<p>There seems to be conflicting views as to whether or not a student needs to bring a printer for use in their dorm room.</p>
<p>What do you experienced 'Noles think?</p>
<p>Yes. No questions asked. A laser printer as well, not any of that inkjet crap. </p>
<p>Laser printers can be had for the same price (or cheaper) than their inkjet counterparts, print more pages per toner cartridge than an inkjet, and is often cheaper to replace.</p>
<p>I got a Brother HL2140 last year from Staples for $30, and have printed around 1700 pages since then. I got a replacement toner for it from mwave.com for $15, and it’s been one of my best investments for college. Granted, it only prints black and white, so the one assignment I’ve had that “required” color (and even then it really didn’t necessarily require it) I just printed at the computer lab in the Student Union.</p>
<p>We have cheap printers at home. And pay out the nose for ink. I broke down and bought D1 a B&W laser printer when she went off to FSU. It was under $70, is small/compact. She had a major that would require lots and lots of writing, and running out of ink and paying the price both in inconvenience and cost would be huge. The “starter” toner cartridge lasted her ENTIRE FRESHMAN year, Gordon Rule classes and all,and when we replaced it with a full toner cartridge it is still going strong and she will be a senior. </p>
<p>I think they need a printer. Otherwise they are trying to email a roommate or suitemate to print, or going to the library at all hours. And printing charges for the library or computer labs add up. For the rare project she needs color, she goes to the library or whatnot and plans ahead. Her printer will easily last her through grad school. And if they move off campus, they need a printer even more.</p>
<p>YES! DEFINATELY!</p>
<p>Like what the Pasbal and FSUDAD said, get a laser printer. I have one that I purchased 2 months before going to FSU, and used it before I moved it. I shared it with my roommate, who constantly copy and printed music sheets, it lasted us until the later half of the spring semester. Mind you it was the starter toner.</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you for your input. You have convinced me to not only get one but to also go the laser route.</p>
<p>[Brother®</a> Refurbished HL-2140 Laser Printer | Staples®](<a href=“http://www.staples.com/Brother-Refurbished-HL-2140-Laser-Printer/product_792930]Brother®”>http://www.staples.com/Brother-Refurbished-HL-2140-Laser-Printer/product_792930)
That’s the one I bought last August (for $20 cheaper NEW). Brother replaced this one a few months ago with a newer model though: [Amazon.com:</a> Brother HL-2240 Mono Laser Printer: Electronics](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-2240-Mono-Laser-Printer/dp/B00450DULW]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-2240-Mono-Laser-Printer/dp/B00450DULW)</p>
<p>Also, I know that places like Staples run promotions all the time where you can trade in printers and get a certain amount off of a new printer. Right now their special is “trade in any printer and get $50 off a select HP printer” but I believe that all of the printers included in that cost a pretty penny. </p>
<p>I suggest keeping an eye on the laser printers that get put on sale at sites like Newegg.com. It’s pretty often that they have a good laser printer on sale at a good price.</p>
<p>I was actually able to get the same model color laser printer as the fsu computer store was offerring but I bought a refurb model off overstock.com. worked fine for my son.</p>
<p>The B&W laser printer the FSU computer store sells is like $65 and a good one. I think that one (older model) is what we found for less one day at Office Max. I had seen it at the computer store during orientation, and found it on sale by accident.</p>
<p>OfficeMax currently has the Brother HL-2240 for $59.99 with free shipping.</p>
<p>A semi-related question:</p>
<p>DS enters FSU with his Gordon Rule requirements satisfied through high school AP courses. His fall semester courses are-</p>
<p>Principles of Microeconomics, General Biology for Non-Majors + Lab, Micro Applications for Business, Fundamental Business Statistics, and University Honors Colloquium.</p>
<p>How much writing should he expect from those courses?</p>
<p>FYI- The FSU computer store has the Samsung ML-2525 b/w laser printer for $64.99. Officemax has the same model right now for $49.99.</p>
<p>Your son shouldn’t have to do too many papers with the courses you listed. I use a b/w laser printer too (small HP). I like the printer for printing things like articles from academic journals which I use for doing research papers. Each article might be 20 pages and the print job can add up–using an ink jet isn’t practical for doing much more than printing a few pages once in a while. An ink jet is okay, but if printing lots of stuff–the laser printer makes more sense.</p>
<p>With those courses he will not have to do much writting but as soon as he has to hit those gorden rule classes it is a minium of 3000 words</p>
<p>^^ I am almost certain that all of his Gordon Rule requirements have been satisfied through AP exams. On the ‘My UG Graduation Check’ page in Blackboard it shows the status as OK with no requirements remaining.</p>
<p>Though I could be wrong.</p>
<p>I have an inkjet printer. Include me in the crowd that says definitely yes, and get a laser printer.</p>
<p>Inkjets run out of ink way too fast, and laser prints nicer and faster anyways.</p>
<p>Gordon Rule or not, a printer in the room is worth the money. And a laser B&W for $50 is an inexpensive investment.</p>
<p>It’s not always a Gordon Rule class that will require lots of printing. Sure, you’ll write a lot, but some classes you might have to print pages and pages of notes each week. </p>
<p>The only suggestion I have is to research any potential laser printers. Some have generic toner readily available (for example, the Brother one I have does) while others don’t. Considering that toner is extremely expensive when you buy OEM, if you only have that option, you’re going to be overpaying for it the entire time you have the printer. </p>
<p>Based on recent years’ sales ads, I can almost guarantee that either Staples, Office Depot, or Office Max (or all 3) will have about their entire printer selection on sale sometime between now and the start of classes.</p>
<p>If anyone is interested in the Brother printer I was talking about, [Staples has the Brother HL-2240 B&W laser printer for $59.99 this week](<a href=“http://www.staples.com/Brother-HL-2240-Mono-Laser-Printer/product_886402”>http://www.staples.com/Brother-HL-2240-Mono-Laser-Printer/product_886402</a>).
Compatible toner [runs about $20.](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Brother-TN450-Premium-Compatible-Cartridge/dp/B004LO3SQO”>http://www.amazon.com/Brother-TN450-Premium-Compatible-Cartridge/dp/B004LO3SQO</a>)</p>
<p>Office Max has a [Samsung</a> ML-1865W wireless B&W laser printer for $49.99](<a href=“http://www.officemax.com/catalog/sku.jsp?productId=prod3420040&cm_sp=spb-_-laser-_-save70dol]Samsung”>http://www.officemax.com/catalog/sku.jsp?productId=prod3420040&cm_sp=spb-_-laser-_-save70dol).
Compatible toner though isn’t as cheap (about $30 or so is the cheapest I could find).</p>
<p>I hope this helps anyone looking for a decent dorm room printer. Like I said above, I have the Brother HL-2140 printer (the older version of the first printer), and I absolutely love it.</p>
<p>Yes. No-brainer for me. My printer has been my lifeline.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info Pasbal! I just bought the Brother HL-2240 from Staples. Do most FSU professors ask for printed copies of homework rather than electronic submissions?</p>
<p>Are wireless printers allowed in dorms? I know we aren’t supposed to use wireless routers in dorms.</p>