Hewlett-Packard, which is trying multiple ways to get people to keep printing things instead of just posting them online, will roll out something truly novel this fall: a printer that doesn’t need a computer.
The high-end HP Photosmart Premium will sell for about $399 and has its own 4.33-inch touch screen, allowing consumers to select pages to print from a limited number of providers.
The initial partners include Google maps, online ticket seller Fandango and Coupons Inc. HP said that it expects others to develop applications as well.
Kodak and Polaroid both offer small printers that work directly with their digital cameras, but the HP machine is open to a broader range of content.
It’s hard to imagine that there are a large number of households that have no computers but want a printer. Instead, HP is aiming at families and busy early adopters who don’t want to wait for their PCs to boot up.
Some business printers have offered connectivity before, but their prices have been in the thousands of dollars.
HP intends to add to the line in the future. “This is the beginning of a whole new platform for us,” said spokeswoman Cherie Britt.
