<p>I'm in wharton next year. Is it a good investment to buy a printer or am I better off paying $0.08 per page through the school? Thanks for your input.</p>
<p>Freshman year I had my own printer. It took forever to print and was a hassle. I didn't print out 20-30 page readings becuase of it, probably hurting my grades.</p>
<p>I now use penncash and penn printers. It is quicker and more reliable, and probably only slight more expensive. I just print in my dorm's computer lab.</p>
<p>There are also free printing options (LGBT center, Weiss tech house).</p>
<p>printing at penn sucks horribly in every way.</p>
<p>Wharton gives you an account with $5 or so on it to print in the Huntsman printers, which is good in a jam but when that runs out it's a pain to refill it. SEAS has free printing but not from the unix machines and only when their equipment works.</p>
<p>The houses and library have printers that use Penncash which is usually the best option but the house computer labs are never open at the right time.</p>
<p>The free printing places have strict limits, crowds, and are open at weird times or are in awkward places.</p>
<p>Having your own printer is nice but it takes up space, needs paper and ink, and always seems to run out when you really need it. </p>
<p>It wasn't until I found a job where I get free (high volume color) printing and copying that I was satisfied. This is one area I wish Penn would just straighten up and offer free printing (or free up to a weekly quota or something)</p>
<p>I'd suggest getting a printer and a good stock of ink for it. They're SO cheap now, and it's so much more convenient. Maybe coordinate with a roommate and share it</p>
<p>The inkjet printers are cheap, but the ink cartridges are EXPENSIVE. It's like the razor companies. Give away the razor kit and make money on the blades.</p>
<p>It is almost at the point where it is cheaper to buy a new printer than to buy replacement ink. Actually when Penn's Computer Connection had a special $30 printer deal, it literally was cheaper to get the printer than new inkjet cartridges. </p>
<p>UPHS (the penn health system) has actually banned the purchase of inkjets for that reason.</p>
<p>If you're going to get a printer, at least invest in a laser one.</p>