You need your printer to print, but do you need it to access* the Internet? HP and Lexmark are hoping you’ll think so, as they launch more and more of their printers into the cloud.

    Through Web-connected printers you can access maps, games, and coupons*, or add functions such as sending print jobs via e-mail, viewing Facebook or Twitter updates, or uploading data to services such as Evernote.

    These new capabilities are interesting, but are they worth buying a new printer for? Here are some tips on the latest models:

    Lexmark Genesis: Silent but trendy

    The Lexmark Genesis inkjet multifunction would be cool even without Web apps*, thanks to its superfast, whisper-quiet, camera-based scanner. But it also offers Lexmark’s SmartSolutions, a collection of programmable, downloadable apps. In addition to automating specific print, copy, or scan tasks, the apps can reach out to the cloud, scanning photos or documents and uploading them directly to Evernote or Picasa accounts, or displaying data from sites such as Facebook, Google Analytics, or Twitter on the unit’s 4.3-inch color LCD screen.

    HP PhotoSmart eStation: Print anything from anywhere

    Like the Lexmark Genesis, the HP PhotoSmart eStation inkjet multifunction offers an attention-grabbing twist: The control panel is actually a 7-inch removable touchscreen called the Zeen, which runs the Android 2.1 operating system and has some tablet functions, acting as an e-reader for the Barnes & Noble eBookstore and browsing the Web. It also gives you lots of screen real estate for amassing apps directly from HP’s ePrintCenter catalog.

    HP’s app store offers more consumer-oriented options than Lexmark’s collection does. HP has partnered with Disney and DreamWorks to offer printable games, posters, and puzzles featuring their characters. MSNBC and Yahoo provide news feeds, while Bing, Google, and MapQuest compete to satisfy your mapping needs. HP regularly updates the app library with new Web-centric stuff, such as Facebook and LeapFrog games. Not surprisingly, nearly every app has a built-in print function.

    Conclusion: Convenient, but still a luxury for now

    Do you need a Web-connected printer? The short answer is no, because the only thing you really need a printer to do is print. The longer, more complicated* answer is that you might find cloud-based printing handy, depending on your requirements. Web apps on a printer aren’t just a gimmick*: They’re handy tools to tailor a printer to your needs, and they work well. Moreover, connecting your printer to the cloud gets rid of the troubles such as updating drivers or trying to print documents from random* places and devices. Owning one of the first Web-connected printers is a luxury, but regular updates and expanding app stores make the printers more useful with each passing day.(SD-Agencies)