HPs New WiFi Printer is “Specialty” Printer at Best

Ok, Ok, all you HP fans relax… I’ll change the headline to read HPs New WiFi Printer is “Specialty” Printer at its Best.

There has been much made up about this revolutionary-game-changing-super-duper-wonderful printer that’s going to save the world. My headline was making a point that this printer does not change the game at all unless you fall into a specialty category (see below). I admit I was glued to my monitor for the live unveiling on June 22nd. Once the energetic-presenter finally pulled off the black sheet (HP will argue it was a cape) from over the new printer I screamed aloud “Cool! A printer with a spot for your iPhone!”

A little bit about the Game Changer

HP’s new touchscreen-equipped printer with WiFi and Web connectivity allows the user to bypass the computer and use the printers own interface and applications to seek, find, and print. It’s like an HP all-in-one printer with an iPhone glued to the front.

Also announced with the printer was HP Apps Studio, where users can go to download applications and content to their printers – yup, just like the iPhone.

HP has partnered with many big names such as Google, Coupons.com, Fandango, USA Today, Nickelodeon, Weathernews, and more to provide apps and tools for the device. An open architecture allows for developers to create their own uses and applications.

Specialty Categories (people who will love this thing)

Stay-at-Home Moms (and dads)

No joke. My wife stays home with our three small children and I could see a ton of reasons why she would find this new printer useful. She could keep it in the kitchen where she spends 90% of her day (not being funny here, true again) and have access to coupons, recipes, and her calendar. Big time saver, no need to walk all the way into my office (next to the kitchen), sit at the computer and search for the amount of butter for those sugar cookies. This printer makes theses daily SAHM tasks simple, fast, and efficient.

Paper Readers/People on the Go (who like to hold paper)

Newspapers and magazines have, and will continue to jump on board to provide an app to find content to print and read on the go. Also the ability to print puzzles and games to take with you.I admid those are pretty cool things.

Movie-go-ers that computer wont boot up

Yes, Fandango has provided an application to look up a movie, order and print out your tickets all from the printer, no computer needed.

People without GPS and dont have time for Mapquest

Go to your printer, find the Google maps application, put in your destination on the typepad, and print out the directions. Dont hold me to this, but I dont think the paper speaks out directions, you still have to read them…

Revolutionary?

I’ll admit HP’s printer is a great new technology. I would not go as far as “game-changing”. The printer is simply a developers idea of putting the Apple iPhone on a wireless printer. I see this being a success for the right specialty categories. However, if you are like me, you are already in front of a computer (connected to a printer) and that is not likely to change.

If the price point is right and stays competitive with the other non-iPhone like printers, I see many people picking this up. If this “game-changer” costs much more than your regular color all-in-one, you must fall under a specialty category to make it worth the money.

You can check out the Live Reval and a Demo on Current.com