Taken from PCWorld Magazine, January 2013

The ability to print anything from anywhere is no longer fantasy.  It’s a necessity, as we work more and more off of mobile devices. You can’t squint at a big spreadsheet on a phone; and if you receive a revised presentation via email as your plane lands, you need to print it out before you get to the meeting.

All the mobile-printing technologies share some common traits and limitations. To begin with, the printer has to be networked or connected directly to the internet. Your sending device also has to have the right app, or else access information to find the printer.  And output quality may vary – without a driver, you have less control over the print job.  So, how do you set it up?

First, check to see if your printer manufacturer provides an app.  Most major manufacturers provide a mobile printing app for their current model printers… and a few older models as well.  If you are running a Mac, and your printer is equipped with AirPrint, then the hard work is already done for you.  Another option is Google Cloud Print, and it can work with just about any brand of printer – including older ones.

What if you need to print to a random printer at an airport of hotel?  This can be a bit trickier, but not impossible.  Most office supply stores that offer printing services will have instructions on how to send your job – usually by email directly to the printer.

If mobile printing is something you need to do, and are having trouble getting it setup, contact your local computer guy and they can help you out.