Am I dozing off?

You’re nearing the end of an all-day business conference in which you started out exuberant and eager to learn. You’re now consciously lifting your eyebrows and eyelids in failed attempts at staying awake. Your head bobs to the left before your eyes pop open and you sit up straight, alert, wanting to look as though you’re on top of your game.

Finally, the conference ends, and a co-worker approaches. You haven’t been paying attention for the past three hours, so you’re praying she asks if you enjoyed the coffee served at lunchtime. But … no such luck. Instead, she asks if you took notes on the Ryland Property. Your immediate thought is to cough and pretend you’re sick, excusing yourself because you don’t want to give her your germs. But this is a saleswoman. She can sense a lie better than a professional poker player with x-ray glasses can. The ‘sick’ excuse is a no-go. You can pretend to search for the Ryland Property notes in your notebook, but she might spot the drawing of the Road Runner chasing Bugs Bunny around what’s supposed to be the Grand Canyon. You’re almost out of options when suddenly it hits you. A day earlier, you purchased a small travel printer for less than $50. And the details on The Ryland Property were sent to your e-mail prior to the conference.

“Sure,” you say. “I took some notes on it, but you’re better off with the professional version. My handwriting isn’t much better than a third grader’s.”

You remove the tiny, spy-looking device from your pocket, walk over to one of the several computers sitting on the table behind you, and login to your e-mail. Within one minute, a detailed print on the Ryland Property is complete and in your co-workers hands.

“Wow,” she says. “That was fast. What is that thing?” She points to the small travel printer that fits so easily in your palm.

“Oh, it’s called a SiPix Pocket Printer. Got it for around twenty bucks on Amazon. Not bad, huh?”

“Not bad at all.” She smiles. “Would you be able to teach me more about it over some dinner … or perhaps just a drink?”

And as is the case with a select few around the world, the purchase of a small travel printer pays off in more ways than one.

Tags: best portable printer, travel printer, best portable printers, travel printers