TAKING the mobile office concept to the extreme, the Canon Pixma iP100 portable printer tries very hard to be a "never leave home without it" device.
For the most part, it succeeds: Though slightly heavy (2kg), the printer does not need to be hooked up to a power outlet if you splurge on the optional rechargeable battery kit ($130).
The battery life on a full charge is pretty impressive, with the printer going strong even after five hours of staggered usage spread over four days.
During that time, the iP100 printed text documents and photos while being connected to a battery-guzzling Bluetooth adaptor unit ($100) for wireless printing for 45 minutes.
For a printer aimed at the mobile professional, the iP100 certainly delivers a punch with vivid photographs on 9,600 x 2,400 dots per inch (dpi) resolution.
Skin tones are natural, without being overly bright.
It takes an eagle eye to tell the difference between the iP100's four-ink output and prints from a high-end photo printer using eight ink colours (or more).
The iP100 is also a fast worker.
Borderless 4R photos come out in less than one minute after you press the Print button, while borderless A4 photo prints take about two minutes at the standard quality setting.
A full page of text appears in 16 seconds. While faint smudging is evident when you look closely, which means they are not as sharp as a laser printer's, text is still fairly crisp and highly readable.
The iP100's direct Bluetooth printing works with camera phones and notebooks to print 4R photos.
But the lack of a Wi-Fi connectivity option - offered by the competing HP Officejet H470 Mobile Printer ($569) - is a minus point for those who have a wireless network at home or in the office.
Another gripe: Canon should bundle the rechargeable battery kit together with the iP100 to save the customer some money.
FINAL SAY
Recommended for mobile professionals who print regularly on the road - or even on flights.
