If you can't print in an office, a local computer store may be helpful in a pinch. In terms of output quality, ink-jets seem to have an edge over the other types of printers. Using smooth paper, a good ink-jet can produce output that rivals that of a laser printer. In contrast, thermal transfer printouts can often display noticeable banding, particularly with darker images. However, thermal transfer is fine for text, and is more resistant to smearing than ink-jet pages.
Thermal printing tends to be fine, although the paper leaves much to be desired.
The advantage of thermal and thermal transfer printers is that they can be very small. The smallest thermal printer weighs only 14 ounces, while small thermal fusion printers weigh only 1.1 pounds. Ink-jet printers are typically bigger, with even the smallest units weighing at least 2.4 pounds. Handy features Features can make the difference between a portable printer that gets used and one that stays in the box. Two of the more important features to consider include paper handling and battery performance.