Is that a printer in your pocket, or...

[Andy Sjostrom]

We got a mail from iPaqDude that inspires thoughts. He brought to the table the question: "what printers that our PDA carrying road-warriors may be taking with them when they hit the road?". Although most corporate PDA projects I have been involved in include the elimination of paper based forms it is not always possible to go entirely digital.<br /><br />One of the best books I have read is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446675962/qid=1026334507/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-7252347-5697414">"Business @ the Speed of Thought"</a> by Bill Gates. The book contains many thoughtful and realistic scenarios where manual processes go digital and thereby gain speed and efficiency. In essence, Bill says that a number on a piece of paper is a one-way street, while a number stored digitally is the beginning of strategic thinking.<br /><br />However, we don't control all requirements reality in itself articulates. Sometimes legal issues force us to handle paper receipts or paper copies of transactions. Sometimes we just want that piece of paper because that is how we always have gone about things. About a year ago Chris Forsberg wrote a <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/MOBILE/pocketpc/reviews/pocketclipprint.asp">review of PocketClipPrint</a> by <a href="http://www.fieldsoftware.com/default.htm">FieldSoftware</a>. In short, PocketClipPrint adds printing capabilities to Pocket PCs. The review included a <a href="http://www.fieldsoftware.com/PrintersSupported.htm">link to the various "PDA printers"</a> supported by PocketClipPrint and I wonder... do you use any of them?<br /><br />Do you use a printer with your Pocket PC, at all? If so, for what, why and how? If not, why not try and finish this post's heading?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/print_01.jpg" /><br />(Picture shows Chris Forsberg's iPAQ Pocket PC and Canon BJC-85)

[Paragon]

Andy, one of the main functions of my HP567 is taking orders at trade shows and printing them. I use an Excel order form and print them to an HP340, or a Canon BJC-85 printer using PrintPocketCE. My customer then walks away with a copy of their order, I have a copy myself that I later use as a work copy in the shop, as well as having that hardcopy in hand should something happen to my Jornada.

One thing that really bothered me about most databased apps is the inability to easily print from them. They are getting much better I must admit.

If there has been one flaw in the design of computers, it's that they are designed for people who use computers :roll: Many people who use computers are not hardcore information handling types. They simply want to make their life or job easier. Many times computers just don't do that very well. If your job is in front of a computer all day it's not a problem, but if a computer is just one of the tools you use to get though the day, at times it can be more work then it's worth. The poor ability of PPCs to handle printing is a very good example of that. Many of us need to easily leave a hardcopy of what we have done with our customer, ect.. What is the point of taking any kind of information from someone if you can't easily share it with them.

I was in a corner store the other day and a route salesman had just finished taking a order from the store owner and was about to leave when the store owner asked him for a copy of the order.... They had to find a peice of paper. The guy had to scroll through the order and write it all down for him.... He had no ability to print. How efficent is that?

....no I'm just glad to see you :D

Dave

[Andy Sjostrom]

Thanks for that "field report"! Yes, I agree with you! Printing will continue to be an important aspect of computing in all its shapes and forms. Interesting to see that you are using the same products as Chris did in his review. Did you test other products before deciding to go with these?

[Paragon]

Andy

I did a little beta testing in the final stages of development of PrintPocketCE so it was a natural to use it. At the time though it was the only application available to print Excel forms. Still I think the only other option is PrintBoy by Bachmman Software, who are just licencing from Field Software, I think.

Dave

[timfield]

Andy,

There are many printer choices available for mobile printing that our (FieldSoftware) Pocket PC printing software supports. There are a number of commercial and industrial (Ie. heavy duty) battery-operated thermal printers for printing receipts, invoices, etc. There are also portable battery operated inkjet printers and adapters to quickly add mobile printing connectivity to most desktop printers.

Until recently, you were limited to Infrared or serial connections to print... now there are a variety of Bluetooth printers and adapters available, as well as network printing options.

For some specific printer and connection options, visit:
http://www.fieldsoftware.com/PrintersSupported.htm

For info on printing Pocket Word docs, Pocket Excel spreadsheets, emails, and text files:
http://www.fieldsoftware.com/PrintPocketCE.htm

There is a Pocket PC Magazine article by Dale Coffing here:
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/Jul01/print.stm

For PrinterCE SDK info for software developers to add printing to their apps:
http://www.fieldsoftware.com/PrinterCE.htm


Tim
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Tim Field
[email protected]
FieldSoftware Products
Printing Solutions for Pocket PC & Windows CE
http://www.fieldsoftware.com
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[medic]

I am a paramedic that is involved in developing a program for pocketpc to enable us to do our prehospital reports on pocket pc. We will have to print at least 2-4 copies of the reports, both at hospital and at the office. I was wondering if anyone had some experience with failure rates of IR vs cable under different lighting (ie florecent, etc) and how durable printers out there are. Obviously, we would need something that has a very low failure rate and that worked pretty quickly (printed average rate of 4 in under a minute?)

I would appreciate any thoughts or ideas on this!! :D

[timfield]

I am a paramedic that is involved in developing a program for pocketpc to enable us to do our prehospital reports...

Actually we have several customers that I am aware of doing similar things... as I understand from one of them, hospitals in their area have Infrared-equipped HP printers, so they are able to print their hospital reports right there.

Regarding Infrared connections under different lighting, that doesn't seem to be an issue with our own testing or with our customers actual usage.

Print speed with portable printers is slow... generally anywhere from 45 sec to well over minute per page using IR to battery operated mobile inkjet printer. Some of the thermal printers are faster if you can use thermal paper. There are some standard desktop inkjet printers with built-in IR (such as HP 990CXi) that may get you into the 2 to 3 page per minute range.

I don't really have a good feel for durability of the portable inkjet printers...

Tim
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Tim Field
[email protected]
FieldSoftware Products
Printing Solutions for Pocket PC & Windows CE
http://www.fieldsoftware.com
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