When you need to print away from your home or office, a portable printer like the Canon Pixma iP90 Photo Printer ($249.99 direct) can come in handy. Whether you need to whip out an updated PowerPoint presentation in the cab on the way to a meeting, or you're a soccer mom or dad who wants to hand out photos of the game even before it's over, the iP90 can do the job.

Weighing 4.4 pounds with its AC adapter and measuring 2.0 by 12.2 by 6.9 inches (HWD), the iP90 is bigger and heavier than some notebooks. But it doesn't compromise on speed, quality, or most features. The iP90 can connect via USB, IrDA (infrared), or a Bluetooth option ($79.99 direct) and can print from your computer, PDA, cell phone, or PictBridge camera. An optional car adapter ($89.99 direct) and a rechargeable battery ($99.99 direct) let you print anywhere.

The only compromises are on paper handling and ink capacity. The top cover opens to serve as a 30-page input tray. There is no output tray, and the manual warns you to move each printed page out of the way to avoid jamming the next. The ink cartridges are relatively small, with a claimed 100 pages per color cartridge and 185 pages for text. Claimed cost per page is 3 cents for monochrome and 12 cents for color.

On our business applications suite (timed with QualityLogic's hardware and software, www.qualitylogic.com) the iP90 managed a total 25 minutes 14 seconds. That's sluggish compared with the fastest desktop ink jets, like the Canon iP4000, but still a reasonable speed. The Epson C86 (a full-size desktop printer), for example, was only a little faster, at 23:10. Photo speed is also surprisingly good, averaging 2:10 for each 4-by-6 photo and 4:52 for each 8-by-10.

Output quality is another plus. Text and graphics were both at the high end of good. Most fonts were easily readable at 4 points, with some stylized fonts requiring as large as 12 points. Graphics showed an assortment of minor issues but no serious flaws. Photos earned a very good rating, held back primarily by a tint in monochrome photos and slight posterization.

This level of speed and quality would be perfectly acceptable in a desktop ink jet. And that's probably the best recommendation there is for a portable printer.

Sub-ratings: Text: Graphics: Photos:

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Copyright © 2005 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in PC Magazine.