Printers for USAFA cadets

txcadetmom

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Any recommendations on printers for cadets? Any to avoid? We are considering sending one for our son after Acceptance Day but could use some suggestions (aside from the USB 2.0 that is recommended)... inkjet vs. laser... black vs. color... just print vs. scan & print...

Thanks!
 
Color with a scanner, IMO.

The squad printers are all laserjets (B&W only). Having the ability to print in color and scan documents is nice (especially if you use USAA for banking.)
 
Color=Yes
Inkjet=Cheapest; but laser is getting cheaper
HP=It's the most readily available ink/toner cartridges

(NOTE: Color laser is getting cheap; and laser toner DOES NOT DRY OUT. So you can buy a stock of laser cartridges an have them when you need them. Or have parent send as needed. Or restock at xmas, etc.... Color laser use to be really expensive, but they are getting very reasonable.)
 
My suggestion is an all-in-one color printer. Inkjet is fine, that is the standard it seems. I have an HP 3300 that I love. I like that it (and now most companies) have individual ink cartridges vs. the tricolor ones, so you can save a bit of cash.
 
I may have missed it in a previous thread but does anybody have suggestions for sharing a printer amongst 3 cadets in one dorm room? Seems a waste to have 3 printers in one room.

BTW: Raimius and Hornet, ( I know Eagle is out there too), Huge Congrats on your graduation and Good Luck and Best Wishes going forward.

Mark
 
Can it be wireless? (Sorry if I didn't understand all the computer talk above!) Son says no, but it seems like most of them that we see are.
 
Cannot use the wireless features. I tried that, didn't work....at least if you're using a gov't network. Our computers have ad hoc (computer to computer) wireless locked. A personal computer could do it though.

Thanks for the congrats! Almost have my new apartment set up. :)
 
As noted, I favor an All in One printer, scanner copier, and my cadet says he uses all these functions frequently. I watch for cartridges to go on sale, and pick up a couple whenever they do, so I always have some to send. (Helps that home printer uses the same size etc). Scanner is great for USAA banking (son does not have an I-phone so can not use the app in there for this). Wireless cannot be used. Our experience is that sharing a printer among three is hard - if you have a room of two you might get away with it.
 
Personally, I would want my own printer. Cadets often work at odd hours, or require last-minute printing...at least I did.
 
I recommend that you should get your own. You will likely be getting new roommates at semester and they might not want to share and/or they might not have one.
 
On A-Day saw probably about 30 HP's going down the hallway. Walmart has the 3 in 1 for $49. For individual use they are probably fine. The black ink yields about 190 pages per cartridge, not sure about the color cartridge. Walmart usually always has the ink on hand. It's very common. If your Cadet doesn't have a chance to shop often the on-line store inkjetsuperstore.com is a good option. Prices are the same if not lower than some stores and shipping is about $5 no matter how large or small the order.
 
My room is all sharing one nice wireless brother printer. I was able to protect it under an ad-hoc network just in our room and it works well.

Later,

Brian
 
Brian be careful. Comm Squad has banned ad-hoc networks and might get peaved if they find it (unlikely, but watch out). If ANY computer connected to the USAFA network is using ad-hoc, that is definitely banned (possible illegal IIRC). Check and make sure those rules haven't changed since I left.
 
Bump.

We are trying to pick a printer for our DS over Parents' Weekend. He wants a color (either laser or inkjet) printer. Any further advice is appreciated. I am also interested on how hard it is to get replacement ink from the C-store or online.

Thanks.
 
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DD has a very simple printer that she is very happy with, but for the USAA banking function, she uses her Ipod Touch. Has never had a problem with it. Now, most printers are all-in-one and hers is several years old. But last year, she was one of the first online with her printer because it was so simple, she shared until her roommates could figure theirs out. They shared, but only for a short time. This late in the school year, someone will know how to set it up in minutes, I am sure.
 
I believe that every cadet should have their own printer, they are relatively inexpensive, and can last your entire time here. I had a different situation, as my roommate decided to be rather.. well... and not let ANYONE use his printer. We have been in class for less than a month and the squadron printer has already gone down a few times do to lack of paper, the toner was going out and some other reason.
I had already purchased my printer, so it wasn't a big deal, but being able to print anything you need out is very handy. Scanners are very helpful as well.
 
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