I’m going to Texas Tech this fall and I’d like my own printer.
Does anyone currently own one they’re in love with?
Also, it would be best if I can lock it so my roommate can’t use it
and the price doesn’t matter as well.
I’m a Chem major and I bet I’d have to write up a ton of lab papers and I’d rather not run to print them in the morning…
Sometimes it is good to share a printer with your roommate and switch off who pays for ink/paper.
Things I look at is
“how easy is it to load paper” given where you will put your printer.
How easy is it for you to get new ink cartridges locally
I would look for one with a small footprint since you probably don’t have much space. Why not ask your roommate if he/she would like to share the cost of the printer in terms of paper and ink rather than locking it up? So many things seem to be turned in electronically now you might not need to print as much as your thinking.
My son got the Canon TS9020 in 2017. It cost more than some others, but he chose it because it scans and makes copies as well. He likes it because it is faster and has a larger capacity than some smaller cheaper ones. Some of his professors require paper submissions of assignments.
My kids thought having a scan/copy function was helpful so we got the most compact printer that has those functions (as well as printing of course). My S got a HP, my D got a Canon – both were fine. Neither kid considered locking up the printer. Depending on the roommate they would share or not share their printer (when they shared the roommate replaced the ink) but it was never an issue.
You may not need a printer, my daughter turns in all of her work electronically.
^Yeah, my daughter didn’t take her printer back her sophomore year.
As others have mentioned, I use the scanner on my bf’s and my printer more than the printer (it’s been out of ink for over a year now). Most work is submitted electronically so if you do things by hand it’s nice to have the scanner. Your school’s library likely has a place for printing for a small fee; maybe try that out for a year and see how much you spend on printing, then weigh it against the cost of a printer, paper, and constantly replacing cartridges.
My D’s school includes a certain number of “free” pages per semester at the public printers. There are printers everywhere including in each dorm. She has never hit her limit. As others have said, papers are usually submitted electronically.
Son took an inexpensive laser printer (b&w only) and a new toner cartridge. He and his room mate split the cost of a box of paper. They let their whole floor use it. It wasn’t used often, but when it was it was very appreciated. He’ll take it back again next year.
If you don’t need color, I second the recommendation for a laser printer I have had good luck with the Brother brand.
Check with TTU’s housing policy. My dd’s school only allows wired printers - no wireless printers allowed. Good luck!
I would not get a printer until you are sure that you will need one. Many campuses have printers with a certain amount of free prints and many courses do not even require print outs as everything is submitted online. With the cost of ink and the printer itself, I think it is best to just wait - if you do need one, just order it on Amazon in October/November (or better yet - add it to a Christmas list).
Unless you are taking classes with many projects (like design or advertising) you might want to not take a printer initially and see if you will even need one. Not certain about Texas Tech (just assuming since they are into ‘tech’) but most colleges have multiple places that you can print on campus at a minimal cost. My daughter has printers in her dorm (actually I think every dorm has at least one, her dorm is large and has like 3-4), in the dining hall near her dorm there are a few, at all of the libraries on campus (I think there are like 6-7), at the student center… there are printers literally everywhere. And most of her assignments were turned in on line anyway (especially papers) so she didn’t need one at all… I think she printed about 6 things each semester and those were research articles that she could have just looked at on line but she wanted a physical copy as she was writing.
My son waited to get one until he saw if he needed it. He found out that the one on his floor (scanner and printer) was all he needed. In his frat house there are a few printers for them to use in the library/quiet study rooms and he still hasn’t needed one. None of his friends that went to Tech (there are about 4 of them) needed one. I’d find one you like and if he needs it Amazon it to him or run out and get it.
Both of my D’s brought small Brother laser printers with them and they used them often. At both schools, they could not use the wireless function (in dorms) so we just bought one that was not wireless for my 2nd. Theirs are only printers - largely b/c of footprint and, less so, price. With phone scan programs, not having scan has been less of an issue and neither had significant needs to copy (could scan and print as an alternative). We sent each with a ream or 2 of paper and replacement toner so both could allow others to use without worry of depleting supplies. They both found them hugely helpful.
Check with the college to see if a wireless printer will be allowed to be used with the college wifi.
At my S’s school (wireless) printers have to be used with a printer cable only, and game systems and computers have to use Ethernet port.