| It’s good that modern printers are starting to | | | | Bluetooth device on your printer. Unfortunately, |
| become compact and sleek. Yet, they can still | | | | not all computers have built-in Bluetooth devices. |
| take up a chunk of your work space, especially | | | | Sometimes you have to purchase one and have |
| when your desk is cluttered or just really small. | | | | it attached to your computer. If you are on of |
| One way to avoid this and thus maximize your | | | | those who use an old computer, you can |
| limited desk space is to make your printer go | | | | purchase one at any computer store. These units, |
| wireless. | | | | which include both devices for your computer and |
| There’s an abundance of wireless printers | | | | a piece to attach to your printer, usually cost at |
| available at any given computer store. However, if | | | | around $50. |
| you don’t own one yet, do not go rushing | | | | If you’re planning to use a Bluetooth device |
| towards the store just yet. Though they are | | | | to make your printer wireless, it’s important |
| readily available, wireless printers can be costly. | | | | to that you use the new version of Bluetooth |
| Besides, what would happen to your old and | | | | devices. The trade-off in connecting your printer |
| reliable printer? Fortunately your current printer | | | | via Bluetooth is the limited range to which you are |
| can be made wireless easily. Here are the ways | | | | able to position the printer from your computer. |
| to turn your printer into a wireless one. | | | | The older Bluetooth products that use Version 1.1 |
| Plug a wireless print server | | | | or 1.2 have a very limited range of approximately |
| You can plug in a wireless print server if your | | | | 33 feet, which is significantly shorter than your |
| printer has a USB port. It’s a small box for | | | | router’s range. If this is the case, you’re |
| which you can connect your printer. There are | | | | better off using a wireless print server instead. |
| plenty of print servers in computer stores with a | | | | However, the Bluetooth Version 2.0 and 2.1 have |
| price ranging from $75 to $100, though you can | | | | a rated range 10 times more than the previous |
| get cheaper ones if you search dutifully in the | | | | versions, thereby allowing you to have more |
| internet. During the setup, you would obviously | | | | options as to where to place your printer. |
| need a router because you will have to connect | | | | Share your wireless printer |
| the printer with the printer server to the router | | | | It’s not uncommon to have several |
| using an Ethernet cable. Then just like setting up a | | | | computers sharing one printer, as this is normally |
| wireless internet, you are required to install | | | | the setup in offices and some households. After |
| software on your computer and configure the | | | | all, it’s both convenient and cost-effective. |
| connection. | | | | You can definitely do this as well; all you need to |
| Buy a Bluetooth adapter | | | | do is connect the printer to a host computer, |
| Between a Bluetooth adapter and the | | | | acting as a server to allow the other computers |
| aforementioned wireless print server, this is | | | | use the same printer. Simply go into the Control |
| definitely the easier one to install. In fact there is | | | | Panel in Windows and enable the printer to be |
| no installation needed; you just need to plug a | | | | shared on the network. |