and kinds of portable devices 24 the removable connectability is provided by adapters representing facilities that adapt the portable device to be mechanically and electrically attached to the printer engine 10 the adapters 24 may differ for each kind type or model of portable device 24 to be connected but are common to the printer the adapter 20 may represent separate sleds or clips and are unique to each model type or kind of portable device 24 each portable device adapter 24 contains terminal specific connectors and geometry so that it can mount by either attaching to the top bottom or back surface of the portable device which is to be attached in operating relationship with the printer in addition the adapter 20 contains the mating electrical connector s 27 to connector 2 18 of the common print engine 10 a multitude of adapters are provided all having the same docking feature such as extending key members 26 for releasable attachment to features such as into slots 37 of the common printer engine 10 the adapter 20 can also include various electronics such that the common printer engine software can automatically determine which portable device 24 is attached depending on the type of adapter that is attached different printer driver software can be enabled the portable device adapter 20 can be oriented to the common print engine 10 such that the paper exits from the bottom top left or right surface relative to the portable device 24 from the foregoing description it will be apparent that there has been provided a universal clip on portable printer having adapters enabling the printer to be attached for operation with different portable devices variations and modifications in the herein described portable printer in.