Canon`s newest portable, the Bubble Jet i70, taps into 25 years` research into every aspect of Bubble Jet performance, from nozzles and ink, to the media onto which documents are printed.
Throughout this period Canon has sought cross-fertilisation between its wide ranges of expertise and by applying its skills to semiconductor manufacturing has managed to completely re-think the way inkjet nozzles are made. For example, Canon has helped to take printer miniaturisation to a new level and since 1998 Canon has sold over 70% of all portable printers in Europe, according to independent research.
The impact of Canon`s approach has been to drive a fast pace of technology change - from ever darker blacks and brighter colours that last longer, to a continual reduction in print times, graininess and droplet size together with steady improvements in photo quality.
The process has also yielded revolutionary advances - like the BJ-10, the world`s first notebook-sized printer launched in 1990 and portable colour printing in 1995 with the BJC-70. The all-new Bubble Jet i70 sets a new benchmark for portability and technical achievement. A full 40% smaller than its closest rival, the compactness is the result of Canon`s lead in miniaturisation with every element being custom-designed for Canon`s portable printer range rather than simply cramming generic off-the-shelf components into a smaller box.
Great looks
The technology has been wrapped in a sleek design that combines great looks with easy use, and is styled with a simple `titanium-silver` elegance that would not look out of place in the smartest home or coolest office. Despite its funky looks, the complete re-imagining of how a printer is put together enabled Canon to still give the i70 the performance of desktop printers more than twice its size.
"By marrying the functionality and performance of a desktop business tool with the looks of a desirable consumer must-have, the i70 represents a generational leap in portability," says Ashley Botha, Product Manager for Printers and Scanners at Canon SA.
Quality-plus-speed
The i70`s performance - a function of quality-plus-speed - is thanks to an array of technologies incorporated into the portable range.
New to portable printers are a three-motor drive system, relay paper feed and bi-directional, single-pass printing that combine to boost speeds to 13ppm, making the i70 the fastest portable mono printer available. Its 9ppm colour printing also matches its chunkier deskbound rivals.
At the same time, significant steps forward in print quality have been made using Canon`s expertise in research and manufacturing including advanced MicroFine Droplet Technology, and high-resolution (4800 x 1200dpi) printing using tiny 5pl droplets that are the most precise and accurately placed ever to be used in a portable printer.
The combined result is to offer higher resolution colour and mono prints in less time, boosting both the quality and speed of mobile work.
Direct and borderless printing
The i70 is the first portable printer to offer direct printing from Canon Bubble Jet Direct digital cameras or camcorders and also the first portable printer to offer borderless printing. Exif Print support is included for better quality, more natural-looking photos. Together, these features add up to instant, high quality, borderless photographs for the business executive on the move, any time, anywhere, with no PC required.
Software innovations
In addition to these hardware advances, the i70 uses a number of proprietary and industry standard software innovations new to Canon`s portable range to improve the vibrancy, hue, exposure and saturation of colour prints. These new applications include Exif Print support via Easy-PhotoPrint (PC) or ImageBrowser (Mac) and Photo Optimizer PRO and Photo Noise Reduction for better print quality. With the i70, direct printing is even possible from an infra-red equipped phone or PDA using IrOBEX.
Other features to enhance the portable productivity of the i70 include:
* A new optional rechargeable battery and charger kit consisting of a lighter, smaller, more powerful Li-ion battery with a reduced recharge time capable of printing 450 pages, that is better integrated into the printer.
* A new optional rechargeable battery and cradle kit containing charging cradle, battery and charger for greater convenience and ease of use.
* Larger ink tanks that double print capacity to 185 mono pages.
* Compatibility with all popular operating systems (Windows/Mac), and easy USB connectivity.
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