Printing docs direct from Tungsten T3 to nonBT printer

[slm]

Hi, my business partner wants to be able to print docs directly from his T3 to a printer (no available PC). He has yet to buy a printer but doesn't want the expense of a bluetooth printer. Also he would like to be able to print directly to almost any printer when visiting other client's offices. Any advice re the best hardware/software solutions would be gratefully received. We are both complete novices so the solution needs to be fairly idiot proof :-) Thanks.

[motionmind]

I don't know of any solution that will magically let you print at random client's locations since the hardware and software setups are not likely to be the same. The only way this would work is if you knew for a fact that every location you went to was identical in setup and then find the solution to fit. The closest thing you can get to a universal solution would be an ethernet cradle for your palm and printing software like Printboy. I'm not even sure if Printboy will work over a network connection like that though. My basic suggetion though, give up, it can't be done.

The only real solution I can see is to carry your own printer with you and set up your own, unchanging connection. A bluetooth or IR printer would be ideal. The next problem here is finding a place to plug it in.

[JohnKes]

PrintBoy can send printing to IR-equipped printers, but you never know if the particular client has one - might as well carry your own. There are portable printers that weigh about 1 lb that one can buy.

[matrix42]

I suppose you could get a bluetooth adapter for a printer and carry it with you..

Something like this..
http://www.mpitech.com/bpa/datasheet.htm

and use PrintBoy.

-Scott

[snark]

Or an infrared printer adapter: http://www.d-store.com/d-store/psion/irlink100M.htm

[motionmind]

Both the bluetooth and ir printer adapters would require him to unplug the client's printer and attach his adapter...that won't fly with everybody. Plus, what if the client doesn't have a printer? That's why I said that it couldn't be done, there are too many variables to come up with a workable solution without more deatils on the clients and their setups (which he may not know until he shows up at their door).

[JohnKes]

Didn't I mention carrying your own? From Google:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005LDPI/103-0017350-0207047?v=glance
http://www.amerbar.com/catalog/palm_printer.asp
http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=2304
http://www.symbol.com/products/mobile_computers/mobile_palm_printers.html
http://www.unleash.com/picks/computer/topcomputerprinterportable.asp

[motionmind]

Originally posted by JohnKes
[B]Didn't I mention carrying your own?

Yes, as did I, but the original post said that he didn't want to.

[GNandGS]

What about copy to SD card and tote a reader?

[gavinfabl]

Bluetooth Print Server via USB works very well with T3

[dark79]

You don't need to have bluetooth printer adapter on the computer if you already have bluetooth connectivity with the computer you want to print to. The way I did it was I set my printer to be shared over the network, installed printboy on my handheld. and use bachmann software's printboy proxy server software on my PC. It takes a bit to set up, but when it works, it works well. Of course this doesn't solve the problem of being able to print on other people's computer....

Anyway the proxy software is on this page:

http://www.bachmannsoftware.com/pbnet.htm

[slm]

Hi Guys,

Please forgive my belated thanks for all your excellent suggestions. I have been ill and my Mother-in-law died unexpectedly so I haven't had the chance to put your good advice into action but will do so soon.

It looks like I will be trying a combination of Printboy and the Psion IRlink with an SD reader as backup.

Thanks again
Slm