Eensy PrintBrush printer almost here--for real

It's been a long time coming, but British company PrintDreams reckons it's ready to unveil what it calls the world's smallest printer: the PrintBrush.

The PrintBrush will print to A4 size, in black and white, at up to 600dpi resolution. As you can see from the video, you sweep it across the paper by hand, which means you can print on notebooks, greetings cards, boxes, sleeping midgets, and other things that won't quite fit into a traditional printer no matter how much you maneuver them. It's also supposed to be silent, so you can use it to print in meetings, recording sessions, and funerals. And all this in a package weighing just about 8.8 ounces.

That's even smaller than the Polaroid Two, but we'll let that go seeing as the Polaroid is a camera as well. The PrintBrush connects directly to computers and other devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or infrared.

It's expected to cost around $200. The concept first appeared in 2003, which is about a million years in tech years (we weren't even born in 2003), and comes close to qualifying for our list of vaporware. But now PrintDreams reckons we'll see the PrintBrush by the end of 2009, for realsies this time.

Or maybe early 2010. No rush.

(Source: Crave UK)

[NYTechie]

Amazing!!

[broken_symlink]

Sleeping midgets, and funerals? come on. lets get serious.

[NickScalan]

Yes, I am a 4'4" achondroplastic dwaf and I am ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED by CNET UK's and Rich Trenholm's flagrant disregard for respect of little people by using the term "midget" and suggesting such a vile act against anyone, regardless of their ability or disability. The term "midget" is a term that has been deemed by dwarfism support groups as a derogatory pejorative. I am very disappointed that the editors at CBS Interactive allowed something like this to be posted on one of their media properties.

Richard "Nick" Scalan
Leander, TX
[e-mail]

[goatfinder]

i mean, not to sound insensitive, but really? Is the fact that he used the word midget or suggested this printer could print on one that 'vile' of an act? Really?? And you're saying that 'midget' is a derogatory word "deemed by dwarfism support groups"? SO if he would have used the word 'dwarf' in the original post, would you still be this upset?

Again, Im not trying to sound insensitive to your cause, but people take these blogs way to serious. I dont think his intention on mentioning midgets was meant to be derogatory (since you have deemed it) to you or any other little people. Wait, is 'little people' ok?

[jskrenes]

I'd have to agree with Nick. The use of the word 'midget' adds nothing to the article. If you wanted to do a tongue-in-cheek joke, you could have substituted 'your drunk college friend's forehead' instead.

Let's keep the use of the word 'midget' where it belongs: Kid Rock concerts and Adam Sandler movies and other entertainers so we can easily recognize how stupid those people are.

[goatfinder]

Yes, I am a frequently drunk college friend and I am ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED by CNET UK's and Jskrenes' flagrant disregard for respect of intoxicated people by using the term "drunk college friend" and suggesting such a vile act against anyone's forehead, regardless of their ability or disability. The term "drunk college friend" is a term that has been deemed by alchoholic support groups as a derogatory pejorative. I am very disappointed that the editors at CBS Interactive allowed something like this to be posted on one of their media properties.

Drunk Guy/Girl
AmericaHasGottenWayTooSensitive, USA
[e-mail]

[beeroge1020]

Are you serious NickScalan? This article is obviously not condoning the use of this product on midgets. If you're offended by his use of the word midget go somewhere else. He wasn't using midget in any derogatory way. People like you are the reason everything is being censored and we're loosing our freedom of speech.

[b_baggins]

Grow up.

[jskrenes]

In all seriousness, I DO agree with Nick. Since I have no personal experience with dwarfism, had I not known, I would had just as easily used the word 'midget' myself. But if the technical term is dwarfism and midget is derogatory, I don't think it's too much to ask to change the words I use.

[grengar]

When did the right to be offended turn into a requirement?

[beeroge1020]

I agree people are getting ridiculous with the "that's racist, or offensive" bull. They need to learn to take things lightly when they're obviously conveyed that way. I think it's just that people like trolling and getting attention.

[supershort1]

Would everyone be offended if when talking about black ink for the printer the term ****** was used?

[supershort1]

In the article if the writer used the n-word instead of referring to black ink wouldn't people find that offensive?

[thetruthisugly]

Goatfinder..I totally agree with you. And your posting is pretty hilarious I must had. I think people just need to chill out. Im a white guy and I dont get in a tiffy everytime I hear the word 'cracker'. No using 'Midget' in the article wasn't necessary, but come on, write and complain to your congressman about something more important, maybe how Obama has no idea what he's doing..and no its not because he's black. Relax America!!

[james.grimes]

NickScalan, words only have power if given that power. You, and dwarf support groups, have given the word midget a lot of power. The word midget is not darogratory either. There are some seriously darogratory words in the vernacular, though, given that power by white people doing what they could to keep black people down, psychologically.

[cbaisa]

i would like to talk about how great this device seems. i would like nothing better than to finish and print off homework in class. my only question relates to how accurate the device will be. will it make straight lines even when my hand slips?

[omartinez78]

Get a life, midget.

[Ollie777]

Get a life nerd. Come out from behind your computer screen an call my daughter that. She has dwarfism. I would knock the living crap out of you if you said that to her.

[swingingadam]

I LOVE MIDGETS, Come on people its a joke, its not like he went out last night to compete in midget bowling.

[00Spyder]

I could have sworn this article was about the worlds smallest printer, which I think is really cool. But I can see this being used to print things in places that shouldn't be printed, kind of like a high-tech graffiti applicator. I assume it runs off batteries?

[paintedangel]

I showed this to my very best bud ( a little person) and he snorted loudly and said to tell you to go copulate with a goat. I think he meant it! He also said that if I DID NOT refer to him by his self chosen title "MAGNIFICENT MIDGET MAN, that he would punch me in the scrotum. I think he meant that also!
Lighten up and stop all the Polotical Crrect bullcrap...it has gone WAY too far.
(damn trouble makin midgets!)

[Ollie777]

I am the father of a daughter with dwarfism. If any of the idiots on this list reacting to Nick's comment had this in their family, I think their world perspective would change. I think the blogger was being ignorant (rather than insensitive) in his attempts at humor, but the reaction to Nick is downright disgusting. Cries of "quit being PC" are the cries of morons who want to defend hate speech. People who say "Get a life, Midget" are like flies on a pile of $hit. If any of you stupid nerds came out from behind your computer screens, and called my daughter a midget, I would pummel you into dust. She is a beautiful, young, intelligent woman, and not an object of ridicule. Show some class, and show some respect for people with physical challenges.

[DeborahAP]

I agree with Nick, too. We ALL have to admit that we become sensitive when we've heard a slur against us one too many times. No one should make a joke, as this blogger has, at the expense of others. Where's the brotherly love?