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[bookishone]

Hi -- I'm wondering if any of you can recommend a good, cheap portable printer for mac. I want to be able to print small jobs for myself while on research trips. Doesn't have to be fabulous print quality -- usually just would use it for article drafts, library lists, research notes, driving directions, etc.

[n8vtnn]

Hi Bookish...

How important is portability for you?  Are you looking for something that will fit in your laptop or carry-on bag?  Or, are you simply looking for a printer that won't be too cumbersome to pack up and load in the trunk of your car. 

As far as inkjet printers are concerned, I'm a fan of Canon printers.  If portability is the most important aspect of printer for you, I'd recommend the Canon Pixma ip90v.  It weighs about 4 pounds, is extremely compact, and depending on the size of your laptop bag, it just might fit inside of it.  It would definitely fit in just about any carry-on bag.  And, it also has a battery pack (optional) for truly portable printing.  The drawback is the price...it's about $250.

If you're not needing that sort of portability, I'd look at some of the lower end Canon  Pixma models.  They start in the $50 neighborhood and the ink cartridge prices are reasonable.  Canon used to be about the only manufacturer whose cartridges didn't have any electronics in them, which made them cost about 50-60% less than Epsons, HPs, Lexmarks, etc.  I've heard that their newer models use more expensive (and more profitable for them) models.

[schoolmarm]

I have a Canon Pixima iP100.  I don't remember how much it cost (probably in the $200 range), but it fits in my computer briefcase along with my CanoScan scanner, my MacBook Pro and all the cables that go with it as well as the electrical converter for going overseas.  Usually the printer doesn't go to the archives with me, as my scanner and computer can go with just the international computer plug (the scanner gets its juice from the USB cable).

I take extra ink, just in case.

You can print photos on this printer.  It is fast, and you can save ink by adjusting the print quality.