Brother Creates the m-Print - World's Smallest Mobile Printer

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/102/C1447/' target='_blank'>http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/102/C1447/</a><br /><br /></div>"Brother UK has created the perfect gadget for anyone on the move with the world’s smallest self-contained mobile printer - so small you can fit it in your jacket pocket. The brand new m-PRINT means you can now print off e-mails, web downloads and Word documents whether on the road, in the pub or in front of the TV. The ideal accessory for PDAs and lap tops, the smart silver and black m-PRINT allows you to print off agendas for meetings on the hoof, action lists, memo notes to stick on the fridge or even maps and directions direct from the Internet via your PDA."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/1447_large.jpg" /><br /><br />Coming out in 2003, I'd expect a device like this to have Bluetooth, not just Infrared. Still, it looks quite small, and has software that allows printing from Pocket Word and Pocket Excel. You can <a href="http://www.brother.co.uk/news/html/news.html#">learn more at the Brother UK site</a>.

[Vincent M Ferrari]

Coming out in 2003, I'd expect a device like this to have Bluetooth, not just Infrared.

I wouldn't. With the exception of Palm, HP, Nokia and SonyEricsson, Bluetooth doesn't seem to be a priority, contrary to how great people who use it think it is... Think about it... Two phones (in the US), 3 or 4 handhelds (in the US) and almost no peripherals...

Hopefully Brother will prove me wrong, but something tells me they'll end up just as oblivious as everyone else. :roll:

[pocketpcdude1024]

You can get the HP995c if you want bluetooth printing. Unfortunately, it isn't portable...

I'm actually getting concerned at the alarmingly low number of desktop printers that support IR! HP made a few, but it seems lately, they're abandoning the idea...

If anyone knows of a printer (HP, preferably), that takes SD cards (thinking of a digital camera to be compatable w/ my Pocket PC) and has an IR port (I have PrintPocketCE bought & paid for), please PM me! :D (I don't want to bog down this thread with my off-topic request)

Oh, yes, I mustn't forget: affordable. $300 is pretty much it. :P

[Sheynk]

Oh Brother!
:lol:

This is an interesting device but I cant find myself using it even if I was a traveling business person. In that case I would have a laptop and a Canon Portable Printer which is compact and full sized/featured

[kfluet]

Looks like it may be very useful for vertical apps where size REALLY matters. But again with the thermal paper. The stuff fades. Useless for any sort of permanent record.

[kfluet]

Oh Brother!
:lol:

This is an interesting device but I cant find myself using it even if I was a traveling business person. In that case I would have a laptop and a Canon Portable Printer which is compact and full sized/featured

Yeah, the Canon BJC-55 with the optional scanner attachment and Lithium battery is a sweet little printer.

[vincentsiaw]

Portable is one thing, but most probably if you run out of thermal paper, it's very difficult for you to find the refil, unless you have spare, it will be vey good if it utilize normal paper.

[Duncan]

I'm not sure I understand - this came out last year and has been on sale for a while (I've even seen one going second hand). Why is it being announced for release in 2003? Is it an announcement for US release?

[Paragon]

How much?

[Iznot Gold]

Hmmmm....Brothers advertising desccribes it as Palm sized and feature it with Ipaq Pocket PC. Are they confused or are they simply making reference to it being hand sized? :roll:
David

[Duncan]

It does work with Pocket PCs - Palm sized refers to the palm of your hand - not the Palm based PDAs.

It costs around £240 (remove VAT and convert to dollars and you get - c. $330.

What it will sell for in the US is another matter

[st63z]

A pocketable Bluetooth printer would be scary.

You tap-tap-tap on your PPC, "Sure, I'll print it right now."

Then the others watch in horror as paper starts scrolling up out of the inside of your jacket pocket...

[Paragon]

It costs around £240 (remove VAT and convert to dollars and you get - c. $330.

What it will sell for in the US is another matter

Thanks, Duncan

.....and what it will sell for in Canadian dolllars is another matter again! 8O

Dave

[Timothy Rapson]

No, my avatar isn't broken. I saw one that was, screenshot it, and now I'm using the image as my avatar!




That is so TWISTED! :twisted:

[Kevin Daly]

It is a shame they don't support Bluetooth.

Since it's probably more than 20 years since I used a thermal printer with a Sinclair ZX-81 (I think it was known as a Timex Something-Or-Other in North America), it's a reasonable assumption that thermal printing has come a very long way since then, so I won't rush to any judgements on that account.

Aside from the inherent coolness of a printer you can (maybe?) put in your pocket (OK, jacket pocket. Or overcoat pocket), I do have some doubts however about the extent to which this would actually be useful.

[pocketpcdude1024]

No, my avatar isn't broken. I saw one that was, screenshot it, and now I'm using the image as my avatar!




That is so TWISTED! :twisted:

Thank You. :lol:

[Duncan]

It is a shame they don't support Bluetooth. They do now! http://www.brother.com/usa/common/release/2003/mprint.pdf

[dh]

Aside from the inherent coolness of a printer you can (maybe?) put in your pocket (OK, jacket pocket. Or overcoat pocket), I do have some doubts however about the extent to which this would actually be useful.
You'd be surprised. Mobile thermal printing is big business. Most printers are a bit more industrial than the Brother one and they are used for such applications as rental car return and shelf labeling in stores. Some are mounted to fork lifts for warehouse use. Large retailers have 1,000s of them.

I could see the Brother being useful for less demanding applications such as salespeople leaving receipts for samples they drop off etc. Sybase have a lot of applications for PPCs that could use this kind of printer.

For personal use, I agree with you. I travel with my Axim all the time and have never wished for a printer - so far!