<p>What do most mids do for a printer? Do they share one per room? Or each of them get their own? We are assuming it has to be networkable. Any preference for brand?</p>
<p>Mids have access to a printer somewhere (library?) but your mid may want one in the room (either shared w/ roommates to conserve space or not). A good plan is to wait 'til plebe parents weekend and buy one @ the Mid store where it'll be a great price, and you'll be assured it works w/ the USNA system and your Mid can always get toner. Plebes don't need a printer 'til the academic year begins (after PPW).</p>
<p>We don't plan to get one before PPW. No way I want to carry it from California. Just curious what most mids do.</p>
<p>Each company has a central printer, but I wouldn't rely on it too much. Sometimes the toner runs out at night and it can't be replaced until the next business day. Each company is suppose to get new printers, but this might not happen yet and the old ones are subject to breaking down. In this event, you could ask a companymate to use theirs.</p>
<p>My opinion: I'd invest in an individual printer.</p>
<p>You can buy them at the mid store. Everybody I knew had their own printer. The amount of material you print out requires one. As a plebe you dont want to be outside your room when you dont have to be and going to the printer to get something just draws more attention to you.</p>
<p>my mid has one printer in his room to share. one bought the printer and the others share the cost of ink and paper. they waited to buy the printer until AFTER PPW so that they didn't have to move the printer. they also waited until rooms were assigned so they didn't end up with 3 printers.</p>
<p>BTW - if it looks like they are running out of them at PPW, don't panic. We saw them brining them in by the pallet load all during the weekend last year.</p>
<p>Your plebe will not need a printer until after PPW. Buy the printer at the Midstore. Last year they were a nice HP color inkjet. Reasons to buy at the Midstore: Price was as good or better than any place else, warranty is handled by Midstore if the unit fails, Ink supplies are at Midstore, and lastly your plebe can not get off the yard to deal with printer issues easily.</p>
<p>Roomates come and go and if a roomate selection does not go well, sharing that printer can be an issue. Get your own is my reccomendation.</p>
<p>Another Option-</p>
<p>Midstore gift certificates to cover the cost of printer, paper, cartridges. Lines were ridiculously long to get one and we chose to not waste precious time standing and waiting. Especially since our son wanted as much time off the Yard as possible! As Kathie mentioned above, another plus, they only have to move it once. And when they go to the Midstore later on, it's just a quick stop without throngs of people.</p>
<p>Best of Luck to All the Plebes-2-Be and their families.</p>
<p>Or, just buy a laser printer w/ an extra cartridge. We bought a Multi-Function device that included a laser/copier/fax at big box retailer at PPW. Son has not had to buy a cartridge in three years. No line, no fuss, no muss.</p>