HP Deskjet 460wbt
Date Published: 11/1/07Most portable photo printers are limited to printing 4x6 snapshots. The HP Deskjet 460wbt can handle up to 8-1/2x11, so it can double as a business printer in a pinch.
Its price tag may seem high for a portable printer, but the 460wbt includes many features that are either optional or just not available from other portable printers. For starters, the 460wbt includes a battery pack for true portability; even better, the battery pack only adds a few ounces to the printer's overall weight (about 5 pounds). HP claims the battery is good for about 450 prints, or roughly the same capacity as a full inkjet cartridge. An included Bluetooth card can send print jobs from any Bluetooth-enabled device such as a phone, PDA, and some digital cameras.
The two-cartridge ink system offers multiple printing options. The 460wbt ships with one black and one tri-color cartridge; you can also purchase Photo and Photo Gray cartridges, and use the cartridges in any combination.
You can print directly from PictBridge-compatible digital cameras, or pop out your camera's memory card and plug it into the 460wbt's built-in card reader. We were disappointed to discover that the reader only supports CompactFlash and SD/MMC cards. You may be able to use adapters for other cards; we didn't test this possibility. The printer includes a USB port, for connecting to a laptop or desktop computer.
Photo and document output quality are both good enough to satisfy most individuals; the use of Photo and Photo Gray cartridges improves things considerably. Output speed is average at best, and slows down considerably for photos larger than 4x6.
The Deskjet 460wbt portable photo printer is a breeze to use. For many individuals, its ability to double as a general-purpose printer, as well as its ability to print photos larger than snapshot-size, will outweigh its shortcomings (and high price tag).
Pro: prints letter-size paper as well as various photo paper sizes, battery and Bluetooth wireless support, versatile inkjet cartridge system.
Con: slow print speeds, package doesn't include Photo and Photo Gray cartridges.
Warranty
1 year, limited




