3 ms·

> Which brother do you have / recommend? I have been quiet happy with my OKI but the phone connection is the only letdown so far and I might change for a brothe

by tivert 3y ago

> Which brother do you have / recommend? I have been quiet happy with my OKI but the phone connection is the only letdown so far and I might change for a brother in the future. I have a brother HL-2270dw that I've been using for more than 10 years that I'm happy with. I don't think they make that exact model anymore, but Wirecutter recommends the HL-2350dw (I don't know what you get for the extra $10 to get a HL-2370dw): https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-home-printers/ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-home-printer... I've got it hooked up to my wired network, and have never had an issue with it. I really like the duplex printing. I prefer my devices to do one thing, so I've avoided combo devices.

bgirard 3y ago
For me, I ended up with the MFC-L3770CDW because there was a big sale on it, not from any particular research.
- snuxoll 3y ago
  Also have a MFC-L3770CDW, it's perfectly fine but you really have to pay attention to consumable cost when selecting laser MFC. A cartridge of TN227BK (high-yield black toner) for the MFC-L3770CDW is ~$80 for a ~3000 page yield, while a TN433BK cartridge that fits a MFC-L8900CDW is $85 for a ~4500 page yield. That's a (toner-only) cost per page of ~2.5c vs ~1.8c, or nearly a 30% reduction in toner cost; the difference between which is amplified for the color cartridges (TN227 color is $100/ea for ~2300 pages, TN433 color is $136/ea for ~4000 pages or ~4.3c/page vs ~3.4c/page). Considering the price difference between these units, I opted for the MFC-L3770CDW because I do not print that often and I've spent far more over years on wasted ink from dried out cartridges and destroyed print heads; but it's still an important factor to keep in mind.
  - bgirard 3y ago
    Thanks for the tip. I hadn't looked into it since I'm still on the original cartridge. When I value my time debugging janky inkjet printers I think even a 4.3c/page printing cost is still acceptance since I have low volume, rare printing jobs.
    - snuxoll 3y ago
      Realistically if your volume is that low the break-even point will be long after the machine becomes unobservable anyway, but I'd still always recommend people take a look at $/page metrics for consumables before they buy just so they avoid getting stuck in the same shitty situation as cheap inkjets.
sundvor 3y ago
Can confirm the Brother series is great. I have the HL-L2375DW. I got accused of being a shill last time I posted about it, so I'm preempting this by calling it out. :-) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37006705#37007593 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37006705#37007593 However it just sits there asleep at an extremely low wattage most of the time, then pops instantly to life the moment a page is sent to it - as bgirard pointed out, without even needing to install a driver - and then back to sleep. And this is on wifi. Loved it enough to buy another one when the first one went to my ex. I'll use the full duplex occasionally, it's worth having years down the track from purchase time for the tiny price bump over the base.
- exodust 3y ago
  To be fair on your accuser, it's only been 60 days since your last Brother Laser promotional post. Last time you included details about price, and a note about "supporting Brother" by not using third party toner. I own an Epson eco-tank inkjet and happy with it, but I'm not invested in convincing others about it. I wouldn't put a laser printer in my house. Regardless of whether it's actually a proven health risk, I don't want my printer emitting tiny particles. And I want the option of good quality colour prints using different paper types and thickness.
addaon 3y ago
HL-L2350DW checking in here. Zero complaints, zero issues. Just works.
- B1FF_PSUVM 3y ago
  Same.
- jmspring 3y ago
  Same
- karolist 3y ago
  Another happy HL-L2350DW user. So happy in fact, I've bought one for my mom and one for her aunt and they too have zero issues and I've never had to hear about it again after setting it up. This is how printers should be.
- wdb 3y ago
  Yeah, recently also got a Brother laserprinter on sale. Love this printer. Works great. It’s big but better than fighting with a HP printer

by tivert 3y ago

bgirard 3y ago

For me, I ended up with the MFC-L3770CDW because there was a big sale on it, not from any particular research.

snuxoll 3y ago
Also have a MFC-L3770CDW, it's perfectly fine but you really have to pay attention to consumable cost when selecting laser MFC. A cartridge of TN227BK (high-yield black toner) for the MFC-L3770CDW is ~$80 for a ~3000 page yield, while a TN433BK cartridge that fits a MFC-L8900CDW is $85 for a ~4500 page yield. That's a (toner-only) cost per page of ~2.5c vs ~1.8c, or nearly a 30% reduction in toner cost; the difference between which is amplified for the color cartridges (TN227 color is $100/ea for ~2300 pages, TN433 color is $136/ea for ~4000 pages or ~4.3c/page vs ~3.4c/page). Considering the price difference between these units, I opted for the MFC-L3770CDW because I do not print that often and I've spent far more over years on wasted ink from dried out cartridges and destroyed print heads; but it's still an important factor to keep in mind.
- bgirard 3y ago
  Thanks for the tip. I hadn't looked into it since I'm still on the original cartridge. When I value my time debugging janky inkjet printers I think even a 4.3c/page printing cost is still acceptance since I have low volume, rare printing jobs.
  - snuxoll 3y ago
    Realistically if your volume is that low the break-even point will be long after the machine becomes unobservable anyway, but I'd still always recommend people take a look at $/page metrics for consumables before they buy just so they avoid getting stuck in the same shitty situation as cheap inkjets.

sundvor 3y ago

Can confirm the Brother series is great. I have the HL-L2375DW. I got accused of being a shill last time I posted about it, so I'm preempting this by calling it out. :-) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37006705#37007593 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37006705#37007593 However it just sits there asleep at an extremely low wattage most of the time, then pops instantly to life the moment a page is sent to it - as bgirard pointed out, without even needing to install a driver - and then back to sleep. And this is on wifi. Loved it enough to buy another one when the first one went to my ex. I'll use the full duplex occasionally, it's worth having years down the track from purchase time for the tiny price bump over the base.

exodust 3y ago
To be fair on your accuser, it's only been 60 days since your last Brother Laser promotional post. Last time you included details about price, and a note about "supporting Brother" by not using third party toner. I own an Epson eco-tank inkjet and happy with it, but I'm not invested in convincing others about it. I wouldn't put a laser printer in my house. Regardless of whether it's actually a proven health risk, I don't want my printer emitting tiny particles. And I want the option of good quality colour prints using different paper types and thickness.

addaon 3y ago

HL-L2350DW checking in here. Zero complaints, zero issues. Just works.

B1FF_PSUVM 3y ago
Same.
jmspring 3y ago
Same
karolist 3y ago
Another happy HL-L2350DW user. So happy in fact, I've bought one for my mom and one for her aunt and they too have zero issues and I've never had to hear about it again after setting it up. This is how printers should be.
wdb 3y ago
Yeah, recently also got a Brother laserprinter on sale. Love this printer. Works great. It’s big but better than fighting with a HP printer