Printing on the road

Submitted: Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 19:54
ThreadID: 100903 Views:3714 Replies:8 FollowUps:6
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I have been looking into getting a small printer to take with us in the van. The ones designed for travel are very expensive and the average printer is much too big. Is it easy to find places to print documents as you travel?
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Reply By: Ozhumvee - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 20:03

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 20:03
We've been able to print at visitor centres when required, just stick whatever you wish to print on a USB stick and ask if you can print it out.
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Follow Up By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 20:33

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 20:33
G'day Rebecca

Like Peter says it's dead easy to print while travelling at places like info centres, but how much printing will you do.

Per page at some places is up to 80 or so cents.

My wife works when we travel and we need to access a printer every few days.

So we bit the bullet and bought the smallest full size printer we could find and take it with us.

Soon she will want to take the kitchen sink.LOL

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Follow Up By: Ozhumvee - Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 08:04

Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 08:04
We've never been asked to pay, on the other hand I think the most we've ever wanted to print was two pages.
About 18 months back we also bought a compact printer, a Canon Pixma IP100 to take on the road. We managed to find a new one on ebay for less than half normal retail prices and it works very well. Travels in a storage bin most of the time and can be pulled out after 12 months and used straight away. I thought that it might dry up when not used but that doesn't seem to be the case.
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Follow Up By: tentman - Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 17:40

Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 17:40
After reading the headline I thought you might want to start with paper
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Reply By: Notso - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 21:09

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 21:09
Canon make a small format multi function printer etc. about $430 last time I checked. Its about the size of a packet of 150 Kleenex tissues.
AnswerID: 506071

Follow Up By: Member - J&R - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 23:12

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 23:12
Hmmmm
Yes, the kitchen sink...and more.
But then many con their partners into believing they need anything and everything that could possibly fit on, in and around the truck, most of which will never be used, and the cost of will never be recovered, so, what the hell.

Whatever will fit in the tiny space left. And yes, the Canon are great. Take spare ink (reservoirs are tiny).
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Follow Up By: Dennis Ellery - Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 00:13

Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 00:13
$430 for a printer! – I pay around the $100 mark.
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Reply By: Gold Stalker - Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 23:29

Monday, Mar 04, 2013 at 23:29
OfficeWorks seem to be all over the place and they have a printing facility. B/W seems to be a lot cheaper than colour. http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail/print/documents/documents-prints?productname=docs
AnswerID: 506075

Reply By: Motherhen - Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 00:36

Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 00:36
Hi Rebecca

I don't take a printer. Unless you do a lot of printing, do as suggested and take your documents on a USB thumbdrive to a public internet and technology centre. In rural WA we have Community Resource Centres (formerly called Telecentres), and we have found similar in other states.

Motherhen
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AnswerID: 506079

Reply By: ReCon - Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 02:59

Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 02:59
Nowdays printers are a bit of a money gargling relic for the home.

Buy a decent scanner that will do up to A3 , then scan all your docs and save to flash.
If you are really conscious about keeping data , then buy 2 flash, ... good ones and save to both.

You can now dispose of all non critical data and keep a full record of all expenses, docs that are important electronically. [Plus a million photos as well :) ]

Most business nowdays are quite happy to have an emailed scan of any doc that they might need , or just print up from your flash drive.

In the heat or humidity , printer cartridges have around a 30% life span of a 'normal' one , so it is likely it may expire before you really need it anyway!
AnswerID: 506082

Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 08:29

Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 08:29
Worth noting that one of the most convenient scanners is probably already traveling with you - your digital camera. At home, although we have a scanner, we routinely use a camera for scanning any must-have documents. Much quicker, handles any size originals. Results aren't often geometrically perfect, but adequate for most purposes.

Cheers

John
J and V
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Reply By: Member-Heather MG NSW - Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 06:08

Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 06:08
Hi Rebecca,

It isn't cheap but I bought one of these printers to use when we are travelling and the
best price I found was here.

http://www.estore.com.au/product/can0732

It is very small and lightweight and being battery operated is convenient whether you stay powered on not. I guess only you can decide whether you do enough printing for you to justify paying the price.

regards,
Heather
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AnswerID: 506083

Reply By: Member - Arsenal Phill - Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 19:44

Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 19:44
Hi Rebecca.
I take a HP portable wireless printer when we go away. I do impromtu treasure hunts etc. and its great for printing out competition forms and questionaires.
It is fairly small, does up to A4 in full colour. Paid just under $500 for it.
Thought it was good value and also it is battery powered so can be charged via caravan power with use of invertor. Ideal for us.

AnswerID: 506123

Reply By: Member - J&R - Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 21:19

Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013 at 21:19
Revision to my previous post.....

After additional consideration, I second the 'forget the printer', find an internet cafe/telecentre option. Will cost u a bleep load for a printer, paper, ink, cable, power supply etc on the road. Another crappy thing to watch out for instead of watching the road/enjoying the scenery.

U will find somewhere in every town. Even if its Council Offices.
AnswerID: 506127

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