Web Worker Daily

Portability is important to web workers. When I work outside, I bring with me my laptop and mobile phone. How I wish I can bring my printer with me. There are times when I would rush to a meeting, thinking that I’m fully prepared, only to find out that I have to pass by Kinkos for some last minute printing.

So, I welcome this news that PlanOn is now shipping Printstik, its mobile printer which can print from Bluetooth-enabled devices.

Its list of features are:

• No smudging and no leaking of ink
• Prints up to three pages per minute
• Pocket size, including a cartridge roll of 20 pages and battery

With printers, it is the cost of consumables that turns me off. PrintStik, however, uses thermal paper which you purchase in packs of 3, or equivalent to 60 pages, for $24.99 or 41 cents each. That’s the cost already of color printing at Staples.

Price is on the high-end though starting at $299.99 but I guess that’s what we pay for portability.

In today’s world, we’re all looking for ways to have less of an impact on the environment. One of the main devices that consumes resources is our printers. Between toner/ink and paper, these necessary evils of modern business eat up our pocket book as well as costing us trees in the process.

These tips from PC magazine serve as a good reminder of how to be more judicious with our printing. The suggestions include using your Print Preview more thoroughly, printing to PDF for digital storage and searchability, and really considering whether or not a print job is truly necessary.

Do you have any additional tips? Do you consider yours a paperless office?

(photo credit: Flickr user josef.stuefer)