Perhaps it's the nostalgia which keeps Polaroid cameras still relevant in a world where technological advancements have hit all other kind of cameras. Just ask the good ol' point and shoot cameras! There's something about Polaroid cameras - they're chic, have the retro-cool factor and the images make for a good decoration prop in your room.
Let's face it, Polaroid cameras are anything but flawless - you can't control the settings and chances of getting a picture wrong are high. There are bridge cameras and now maybe it's the turn of bridge printers. HP's Sprocket is an instant pocket printer that'll print directly from your smartphone or tablet. But is being portable and good looking enough to convince buyers to purchase this Rs 8,999 printer?
We spent some time with the HP Sprocket and this is what we think;
Design
The HP Sprocket is nothing bigger than a regular external hard drive which makes it remarkably easy to carry around. The device weighs only about 172 grams and is made of polished plastic finish that gives it an elegant look. It comes in three colours: Black, Red and White with bronze lining around the device.
The top front has the HP logo with Sprocket written at the bottom This also doubles as a lid which if slid upwards will open where you can add the 10x15cm sheets. The left side has the power on button, the top rim is home to the microUSB port and two LED indicators while the lower rim is where the printed images come out from.
Fewer buttons and minimalistic design really compliment the Sprocket's attractive look. Although the all-plastic finish body makes it look nice and chic, it is prone to severe scratches and damage if it falls.
Performance
For all those who like using a Polaroid camera and wanted to preview the image, this device is manna from technological heaven. Not only does it give you options to choose from but you can also edit images on a smartphone before taking a print. Setting up Sprocket is as easy it could get as all you need to do is power on the device, activate Bluetooth on your smartphone and pair it with the printer. Once the pairing is done, get into the HP Sprocket app and select where you want to print the picture from Facebook, Instagram, Gallery or Google. After you've selected the image tap on the printer icon at the bottom of the app. It takes about 40 seconds or less to print an image. The device uses ZINK technology which translates to Zero Ink. As the name suggests, this device doesn't require any cartridge. It accommodates 10 sheets at a time which can be refilled once it is all used up.
The best part about the sheets is that not only does it look like images taken on a polaroid, the rear of sheets has adhesives. So, if you want to stick the image somewhere, you can simply peel off the paper. However, when it comes to the image quality, you shouldn't expect bright sharp images. Since there isn't a real cartridge, the colour reproduction is slightly dull and flushes out the actual colours. Still, the images are satisfactory but don't go looking for brilliant images. The price tag - it costs Rs 8,999 - is certainly a downer as it the image quality doesn't really do justice to the price. The device is compatible with Android 4.0 or later and iOS 8.0 or higher devices and comes with 500mAh battery inside.
Verdict
The HP Sprocket checks all the right boxes in terms of design, size and convenience but misses out on delivering great performance. If the device would have a been a little cheaper, then it would have made sense to purchase this instead of a polaroid camera. However, it depends on what you want from this device, if convenience and portability is what you're looking for then go ahead and buy it. If you're just looking to take candid pictures and print them instantly without worrying much about the quality of the image and don't want to spend too much, this isn't the device for you.
We spent some time with the HP Sprocket and this is what we think;
Design
The HP Sprocket is nothing bigger than a regular external hard drive which makes it remarkably easy to carry around. The device weighs only about 172 grams and is made of polished plastic finish that gives it an elegant look. It comes in three colours: Black, Red and White with bronze lining around the device.
The top front has the HP logo with Sprocket written at the bottom This also doubles as a lid which if slid upwards will open where you can add the 10x15cm sheets. The left side has the power on button, the top rim is home to the microUSB port and two LED indicators while the lower rim is where the printed images come out from.
Fewer buttons and minimalistic design really compliment the Sprocket's attractive look. Although the all-plastic finish body makes it look nice and chic, it is prone to severe scratches and damage if it falls.
Performance
For all those who like using a Polaroid camera and wanted to preview the image, this device is manna from technological heaven. Not only does it give you options to choose from but you can also edit images on a smartphone before taking a print. Setting up Sprocket is as easy it could get as all you need to do is power on the device, activate Bluetooth on your smartphone and pair it with the printer. Once the pairing is done, get into the HP Sprocket app and select where you want to print the picture from Facebook, Instagram, Gallery or Google. After you've selected the image tap on the printer icon at the bottom of the app. It takes about 40 seconds or less to print an image. The device uses ZINK technology which translates to Zero Ink. As the name suggests, this device doesn't require any cartridge. It accommodates 10 sheets at a time which can be refilled once it is all used up.
The best part about the sheets is that not only does it look like images taken on a polaroid, the rear of sheets has adhesives. So, if you want to stick the image somewhere, you can simply peel off the paper. However, when it comes to the image quality, you shouldn't expect bright sharp images. Since there isn't a real cartridge, the colour reproduction is slightly dull and flushes out the actual colours. Still, the images are satisfactory but don't go looking for brilliant images. The price tag - it costs Rs 8,999 - is certainly a downer as it the image quality doesn't really do justice to the price. The device is compatible with Android 4.0 or later and iOS 8.0 or higher devices and comes with 500mAh battery inside.
Verdict
The HP Sprocket checks all the right boxes in terms of design, size and convenience but misses out on delivering great performance. If the device would have a been a little cheaper, then it would have made sense to purchase this instead of a polaroid camera. However, it depends on what you want from this device, if convenience and portability is what you're looking for then go ahead and buy it. If you're just looking to take candid pictures and print them instantly without worrying much about the quality of the image and don't want to spend too much, this isn't the device for you.
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