(This review covers Version 2.2. The program is available at Stevens Creek Software, www.stevenscreek.com)

To tell you the truth, I didn't even know such a program like this even existed. But I'm glad it goes...it certainly fills a gap that exists between the versatile electronic PDA and the equally versatile paper.

PalmPrint is exactly what its name implies--a simple utility that allows you to print DIRECTLY from your Palm to your Printer. The printer must accept infrared beaming, since data transfer is done using Palm beaming.

Before I swoon over this product (I *do* love it :), allow me to discuss the limitations first:

--CONS--

1. Can't print everything: You can only print from your ClipBoard, Memo, or ToDo List on your Palm. This actually limits the functionality quite a bit. For example, some of the things I *really* want a hardcopy of (for example, my lengthy outlines created with ThoughtMill, another fine Palm software product) simply are NOT printable using PalmPrint. But it stands to reason that printing functionality within these third-party programs would have to be built-in by the programmers themselves. So in this case, this shortcoming is forgiveable.

2. Not all printers will work: I'm currently using this with my HP LaserJet 4050 N, which has an infrared port. Setting this thing up was ridiculous easy. (All I had to do was choose my printer type: HP, and the Baud Rate: Infrared.) Of course, part of the simplicity has to do with the fact that not all printers are supported. The program is pretty much only useful if you have a printer with an infrared receiver installed, so that does pose some limitations. It's unlikely many home printers would be fitted with one, but perhaps the laser printer at your office might... So before you rush out to try to work this program with your Lexmark Inkjet printers, think again...it won't work.

3. Formatting is horrible: For my printouts, all my ToDo lists, etc, come out using the ubiquitous but kludgy Courier font. For longer entries, this causes the lines to wrap around, which hampers readability a bit. I'm not sure if you can specify the printer font--I didn't find an easy way to do it.

Aside from these limitations, here's why you should at least give the program a worthwhile spin:

--PROS--

1. The coolness factor. There's fewer things cooler (at least in the here and now in the year 2000) than holding a Palm V a few inches away from a printer, and printing your ToDo list! It's almost magical to those who see it for the first time.

2. Who doesn't love paper? : To have a printout of your ToDo list is amazingly handy. For example, every morning I print my ToDo list out, and refer to it. I still use the Palm, but sometimes grabbing that piece of paper is easier. It's especially handy if your list is long, so it saves you from having to scroll on your Palm.

3. Easy setup: Of course, this is applicable if you already have an infrared receiver on your monitor. (Who doesn't nowadays? :)

4. Extends the true usefulness of the Palm. This is core functionality that should've been part of the PalmOS (that way, developers would have incorporated printing functionality into their applications from the very beginning...).

That's all for now, I've got to get back to playing Palm PocketChess :)

Try out the program, and let me know how it works for you!





Recommended: Yes