The Printer Plus Dock Series 3 is compatible with Kodak EasyShare One, C series, V series, Z series, Picture Viewer and LS755 and the older CX/DX 6000/7000, LS 633/743/753 cameras with the included D-26 adapter. It can be used with or without a computer. It's small, lightweight and very portable and PictBridge and ImageLink compatible so it also works with any digital camera that supports these new USB-direct printing standard.

Out of the box it works wirelessly with BlueTooth devices that support OPP (Object Push) and FTP (File Transfer) profiles only. It is also equipped with an IrDA infrared receiver port for use with PDAs and wireless telephones. If you insert an optional Kodak WiFi card the printer can be used wirelessly with the Kodak EASYSHARE-ONE camera or an existing 802.11b compatible wireless network.

The Printer Dock can be used like any other photo printer when attached to your Windows (98, 98SE, 2000, Millenium Edition, XP) or Macintosh OS 10.2 or higher computer via its USB interface. And it can be connected to your TV set for slideshow presentations and controlled by the optional remote control.

The Printer Dock can print 4 selectable sizes ranging from full photo -- 4"x6", 3"x4" credit card size with borders to multiple 2"x3" wallets and 1.3"x2" mini photos. You can also print directly from most popular memory cards using the optional KODAK 8-in-1 USB Card Reader.

A thermal printhead uses heat to transfer ink dyes from a mylar sheet and fuses them in the paper. This is a subtractive color process, the color dyes are transparent and can be placed on top of each other to create up to 16 million colors and produces a picture the equal of conventional photo prints.

You select the picture by pressing Right or Left on the center controller and print the picture displayed on the LCD by pressing the large center button. The button on the left lets you select the printing mode (full photo -- 4"x6", 3"x4" credit card size with borders to multiple 2"x3" wallets and 1.3"x2" mini photos). The Cancel button stops the print. Press the Bluetooth button to enable/disable the internal radio receiver. Red Eye Reduction is used when printing without a computer, press it before the Print button to remove red eye in your pictures. The Slideshow button begins automated playback when connected to a TV set. The Transfer button works with the Kodak EasyShare Software when connected to a computer to automate image and movie downloads.

The indicators across the top warn if the paper is out, show the level of charge in the camera battery and tell you when it is time to replace the ribbon cartridge.

The PH-40 print packs contain the ribbon cartridge and two packs of printing paper with 20 sheets in each pack. The ribbon is good for all 40 prints, separating the paper into two packages helps keep it fresher.

The street price is $24.99 so the "per print" cost is approximately $0.62 each.

If you print more then check out the PH-80 print pack for $39.99 it will make 80 prints ($0.50 each). Or for even greater savings buy the PH-160 print pack for $46.99 it will make 160 prints ($0.29 each).

To make "perfect" 4x6-inch borderless prints you need to use your camera's Best (3:2) quality mode. This 3:2 aspect ratio yields an image that fits perfectly on the 4x6-inch size paper with no cropping -- the entire image is printed.

When making 4x6" prints from non-3:2 quality images you will lose a little bit of the top and bottom of your image.

On the side is the Video Out port for connection to a TV set, the USB port for connecting to PictBridge or ImageLink compatible printers and the card slot for the optional Kodak WiFi card.

Printing process

Thermal dye transfer

Operating environment (for optimum picture quality)

Temperature: 50 to 95 °F (10 to 35 °C)

Humidity: 10% to 86% RH

Power (via AC power adapter)

Output: 24 V DC

Input: 100 V to 240V AC @ 50/60 Hz

Consumption while printing: 60 watts maximum

Print speed

Via computer: 60 seconds

Standalone: 65 seconds

Size

Without paper tray: 5.28 x 7.40 x 3.27 in. (13.4 x 18.8 x 8.3 cm)

With paper tray: 12.17 x 7.40 x 3.27 in. (30.9 x 18.8 x 8.3 cm)

Weight

Without paper tray: 33.5 oz (950 g)

With paper tray: 38.4 oz (1090 g)

Print size

4 x 6 in. (10.2 x 15.2 cm)

Paper size with perforated tabs

4 x 7.25 in. (10.2 x 18.4 cm)

Picture resolution

300 ppi, continuous tone

Communication with computer

USB 2.0 full speed (PIMA 15740 protocol), via model U-5A USB cable (catalog number 8650988)

IEEE802.11b (Wi-Fi), via Kodak Wi-Fi card

Wireless capability

Format: IEEE802.11b (Wi-Fi), RCR STD-33, ARIB STD-T66

Speed: 1/2/5.5/11Mbps (auto-detect)

Frequency range: 2412-2462 MHz (1 - 11 channel ISM band)

Access modes: Infrastructure, Ad Hoc

Security: 128 (104), 64 (40) bit WEP

Video output

Via Kodak audio/video cable (catalog number 1983881)