Printing from your iPad...

[carolkoh]

... or any other iOS device has gotten simpler. After fighting with Airprint, Epson's iPrint app, etc. etc. I generally email myself or load up to Sugar Sync, the document I want to print and print from my laptop / PC.

I tested the Lantronix xPrinter at CES and it works like a charm. After listening to the schpiel, I pulled out my iPad and waved it at the rep who told me which network to log into, to pull up a document / photo and click print. I did. Lo and behold! Up popped a choice of printers - selected one - and it printed.

$149 was the price I jotted down.

 

[Soundproof]

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/air-sharing-hd/id365541415?mt=8

 

[carolkoh]

Have you used it? Does it really let you print directly from the iPad? I ask because from the description, it allows you to "mount your iPad as an external HDD" to your computer which facilitates file sharing and moving - Very useful for those large file moves, but means you are using your PC to access the file on your iPad to print.

I just use DropBox / Sugar Sync which is a cloud file-sharing solution and free. I won't be buying the xPrintServer either. My printing needs (from my iPad) are far and few between but I know a few who are salivating because they are in a business environment where many department heads use iPads for taking meeting notes and would love to print directly to their network printers without having to go through the file-sharing-print-from-PC method.

 

[Soundproof]

I actually use Print Direct for iPad, which you can try out for free. I have the "pro" version which costs 9.99 - the app finds printers on the network, and can access them directly, or via another Mac. Very simple setup.
http://itunes.apple.com/no/app/printdirect/id423223834?mt=8

The one I linked to was strongly recommended to me the other day, but I haven't used it myself.

 

[carolkoh]

Thanks! I'll certainly have to try it out!

*Edit*

Interesting... that's available in Norway (as the link shows) - but Either not offered in the US or under a different name. What EuroSmartz offers in the US store is different. Maybe they are phasing it out because it's not showing on their website either.

http://mobile.eurosmartz.com/prod_index.html

But they have other apps and a chart which compares them all.

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

While I admire Apple interface, I find it curious that people are so lenient toward the iPad shortcomings. In these days and ages, 2012, so remote from the days of green CRT terminal, punch cards , You would think that printing from a device should not be an afterthought> PRINTING , for crying out loud should not be something to think about from such a popular device, from ANY modern device. I do have an iPad and I can print from it using an HP Printer with some kind of special Wireless protcol (forgot what it is) but really ...really

 

[carolkoh]

I know, right? You'd think?