Worth it to buy a printer? Forum

[zarzamora]

I just found out my school has a program where you can pay $60 a year and print 3000 pages (or $40 for 1500) at the law school. About how much do you guys print in a given year? If you don't have a printer at home, do you find it inconvenient to have to go to the law school to print? Do y'all think this program is worth it, or is it worth it to just by my own? Thanks!

[ek5dn]

I just found out my school has a program where you can pay $60 a year and print 3000 pages (or $40 for 1500) at the law school. About how much do you guys print in a given year? If you don't have a printer at home, do you find it inconvenient to have to go to the law school to print? Do y'all think this program is worth it, or is it worth it to just by my own? Thanks!

You don't get a printing stipend? Weird...

Anyway, I don't think it's worth it. Even with a stipend, I got my own printer for convenience (ie, studying late at night at home, or finishing up a paper)

But maybe you're someone who's on campus a lot at the library and this makes sense for you

[White Dwarf]

I'd do both, honestly. $60 for 3000 pages isn't a bad deal, and if you scan and print textbooks at the library, you'll come out way ahead.

It's hard to predict how many you'll need. I've had professors post a couple hundred pages worth of additional materials that have to be printed, and some that don't post any. If you figure 600-800 pages of reading for the average class + outlines/review materials/etc., you'll probably exceed 3,000.

For home use, just wait for a basic $30 black-and-white one to pop up on Slickdeals. You don't need anything fancy.

[zarzamora]

Thanks for the advice! I'll probably try to find a cheapish one I can keep at home, just for the sake of convenience.

[z0mbiecatz1234]

I would take advantage of the school's printing. I used a lot of money on paper and ink with my printer, so I ended up printing at school whenever possible anyway. I bought 5 packs of 100 sheets each and after 1L year, I am left with one. I definitely printed a few hundred at school too. Printing from home is nice and convenient for when you want to print something shorter like a writing assignment. Printing from school is better for larger documents in my opinion.

[heythatslife]

If you buy third-party toners and paper in bulk as opposed to 100-500 sheets at a time, home printing really isn't that expensive.

[malleus discentium]

Thanks for the advice! I'll probably try to find a cheapish one I can keep at home, just for the sake of convenience.

I think you should buy a nice printer or none at all--it's worse to have an unreliable printer than to always have to trek to the law school to print things. You will probably get enough use out of it over three years to justify the cost.

[zarzamora]

Thanks for the advice! I'll probably try to find a cheapish one I can keep at home, just for the sake of convenience.

I think you should buy a nice printer or none at all--it's worse to have an unreliable printer than to always have to trek to the law school to print things. You will probably get enough use out of it over three years to justify the cost.

Ooh good point. Any specific ones or brands that y'all would recommend?

[cavalier1138]

Thanks for the advice! I'll probably try to find a cheapish one I can keep at home, just for the sake of convenience.

I think you should buy a nice printer or none at all--it's worse to have an unreliable printer than to always have to trek to the law school to print things. You will probably get enough use out of it over three years to justify the cost.

Ooh good point. Any specific ones or brands that y'all would recommend?

I can't speak to the quality of their laser printers, specifically, but Brother has always been my go-to company for printing. It can be slightly harder to find the ink/toner, but I've never had one break down on me.

[Startled Rabbit]

My Brother laser printer was one of my better law school decisions. Soooo much last minute scrambling prevented. So many "damn I have to go to the law school on a Saturday morning to print Monday's readings because I forgot to do it on Friday before I left" occurrences avoided. But, you might be more organized than I am.

[zarzamora]

Thanks guys! Brother printers seem pretty reliable. I'll definitely check those out!

[Startled Rabbit]

Thanks for the advice! I'll probably try to find a cheapish one I can keep at home, just for the sake of convenience.

I think you should buy a nice printer or none at all--it's worse to have an unreliable printer than to always have to trek to the law school to print things. You will probably get enough use out of it over three years to justify the cost.

Ooh good point. Any specific ones or brands that y'all would recommend?

I can't speak to the quality of their laser printers, specifically, but Brother has always been my go-to company for printing. It can be slightly harder to find the ink/toner, but I've never had one break down on me.

Amazon always has my toner in stock.

[browniestasty]

I have a HP color laser.

Black&White came out to just over 3 cents a page but I found it incredibly convenient during 1L to be able to print. Sometimes it's as simple as being able to print a rough draft so I could proof read on paper. Other times it was printing a new outline a classmate just emailed.

The printer cost a bit over 200 and the pages are about a cent more than your plan (if you use it to max) but I would do it again for the convenience.

If your usage patterns are different, maybe the plan is better for you.

[Startled Rabbit]

I have a HP color laser.

Black&White came out to just over 3 cents a page but I found it incredibly convenient during 1L to be able to print. Sometimes it's as simple as being able to print a rough draft so I could proof read on paper. Other times it was printing a new outline a classmate just emailed.

The printer cost a bit over 200 and the pages are about a cent more than your plan (if you use it to max) but I would do it again for the convenience.

If your usage patterns are different, maybe the plan is better for you.

My Brother printer was around $100 and after three years, continues to work great.

[stoopkid13]

I bought my printer at a thrift shop for $20 and it works fine. Has scan/copy also which is great.

[MKC]

I bought an HP X576DW, which was complete overkill, but God it's nice having an office level printer in the house. It was a $400 printer, but printing costs are under one cent per page and the thing spits out 70 ppm. It also does duplex printing and scanning. I figure I'll hold onto it for at least five years, and probably longer, so the cost isn't terrible long run. If you print in any volume at all at home, ink cartridges will eat the cost savings on a cheap printer in no time.

[zarzamora]

After hearing nothing but good things about brother, I think I've decided on this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-L2340 ... op?ie=UTF8