PORTABLE ALL-IN-WONDER
Hewlett Packard PSC 1210

The biggest problem I have when traveling on business is taking my office with me. When I’m on-location as a documentary producer and director, I need to have a fast, reliable color printer, a high-resolution color scanner and a fairly fast copier. “On-location” for me can mean a small motel or even an outdoor set. For years I had to travel with a bulky and heavy all-in-one, or rent one at my destination. Neither appealed to my goals of saving space and money. However, with the HP psc1210 mini all-in-one, that problem is now resolved.

The Hewlett Packard psc 1210 is an all-in-one color inkjet printer that is no larger than a bread box—I kid you not. They never intended anyone to travel with it, but the unit is perfect for airlines or automotive travel. I keep the unit in its original packaging, which is a box (18”L x 8”W x 12” T) with Styrofoam supports. That box fits perfectly in my large suitcase and I still have room for lots of clothes and other gear.

Once I get to my location, I simply and quickly free the 1210 from its packaging, remove the small air bags that keep the print heads from moving while in transit, plug it into the wall and hook up the USB cable to my laptop (by the way, the psc1210 also works with Apple’s OS-X). Turn the 1210 on (with or without the laptop) and I’m ready to make 600dpi black & white or color copies on letter size paper. The results look as good as any HP all-in-one. After booting my laptop I can scan photos and print very nice pictures on photo paper (at 4800 optimized dpi), as well as on plain paper. Scan photos or documents from 50% to 400% reduce/enlarge, print out production schedules, virtually anything that my full size all-in-one can do, including edge to edge “fit to page” scans. The psc1210 is quiet and kicks out about 10 pages per minute of full-page text page with graphs.

The downside is the cost of HP branded color and black ink cartridges, and occasionally after picking up my suitcase from an airport baggage claim, two small rubber cushions have fallen off the bumpers on the print cradle. No problem with both situations. I buy my remanufactured ink cartridges from www.carrotink.com and the rubber bumpers just pop right back on the cradle.

Priced at $99.99, which includes one color and black ink cartridge and the USB cable, the psc1210 is a fantastic buy. There is no other mini all-in-one on the market that can do what the psc1210 can do in as small a package, for as little money. For traveling sales people and those needing the features of an all-in-one while traveling on the road, it’s a no-brainer. Buy it!

For more information about the HP psc 1210 click here.

Todd Hewey is a television and film producer, production fundraiser and director. His current projects include Honor Squadrons International, FORGIVEN and a documentary on the secret missions of Vietnam. Web sites describing his productions include: www.honorsquadrons.com, www.reeladventures.net and www.forgivenmovie.com.