HP DeskJet 350CBi

In HP's favour, the cartridges used are of a standard size, ensuring that they last a lot longer, and with a print head included they're also more economical to run. For your money you do get a few extra features, including an infrared adaptor and a rechargeable battery, making it fully portable. If you feel you don't need these extras, you can opt for the cheaper HP DeskJet 350C for £181 at the expense of the battery or infrared functionality. Compared to the Canon at £14 more, without the battery, this initially makes the HP look better value for money. However, while the features included with the HP DeskJet 350CBi are good, you have to ask yourself if you really need that portability. The Canon comes with USB and Windows CE compatibility, which the HP is without. Finally, although criticised for value in comparison with cheaper desktop printers, as a portable printer the Canon is well worth the extra £14 for the leap in print quality.

If you want a printer that's portable, and aren't too worried about colour print quality, the HP DeskJet 350CBi will suffice. However, as a result of its print quality, I'd recommend the Canon BJC-85 if you really need a portable, as the improvement in quality is phenomenal. Of course if you think you can live without portability, remember there are always cheaper desktop printers that offer far superior performance.

Author: Ben Hardwidge