7 ms·

How fucking great are Brother laser printers? The UX is shit, but you very rarely have to interact with it because they just fucking do their job. Mine was in

by dntrkv 2y ago

How fucking great are Brother laser printers? The UX is shit, but you very rarely have to interact with it because they just fucking do their job. Mine was in the closet for a couple years once and I took it out, plugged it in, and just printed what I want through WiFi. I remember dealing with HP drivers on Windows back in the day…

mike503 2y ago
Just ditched my HP for a Brother a couple months back, after having continual issues with individual colors running out and eventually it refused to recognize a single color cartridge slot, I never used color anyway. So went to a Brother monochrome. Been smooth since.
raihansaputra 2y ago
another vouch for brother printers. not optimum but i just plopped one connected to wifi only and it can print with minimal config and also scanning through mac's image capture app.
matthewtse 2y ago
Yes. Installed a Brother printer myself the other day, was expecting a half-day affair, but it all just worked in 5 minutes. Contrast this with an HP printer I bought. I had to: - manually install sketchy HP software on my mac - use that sketchy software, through a USB cable to update the firmware on the HP printer - somehow figure out how to get the HP printer to connect to Wifi - get it working, and never touch it again
UncleSlacky 2y ago
Relevant link: https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/2/24117976/best-printer-2024-home-use-office-use-labels-school-homework https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/2/24117976/best-printer-2024... "After a full year of not thinking about printers, the best printer is still whatever random Brother laser printer that’s on sale."
sowbug 2y ago
The popular "just buy this printer" Verge article recommends the Brother HL-L2305W. But Brother appears to have gone the subscription route and replaced that model with the HL-L2405W, which is "Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready" and whose product description says "Requires enrollment in a monthly billed Brother Refresh EZ Print Subscription service plan based on monthly printed page allotments." The older model is no longer available new from Amazon. Is Brother still a good recommendation? This subscription pivot gives the company all the wrong incentives.
- piperswe 2y ago
  I'm looking at the Best Buy page for the printer, and I can see where it would be confusing. > Choose Brother Genuine TN830 Standard or TN830XL High Yield replacement cartridges. And with Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service, you’ll never worry about running out of toner again and you’ll enjoy savings up to 50%. (3) Get started today with a Free Trial. (4) > (4) Requires enrollment in a monthly billed Brother Refresh EZ Print Subscription service plan based on monthly printed page allotments. Unused pages roll over, limitations apply. Additional page set charges and taxes apply during trial. It's just saying that the free trial of their subscription requires enrolling in the subscription. The subscription isn't required to use the printer.
  - sowbug 2y ago
    Excellent, thanks for the parsing help. :) I didn't find anyone lamenting that Brother had turned to the dark side, so I remained hopeful.
Biganon 2y ago
They are the only printers the Just Fucking Work™. Kinda sad, in a way.

by dntrkv 2y ago

mike503 2y ago

Just ditched my HP for a Brother a couple months back, after having continual issues with individual colors running out and eventually it refused to recognize a single color cartridge slot, I never used color anyway. So went to a Brother monochrome. Been smooth since.

raihansaputra 2y ago

another vouch for brother printers. not optimum but i just plopped one connected to wifi only and it can print with minimal config and also scanning through mac's image capture app.

matthewtse 2y ago

Yes. Installed a Brother printer myself the other day, was expecting a half-day affair, but it all just worked in 5 minutes. Contrast this with an HP printer I bought. I had to: - manually install sketchy HP software on my mac - use that sketchy software, through a USB cable to update the firmware on the HP printer - somehow figure out how to get the HP printer to connect to Wifi - get it working, and never touch it again

UncleSlacky 2y ago

Relevant link: https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/2/24117976/best-printer-2024-home-use-office-use-labels-school-homework https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/2/24117976/best-printer-2024... "After a full year of not thinking about printers, the best printer is still whatever random Brother laser printer that’s on sale."

sowbug 2y ago

The popular "just buy this printer" Verge article recommends the Brother HL-L2305W. But Brother appears to have gone the subscription route and replaced that model with the HL-L2405W, which is "Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready" and whose product description says "Requires enrollment in a monthly billed Brother Refresh EZ Print Subscription service plan based on monthly printed page allotments." The older model is no longer available new from Amazon. Is Brother still a good recommendation? This subscription pivot gives the company all the wrong incentives.

piperswe 2y ago
I'm looking at the Best Buy page for the printer, and I can see where it would be confusing. > Choose Brother Genuine TN830 Standard or TN830XL High Yield replacement cartridges. And with Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service, you’ll never worry about running out of toner again and you’ll enjoy savings up to 50%. (3) Get started today with a Free Trial. (4) > (4) Requires enrollment in a monthly billed Brother Refresh EZ Print Subscription service plan based on monthly printed page allotments. Unused pages roll over, limitations apply. Additional page set charges and taxes apply during trial. It's just saying that the free trial of their subscription requires enrolling in the subscription. The subscription isn't required to use the printer.
- sowbug 2y ago
  Excellent, thanks for the parsing help. :) I didn't find anyone lamenting that Brother had turned to the dark side, so I remained hopeful.

Biganon 2y ago

They are the only printers the Just Fucking Work™. Kinda sad, in a way.