TECH SPOTLIGHT : Tiny PrintStik portable printer works with PC, BlackBerry; Nano headphones rock
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008
It’s the end of the summer and the start of school. Finally, things start to slow down.
For some people.
I, on the other hand, have a packed schedule for the next two months. Being constantly on the go, I need gadgets and accessories that go with me.
I came across a few products made for the on-the-go lifestyle.
The first is a portable printer from PlanOn, the PrintStik PS 910. This device uses Bluetooth wireless communication to print from a Windows-based PC or a BlackBerry smart phone. It also can connect to the computer via USB. The PrintStik measures only 1 1 inch thick and 1 / 2 inches deep, 3 while being 10 / 4 inches long. It’s a tad heavy at a full pound, but the included carrying case and slim size make it very portable. The PrintStik communicates smoothly with Windows-based computers with Bluetooth connections. Once the computer finds the printer and the pass code (included in the manual ) is entered, it’s ready to go. It’s a bit more complicated to prepare it for printing from the Black-Berry phone.
First, you must have the BlackBerry’s Desktop Manager software, or you must download and install it. Then, you must install the drivers from the CD or Web site. Then you must install the application on the phone. Then you must go to the phone and install the printer driver there. Then (20 minutes later for me ), it’s ready to use.
Once you finally get everything talking, the printer does a decent job. It’s fairly quick to print and uses the direct thermal method, similar to the old fax machines, which means there isn’t any messy wet ink to worry about. It prints simply in black-and-white, but it does the job if you need something printed immediately. I was able to print e-mails from my phone, text files from the computer and even a grocery list from my BlackBerry’s memo pad. It has about 3 hours of life on its rechargeable battery.
The biggest problem with the printer is actually the paper. You only get about 20 pages per roll. Refills are for sale on the PlanOn Web site, but a threepack of paper costs $ 25. You also have to remember to tear the paper along the bottom edge of the printer for a smooth tear. Otherwise, it comes off very jagged.
The PrintStik is also limited on its compatibility, at least for now. It doesn’t work with Macin- tosh computers or other smart phones, though PlanOn’s Web site suggests they are working on adding compatibility.
MUSIC TO MY EARS I next tried out some interesting accessories for my music on the go — three stylish headphones from Radius. All three are the earbud design, which means they fit inside the ears rather than over them. Each comes with different sizes of earbud covers for the best fit possible. The first set I tried was the lavender-colored Atomic Bass headphones. As per the name, they’re designed to give an extra kick to the music’s bass. They certainly do that, offering a rich bass sound. Unfortunately, it’s at the expense of the treble, leaving a somewhat muffled sound on the upper ranges.
The second set I tried was the TruTune headphones. These light, red, aluminum headphones feature a “U” design, so one headphone wire is shorter than the other. It may seem strange at first glance, but it’s a nice design for those who keep their music devices in a side pocket. The shorter wire goes in the ear on the same side as the music device, and the long wire swings under the chin to the other ear. Why do it like this ? How many times have you pulled the wire out of the far ear on the typical wire headphones ? With this design, you have more slack for the far ear, which means you have less chance of yanking the darn thing out.
While the design is nice, the sound is a tad brassy at the higher ranges, just the opposite of the bass headphones. The sound is closer to what I wanted, but still not quite right.
The third set, however, was just right. Ironically, like the old Goldilocks tale, the last set was for the small model of a particular music player. These headphones, called Atomic Straps, are in the neckstrap style. Thin wires for the headphones branch off a thicker wire that hangs around the neck, and the music player hangs on the bottom of the thick wire. They are designed especially for the third-generation (i. e., the latest ) iPod Nano.
Once again, the small earbuds fit snugly into the ears. Unlike the other two headphones, these combined rich bass and clear treble for a full, true sound. The headphone jack includes a dummy dock connection, which slid into the bottom of the Nano perfectly and provided a very snug hold, keeping the upside-down Nano in its proper place no matter what the activity.
All of these devices are designed for those with on-the-go lifestyles, even if it’s slowing down with the new school year. For the rest of us, portability and convenience are much appreciated in a hectic schedule. Melissa L. Jones can be reached via e-mail at mljones 72 @me. com.
Where it’s @ PlanOn’s PrintStik PS 910 requires Windows XP or Vista or a BlackBerry smart phone; Bluetooth wireless technology and a USB port on the PC. The device is not Macintosh-compatible at this time. The product retails for $ 299. 99. The Radius Atomic Bass and TruTune headphones require a music player with a standard headphone jack. The Atomic Straps headphones require a third-generation iPod Nano. The Atomic Bass and Atomic Straps each retail for $ 39. 95. The Tru-Tune headphones retail for $ 34. 95. More information on the PrintStik is available at www. planon. com. More information on the Radius headphones is available at www. radiusproducts. com.
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