<p>What is the printing policy at umd? (# of free pages allowed, if any etc..) Do most students buy their own printers? If so, what type? Obviously it should be small, but if i decide to go with a smaller laser printer (because they are much more ideal for printing a lot to highlight plus a toner lasts a loooong time), will there be a place that i can print in color (when needed) for either free (up to a certain # of pages per month or w/e) or for a small fee? Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Word of warning; typically, small laser printers are still going to be larger than their inkjet counterparts.</p>
<p>You can print in color at the computer labs or the library for I think 10 cents a page for color. May be more or less, I'm not sure since it's been awhile since I've been in the library. What I would advise you to do is to just ask your roommate (who will more than likely have a printer) if you can print in color.</p>
<p>What type of printer do most people have/ would you recommend?</p>
<p>my roomate and I were talking about whether we needed a printer. We want a scanner on the printer but we will go as small as possible and speed isn't all that big of a deal so cheap as possible as well. I think right now though we have decided that there is no need because someone else in the dorm must have gtten a printer but I don't know how often we'll need it. I mean if it is just once in a while then i don't think we will get one.</p>
<p>depending on using someone else's printer in your dorm doesnt sound like a good/fair idea to me... idk depending on circumstances but i probably wouldnt be keen on someone coming into my dorm room and using my printer, especially if i had an inkjet (ink = expensiveee). it's just not really fair to be using something that someone else spent money on and is spending money on to upkeep (buying ink). (unless you made an exchange or something) just something to ponder...</p>
<p>yeah, you're right, fair is fair.</p>
<p>kurplunk,</p>
<p>Then if they have any lengthy documents, let them use your laser printer.</p>
<p>i didnt mean to come off as obnoxious or offensive or anything :( but like if someone is just gonna depend on my printer why couldnt i not buy a pritner and depend on someone elses... it's just a vicious cycle</p>
<p>seriously though, any specific model recommendations?</p>
<p>Do we actually need a printer? I don't plan on bringing one, and I just will print what I need at a computer lab or something.</p>
<p>If you want an all in one - I've had an HP Photosmart 2610xi for about a year. It is an inkjet printer, copier, scanner - black and white or color. It has handled everything I have thrown at it - including using software that came with it to scan a few pages of library books and convert to text - when I was doing a very long research paper and needed to get my quotes exactly right. After I scanned, I edited the pages with the citations and then I just cut and pasted the text right into my paper - citation and all. Made life a lot easier. Its also great with digital pics - it has card reader slots built in and the software uploads to my computer and prints with very nice quality.</p>
<p>The cartridges are pretty expensive - but I buy the largest capacity ones I can find and I am careful to use grayscale and draft printing whenever possible when I don't need color. </p>
<p>My Mom liked it so much that she ordered one to use in her office. If you have a large volume of printing this is not your printer - but for school work and pics - it has been great. </p>
<p>We helped my cousin pick one to take to college last year and she got a similar model. Unfortunately, her roommate fell in love with it and used it a lot too - instead of her own new B&W model - so being stingy with your ink cartridges may be necessary - she finally had to password her computer to keep others off - which I think is a good idea anyway.</p>
<p>GGT</p>
<p>Let's see, I have an HP Deskjet 5740. I have used it only sparingly because the cartridges are expensive and I have a laptop so I don't feel like plugging it in and all, but it does what it does well. I got it for free when I got my laptop, so of course it was a good deal.</p>
<p>I just remotely use my parents' printer downstairs when I need to print anything really because the cartridges are mad cheap. I'd like to have an all-in-one though, so go with GGT's.</p>
<p>see i like the scanner on the printer I got with my computer a few months ago. I have been scanning stuff and saving it on my computer and it has come in handy quite a bit.</p>
<p>kurplunk,</p>
<p>How much money are you looking at spending?</p>
<p>For home use, check out the Laser mentioned in this thread:
<a href="http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=261172&highlight=laser+printer%5B/url%5D">http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=261172&highlight=laser+printer</a></p>
<p>It's $100 up-front, with a $50 MIR.</p>
<p>For those of you commenting on expensive cartridges:
Are you buying the manufacturer produced cartridges, or refills/replacements/OEMs? OEMs tend to be considerably cheaper and of very good quality if you buy them from a reputable vendor. For example, check out 123inkjeys.com. They typically have 20-30% coupons floating around also.</p>
<p>i have a dell all-in-one something...it came free with my computer 2 years ago. it prints, scans, and copies. the color printing is a little messed up but all i really do is print papers on it, so that's no big deal.</p>
<p>you really SHOULD get a printer. most people have one. unless you and your roommate are planning on sharing, i wouldn't count on being able to always share with someone. personally, i'd be ****ed by the end of the semester if people in my hall didn't buy printers and wanted to use mine all the time.</p>
<p>****ed should read p!ssed, just to clarify</p>