Polaroid... Is Back?! - Polaroid Pogo Review

No, I didn't receive a test unit of this or anything like that.. and I'm usually not an early adopter of new technology. But I did feel enticed to pick up Polaroid's new mini photo printer called the Polaroid Pogo.
I picked it up on July 15 at Best Buy with a retail price of $149.99. I was able to get it cheaper for $134.99 since it was an open unit but decided to return it and just get a new unit [Price difference after exchanging it was less than $20 anyways].

Remember the instand Polaroid cameras that you had to shake the square format? [Actually, you really weren't suppose to shake it.. although it seemed you had to]. Well, ever since Polaroid embraced digital, it's still putting out its flair back into the instant prints.
The printer itself uses NO ink but instead HEAT. That being said, the paper itself, albeit small at 2x3", contains the ink which was produced by a company called Zink [Zero Ink.. get it? yyea ok]. Packs of paper are sold in two quantities: 10 pack for $3.99 and 30 pack for $9.99. I opt for 30 pack since it brings the paper cost from $.39 to about $.33. Oh, and cool thing about each print is that you can peel off the paper in the back and it becomes an instant sticker. I already posted up random pictures at Irving St. in SF after eating at a place there. It's cool to leave a mark.

The printer itself: Black trimmed with silver. One USB port, one button, and two LED lights indicating the power is on and if it's busy.

Close up of the main button, USB port, and LED indicators. Two ways you can print photos: 1) Bluetooth: easily pare up your device, enter the security code: 6-0-0-0, and send it to the printer or 2) Pictbridge: connect your camera view USB and send it to the printer.

The front side of the printer that spits out the little 2x3 photos. Zink logo right on there. Prints come out in about 60 seconds.

The other side of the printer which contains the port to recharge the unit. The battery I assume is replaceable since you can take it out [it's the size of a matchbox]. It's reported you can get 15 photos printed and then the battery dies out. A full charge is about 2 hours.

Printer open to place the paper face up. Each paper pack comes with a blue "index" card that I guess calibrates the printer to print. It says on this blue card [bar codes and all on it] that the printer won't operate unless it's fed into it.

Comes with the recharger but geez.. look at the size of it!

Just a comparison of the power brick and the Pogo Printer.

Size comparison: Pogo printer and my business card. Yep, it's THAT small.

Here are two prints from the first [open boxed] printer I bought. You can see right away the picture of my mom on the top has this weird saturated coloring and on mine, you can see banding on the photo.

But when I did replace the printer, the photos are a bit better. But don't expect perfect flesh tones and accurate colors. Think of this as really the new Polaroid print... unexpected saturated colors with imperfect photos in general. I'd say its imperfections in terms of image quality is aesthetically cool.

So in conclusion, it's a great printer no doubt it. How many times do people print their photos? Not alot. How many times do people print 4x6 or even 5x7s? Not so much... and sure nuff you can't stick em in your wallet or anything.

Yes yes.. I undertand that in this day of age of technology you can just put photos onto your iPhone or leave it in your pocket camera which you prolly keep in your pocket anyways. But to hold a photo in your hand is still cool. This printer brings back the forgotten physical prints which has been replaced with LCD screens and computer monitors.

For me, this unit is worth it because I say I can definitely use this at shoots: after a shoot is done, I'd take a few photos with the person[s], print out a photo and give to them with a business card. They'll remember it, keep it, stick it somewhere. A printed photo never goes to a trash can.