instantphoto.eu GuKKK Mini Portable Thermal Printer
This is a
small
digital printer for thermal paper strips, widely
used in supermarket check-out systems, cash machines or petrol
stations. The paper
is black and white only and comes in cheap rolls. This one is called
GuKKK Mini Portable Thermal Printer, it has a very sober design. There
are other versions with different
names and designs, but the technical features seem to be nearly the
same.
There is little technical information and the manual is tiny and short.
1200 mAh rechageable lithium battery via USB
Bluetooth connection 2.1/4.2
200dpi resolution
App made by Shenzen 100cow Technology Co.
Size: 8.2 x .8.2 x 4.5 cm
Weight: 210gr with new roll of paper
Picture size: variable, banner printing possible
The bundle.
The bundle unpacked, box with printer, 5 rolls of paper, colour pencils for colouring the prints.
What's
in the box: printer, USB cable, short instructions booklet, one roll of
paper already installed in the printer. Next to the USB socket on the
bottom there is a tiny lamp which lights when charging. It'off when the
battery is fully charged.
The front. Ready lamp on and printer eject.
Paper roll trap open.
The App "TinyPrint" on a
smartphone connected via Bluethooth. If you click on the camera symbol
you can also access photos stored on your phone.
Photo ready to be printed. The app adapts it to the width of the paper which is small.
If you want a bigger photo, just turn it 90° and it's adaped again.
Printing.
Print torn off.
The
basic
handling is very easy. The printer is relatively small and light. The
plastic seems to be on the better quality side. Switching
the printer on is fine, you press the "On" button for 2 seconds and it
lights up. Connecting to the smartphone is easy as well, start the app
and it will be connected. It reminds you if bluetooth isn't on. Why it
wants location data on when you click on "my device", I don't know, at
least it doesn't share these
data, as it continues with data connection off. But usually it prints
without data connection and without location data.
The
menu is easy, there is quite some choice.
If you click on the camera symbol you can also access photos stored on
your phone. Otherwise you can draw, write, access to a wide range of
labels, to-do lists and other patterns, as well as choose from many
ready-made drawings. Even printing a banner is possible. If your phone
is connected to the web, printing from websites is also available. The
app works well on my Android phone. Translation from Chinese is not
finished at all points and the German isn't terrible, but as it's logic
and easy, you get along very well.
The printed
photos are OK seen the print medium used. I did not expect much and I
was positively surprised.
Putting a roll of paper is very easy, you just drop it into the
compartment and guide the end of the strip out of it before closing the
lid. A roll of better quality paper gives about 70 prints. At the moment offers are
10€ for 5 rolls. That makes 3 cents a photo. You can use
thinner cash machine paper, which is less than 10€ for 10 rolls, these
give 100 photos which brings the cost down to 1 cent per photo.
Rolls have to be 57mm wide (a standard), but not more than 30mm in
diameter (a standard as well).
It's a marvellous tool for short notes, reminders and to share
information, even photos. The bundle was only 25€, that's almost
ridiculous for a nice tool which makes fun as well.
