Portable Printing Options?

Why would hp come out with a new mobile printer, the officejet 100, and not support printing from iphone? It doesn't make any sense to me.

If it will help the cause, myself and about a dozen others I work with are highly in need of a mobile printer that works with AirPrint.

I too need a mobile solution and want to make sure I have this straight:

If I am travelling in my car with my Ipad 2, and I have an AirPrint supported printer that is powered, I will not be able to print wirelessly unless I set up a wireless network router too? Please tell me that I don't need the router. Shouldn't the Ipad and AirPrint supported printer just 'talk' to each other while leaving the wirelss router out of the equation?

If the answer is 'YES' and the wireless router is needed, then shouldn't I be able to ditch the whole wireless router idea if I where to get a printer that supports AirPrint and Bluetooth?

Need help.....Thanks!

Ryan: What you're saying makes way too much sense----they should be able to speak directly with one another. But for now though you definitely need WiFi or at the very least a LAN set-up to serve as a go between....

Here it is November 2011 & yet NOT one of the printer manufacturers out there has updated at least one of their mobile or portable printers with code to run Airprint.

Oh there's plenty of Airprint printers out there (mainly HP, Brother, Epson), they're all just the size of a Mini Cooper (all right a bread box...)

Nothing sillier than pairing a slim moblie device like an iPad with one of these elephants & i do.

Basically these companies are cynically using the iPad/ Airprint as a way to move older, bulkier technology.

Hopefully (& soon) a smaller company with right mojo will tap this huge need/ market & will come out with a proper printer for the tablet field....

I print to my hp 510c with my iPad and iPhone. No software or app. Just be on the same wifi network.

Hi Andrew, I'm having a nightmare of a time trying to find an ad-hoc printer that's small enough to use in the field using an inverter as it still seems there's no mobile version.

Unfortunately HP chat/customer service and anyone else I've managed to come into contact with can't help so I'm hoping you can 🙂

I'm in New Zealand so may be limited to specific models but what printer would you suggest to let me airprint directly from an ipad to the printer in a car, on the road, with no internet for the printer. i.e ipad DIRECT => to printer not via another router. Hope that's clear enough. Would love to know what you think.

Cheers mate!

I don't think you'll find one. Everything out there requires a wifi network... maybe you could set one up for mobile use?

The thread you responded to (and the info in it) is 1 year old and it appears that Andrew hasn't been around for a while. Maybe he'll respond though.

Hey thanks for that. I did find a few people who can do it using the printer's ad-hoc or own network so I believe it can be done (and is in the documentation for the 6500a) however I'd love to find something smaller. Seems just unbelievable there's been a crying out market for this for over 12 months and still nothing..

Thanks for the reply and I'll keep searching 🙂

Cheers

Good luck.

It'd be interesting to see a poll of how many iPad users are waiting for a mobile AirPrint enabled printer! I know a dozen in my work.

Steve, I would be interested to know if you had any joy with this! I too am looking for a portable printing solution!

Hi GraysonF, I don't have a tried and tested method...yet...however I have managed to track down (walked through the gates of **** and back) some techies who are testing some options for me.

I have also ordered one of thesefor my hp mobile printer 470 which I'll be testing with the iPad (un jailbroken) and PrintCentral.

If that doesn't work then I'll be trialing any hp ad-hoc capable printer with an inverter in the car.

I know Andrew said any Airprint compatible printer can ad-hoc but I'm just not too sure that is the case for all printers from the manuals I've read so I will test that out asap.

In any case I will let this forum (and a few others you've probably been to!) know how I get on 🙂

Cheers

Steve

I just got the Epson "small-in-one" NX430 - It's "pretty small", and IS NOW LISTED as an AirPrint model. (something like 5x15x12, and 8 lb.)

It has no battery, but a small 12VDC to 110VAC adapter seems to run it from what used to be called the Cigarette Lighter Socket 😁 (One of my cars has a 110 outlet built in). The iPhone and MacBook (and my home WiFi) have no problem printing.

For about $100 from Apple ( less elsewhere ) may be a good compromise until,,,

PS gets 4 star rating from Apple users

Cool thanks for the info... so can you print direct from your phone? i.e just Iphone => Printer in the car..cruising the freeway (so to speak 🙂)

Cheers

Steve

Glad to see somebody finally made a small one. Folks have been asking about a portable printer on this forum startingnthe day after ios 3 was released.

A couple of comments. Some of the printers do support ad hoc printing. In one of the earlier posts someone remarked that for now, you need a wifi network. That is not the case. I have lost the link, but google hp ad hoc ipad, and you get a page that tells you how to establish an ad hoc network with some hp models.

When you ad hoc, by definition you need to turn off some ofmthe normal properties of the printer. So it is not a great solution in your house, but it will work, and is a very workable system for those that really need a mobile system. The bigger issue is power, as not many folks have 110 volts in their car.