connecting a cable to your printer every time you want to print can be a headache, especially if you are on the go, so you might want a printer with wireless connectivity such as Bluetooth.

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Read buyer guides regarding portable computer printers

Buyer guides discuss various features of a given product type and help you sort out which of those features would be useful to you. Find out how each feature affects the product cost, get information on reliability and on the cost of ink and other supplies and compare the various brands.

I recommend: Read an article on how to choose the best portable inkjet printer at Castle Ink. Find a buyer's guide on portable printers at PCPhoto Magazine. Get advice on portable printers from The Kim Komando Show, a popular radio show and podcast. Check out the portable printers portion of a longer full report about inkjet printers at ConsumerSearch.

Find lists of portable notebook computer printers with reviews and information

In a portable computer printer provider list, the main players are Hewlett-Packard, Canon and Epson. Look for models that run on batteries or connect wirelessly to cut down on set-up time. Two wireless ways to connect your computer to a printer are WiFi and Bluetooth connections.

I recommend: Compare portable computer printer prices and reviews using a list of products you can sort in various ways at PC Magazine. Read reviews of various portable printers at CNET, where you can sort the list by price, manufacturer and other criteria.

Check out reviews of specific portable printers for laptop computers

Even among the same brand, each model may have different features when you compare computer printers. Portable computer printers are a relatively new segment of the market, and new models are likely to have new and innovative features. Read about the models you are considering to find out what the experts think.

I recommend: Read a detailed analysis and review of the Canon CP-220 compact photo printer at Photo.net. Find an overview of the HP Photosmart A716 portable printer at Everything USB.

Whether you have limited office space or are often on-the-go, you might be considering purchasing a portable printer. Even if you rarely leave the office, you can use specialty portable printers to create your own labels or print quality photos. There are several types of portable printers, from those that can merely print receipts to those that can print all kinds of documents. Even if you are educated on regular printers, portable printers have their own specialized vocabulary, so these key terms can be useful before making a purchase.

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Portable printer

A portable printer is any printer small enough to carry around. Such a printer is either small in size or simply lightweight, and is perfect for an office with a small amount of space or even a business professional with a laptop.

I recommend: Find out all about portable printers at BuyerZone.com.

Thermal printer

A thermal printer doesn't use ink to print. Instead, it uses heat to transfer images onto special heat-sensitive paper. A portable thermal printer is typically used in conjunction with point of sale systems at restaurants and retail stores. The ink wears off after a while, so it is not recommended for record keeping.

I recommend: Learn more about thermal printing at Point of Sale Supply.

Thermal transfer printer

This type of portable printer differs from a thermal printer in that it uses ribbon, rather than heat sensitive paper. You would use this type of printer to make labels.

I recommend: Find out more about thermal transfer printing at customprintingmojo.com.

Inkjet printer

An inkjet printer, whether portable or not, prints by spraying drops of ink onto paper. Most portable printers meant for laptops are the inkjet kind, as many people are familiar with this type.

I recommend: Castle Ink describes the history of the inkjet printer.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth technology allows your electronics to communicate with each other wirelessly, usually from up to about 30 feet away. For example, portable printers can use Bluetooth to receive a print job from your computer, even across the room.

I recommend: Learn more about Bluetooth and its uses at Hewlett-Packard.

Portable photo printer

This type of printer is great for printing pictures from your camera, either at home or while traveling. A portable photo printer allows you to print pictures in a few different sizes.

I recommend: PrintCountry discusses the specifics of portable photo printers.