The Pixma iP100 combines text and photo printing with a battery, making it truly portable.

The battery pack (included) does not fit inside the printer but uses a separate cradle that screws on to the back of the main unit. There is no screen, hence no memory card slots, but there is a USB port for Pictbridge direct printing, along with a USB port for connecting it to a PC.

Overall, print quality was excellent, with a good photo result, even on standard paper. On photo paper, results were stunning. It is not too slow, either; borderless 6x4in prints averaged at 54 seconds, while text came out at eight pages per minute (ppm) in fast mode and just over 2ppm in high-quality mode.

Text quality was also impressive. In draft mode text was readable down to very small font sizes. In high-quality mode, text was comparable to results from a laser printer.

The only downside is the high initial cost. But if you need a portable printer, this is definitely the one to get.

USP: Truly portable; excellent prints from both text and photos

Distributors: Beta, Computer 2000, Headway, Ingram Micro, Micro Peripherals, Midwich, Nimans, Target, Tekdata, Westcoast