Quantcast
PC World
You are not logged in, click here to log in.
3 Replies Last post: Aug 4, 2007 2:17 PM by smax013  
Click to view minvikes's profile New Member 4 posts since
Aug 3, 2007
Reply

Aug 3, 2007 8:25 AM

bluetooth printer...need help finding one!!

okay so i got a new macbook and i dont want to use my USB ports for a printer...my macbook has bluetooth capabilities and i was wondering if there are any printers that are bluetooth as well (that don't cost more than $130) so that i could print from my macbook to that printer wirelessly, and without having a bulky bluetooth card sticking out of my USB port...i was just wondering if there are any printers out there that fit that criteria, preferrably a Hewlett-Packard printer. i am not looking for a photo printer, just a printer that isn't too large (fits easily on my desk) and that can print out documents because I will be a college student. thank you
Reply
Click to view smax013's profile Old Hand 4,007 posts since
Jan 28, 2007
1. Aug 3, 2007 12:38 PM in response to: minvikes
Re: bluetooth printer...need help finding one!!
minvikes wrote:okay so i got a new macbook and i dont want to use my USB ports for a printer...my macbook has bluetooth capabilities and i was wondering if there are any printers that are bluetooth as well (that don't cost more than $130) so that i could print from my macbook to that printer wirelessly, and without having a bulky bluetooth card sticking out of my USB port...i was just wondering if there are any printers out there that fit that criteria, preferrably a Hewlett-Packard printer. i am not looking for a photo printer, just a printer that isn't too large (fits easily on my desk) and that can print out documents because I will be a college student. thank you

Short answer...yes, there a Bluetooth printers. There are also ways to add Bluetooth to some printers by way of a Bluetooth adaptor ([url]http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/mobileprinters/tp/bluetoothprint.htm_).

Longer answer...Bluetooth printers are kind of hard to find (at least I did not find to many options when doing some searches) Going the adapter route might be an easier solution.

The other solution to look into is a networked computer. The "simpliest" would be a printer with built-in WiFi (your MacBook has WiFi). I am honestly not sure if you would also need a WiFi router or not or if you could connect directly to the MacBook with a WiFi printer. I have never tried it. The only WiFi printers I have dealt with have routers in the network as well. I did find this HP printer with WiFi and its setup guide provides instructions for using an ad hoc WiFi network to connect directly with the computer. The downside would be that you would not be able to use your WiFi connection for Internet access at the same time through a WiFi network.


[soapbox] Backup good...no backup bad!! [/soap box]
Click to view rgreen4's profile Member Moderators 4,595 posts since
Oct 22, 2006
2. Aug 4, 2007 10:20 AM in response to: minvikes
Wireless Printing
I would not reccomend trying to use a wireless printer in a college situation where you would have your notebook on the school wireless network. If the wireless printer attached itself to the wireless network, everyone would be able to print to it, but not know where it was.

That is designed for home use.

Why don't you want to use a USB Port? It is the easiest, simplest, most economical way to hook 1 printer to 1 computer which I understand will be your situation.


RGreensig2B
Click to view smax013's profile Old Hand 4,007 posts since
Jan 28, 2007
3. Aug 4, 2007 2:17 PM in response to: minvikes
Re: Wireless Printing
rgreen4 wrote:I would not reccomend trying to use a wireless printer in a college situation where you would have your notebook on the school wireless network. If the wireless printer attached itself to the wireless network, everyone would be able to print to it, but not know where it was.


That is the DEFINITE potential downside of the WiFI approach...especially if you have some semi-drunk hall-mate down the hall deciding to screw with you and printing a crap load of stuff to your printer! :lol:

Of course, one solution to minimize such things is to only turn on the printer when you need it.

And if you do get a Bluetooth printer, it wll not suffer from such things (unless someone figures out the "pairing code", which might not be hard...lots of Bluetooth devices seem to use 0000 as the pairing code, and are in range with a Bluetooth equipped computer).


[soapbox] Backup good...no backup bad!! [/soap box]

Visit other IDG sites: