[alynn]

I'm interested in advice about compact printers. I work in an orphanage in Africa & am looking for a printer to take back with me to use with creating academic worksheets for the children. I have a printer which I purchased there, but the amount of ink necessary for so many children is very costly, and buying ink is difficult to do anyway (since I live in a remote location).

I need the printer to be small because it has to fit in my bag with a lot of other supplies which I take over there. I have looked into compact/mobile printers. Most of them cite "thermal printing" in the specifications. This seems like a good idea since it eliminates the need for expensive ink. However, it is extremely hot & humid where I live. Would this affect the ability to use thermal printing? Also, do thermal printers need a specific type of paper (meaning, a type of paper with special chemicals)?

From what I can see from looking, most of these small printers are very expensive. I only need black ink & do not need the print to be high quality - as long as the children can read it, it would be fine. Are there any less expensive ones out there that are small, but not necessarily offering a "high quality" print job?

Any advice or suggestions about particular types of compact printers would be very helpful!