While many people may feel that purchasing a printer is not an overwhelming expense, those that are in the market may still choose to buy a used printer. If they are not planning to do a great deal of printing, or there is a reason for them to own more the one printer, a used model may be a perfectly acceptable solution. A used printer may also be a great option for a student.

Often, the only difference between a brand new printer and one that is only one or two years old is the number of pages it can print per minute. There are often technological advances, but they are so advanced that a regular consumer would be unable to detect them. Someone that is buying a printer simply to print copies of documents they type will often see no difference between the most updated version and one that is a few years old.

Those looking for used printers can shop at garage sales and flea markets. In the past, you would not be able to find a high quality printer at a location like this. However, in recent years it has become popular and cost effective to upgrade on the fairly regular basis. This means that those searching for a used printer can find a fairly modern, only slightly used printer for a bargain price.

When shopping for a used printer, be sure to check a few things to guarantee you are getting a good value. You can print a test sheet when the computer is not hooked up to a computer. This will show you the print quality and may give you some indication as to how soon a printer ink replacement may be needed.

If you decide to consider a used printer, it may be best to determine which model you are looking for ahead of time. If there is an option that you may not be able to afford brand new, you might be able to find it slightly used or refurbished for an affordable price. This also narrows your choices and will guide you in the right direction when shopping.

Another tip is to purchase the printer in person. This way, you are able to not only print a test sheet, you can look in the print terminal for dust, check for toner leakage, and make sure there is no paper jammed anywhere in the printer. Also be sure all of the necessary cords are included, and consider the USB cables that may be needed.

The final thing to keep in mind when considering the purchase of a used printer is the fact that printer companies are working to discourage the resale of printers. Some of them raise the cost of the printer cartridges on older models in order to encourage people to upgrade to the latest model. If you are thinking of buying used, take into account this increase in ink cost. In the long run, you may find it cheaper to purchase a brand new printer if ink costs will remain reasonable for a few additional years after your purchase. If a brand new printer is not in the budget though, a used one may be a perfectly reasonable option.

If you’re heading out to university this fall, chances are you’ve got a long list of things to pack. While you’re doing your going-away shopping, don’t forget to buy a printer.

Many universities have printers for students to use, sometimes for free and other times for a nominal fee, on campus. But it’s still extremely useful to have your own printer. Often the communal printer isn’t on the same floor as your dorm room—and you could find yourself running up and down several flights of stairs to reprint your document after discovering the printer is out of paper, you made a minor formatting mistake, or someone else took your paper by mistake. In addition, it can be tough to get access to printers during finals week when nearly everyone on campus is printing out a fifteen-page term paper.

Here are a few tips for finding the best printer to take with you to college.

Look for low long-term costs. As a college student, it’s likely you won’t have a lot of money—and when you do have it, you can think of other things you’d rather spend it on than a lot of expensive printer ink. So even if it means larger up-front costs, look for a brand of printer that offers relatively low-cost printer cartridges. This way, you can afford to keep your printer running once its first round of ink cartridges runs out.

Look for versatile printing capability. You’re likely to print out a lot of black-and-white text documents while you’re in school. But what if your professor assigns you a paper with a graphics component? What if you have to take pictures as part of your project?

There are certain majors that will almost definitely need good colour printing capabilities—photography and graphic design majors, for example. But no matter your major, your professors may hand you assignments you’re not expecting. So choose a printer that’s versatile enough to handle it.

Look for fast printing capability. You may have to run off some long papers during your time at school, so choose a printer that prints out pages quickly. Laser printers tend to print faster than the typical Inkjet, and they cost less in terms of cartridges as well—although they do cost more up front. Still, if you know you’ll be printing a lot of long papers and speed is a concern to you, they might be worth the cost.

Look for quiet operation. Chances are you’ll be doing a few all-nighters—and you might need to print a paper or project at four in the morning. Choose a printer that won’t wake your roommate—or the whole dorm—when it’s printing. A loud printer can make quite a racket, and those dorm walls can be thin—so don’t be “that guy” with the loud printer. If you choose a quieter printer, it’s likely you’ll be more popular with everyone who lives on your floor.

Look for a machine that will fit in your room. The average dorm room isn’t that large—and your desk isn’t likely to have room for a big, bulky all-in-one printer. Choose a printer that’s small enough to fit in the space you have without taking it over, and you’re more likely to have room for everything in your study space. Bear in mind that you’ll need room for consumables too, like printer paper and extra cartridges.

Look for reliability. The last thing you want when your paper is due in fifteen minutes is to have a paper jam. Read reviews on any printer you buy and make sure it’s easy to use and won’t break at inopportune times.

Choosing a printer for university is like choosing a printer for work or home—simply take into account where you’ll be keeping the printer, the type of jobs you plan to be using it for, your budget, and other environmental factors. There are plenty of cheap Inkjets out there, but many of the cheapest models have the most expensive ink—so check ink prices before you buy. In addition, look for a printer that’s small enough to fit, prints quickly and quietly, and is reliable enough to depend on, and you should have the ideal printer for any university student.

If it seems like every profession and piece of equipment has its own trade magazine, that is probably because it does. Printers are no different. There are magazines, websites, and other resources you can refer to when wanting to know more about printers, printer supplies, and printer news. The following is a list of a few of the best places to turn for the latest in printer news and information.

American Printer offers a variety of articles and reviews concerning paper and ink products. They have how-to information featured on their website so if you are struggling with a specific task, you might find the answer there. The site features a special environmental section to help you find the most green solutions to your printer issues. You can also request an email subscription so you will be kept up to date with their email newsletter. American Printer can be reached via their website at www.americanprinter.com.

Printing Talk is a trade magazine for printer afficionados. Their website offers a massive amount of information for anyone who provides printing services. They go beyond the usual news and reviews of specific printers and offer trade tips unique to those who use printing to make their living. Printing Talk is located at www.printingtalk.com.

The Big Picture is a magazine for those who work with large format digital printing. They offer a newsletter and message board, so they have a very active community of people available to answer questions and give tips. You can find them at http://bigpicture.net. The site also features a calendar of upcoming events that may be of interest to those in the printing industry.

Wired, one of the technological industries most respected resources offers more than just printer information. There are reviews of a variety of tech products. Their website is irreverent and well-written. If you prefer a bit of humor with your printer news, turn to their cutting edge information and articles to keep you up to date. You can find Wired at http://www.wired.com.

Technology Review offers computing and gizmo news that can be useful to anyone using a printer on the regular basis. They also offer information about computers, web, communications, biomedicine, and business. Their site is sort of a one-stop shop for all things tech. It probably is not the best source for a novice computer user shopping for a printer, but could help a lot with higher end computer and printer issues. Those in search of a plethora of information can head to http://www.technologyreview.com.

If you are searching for printer information and news, there are numerous places you can use to hunt down answers to your questions. When shopping for a new printer, turn to consumer reviews as well as what the pros have to say. If it is general information you seek, try browsing forums and message boards that deal with printer and computer issues. Blogs often offer a lot of information in an entertaining and fun to read style. And last but certainly not least, you can refer to this website to get many of your printer questions answered!