BIOS: Technology Means Business

Brother’s new flagship colour all-in-one sports a low profile and is a snap to use, making it ideal for individuals and small offices. The silver-and-black MFC-845CW (398x370x180mm, 8.7kg) is also very well built for relatively demanding use (unlike most competing inkjet-based all-in-ones), and is the first model in its category to offer a combination of built-in Ethernet, wireless 802.11b/g connectivity and 5.8GHz digital cordless handset technology - creating the ultimate wireless solution for any home, home office or small office.

With its relatively fast print speed, above-par print quality, stand-alone fax and copy capability, and integrated colour LCD display, the MFC-845CW (£195 ex. VAT) definitely addresses key consumer trends with a value currently unparalleled in the market. The printer shares the same impressive base features as the recently announced MFC-240C, MFC-440CN and MFC-665CW, which includes colour printing, colour copying, colour scanning, colour faxing, PC Fax send and PhotoCapture Center technology (CompactFlash, xD-Picture Card Type M/Type H, Memory Stick/Pro, MMC and SD cards are accepted.) You can also scan JPEG, PDF and TIFF files to flash memory cards, and there’s a PictBridge interface.

Technical niceties include up to 27ppm black and up to 22ppm colour printing, up to 6000x1200dpi print resolution using droplet sizes as small as 1.5 picoliters, photo bypass tray that holds up to 20 sheets of 4x6-inch glossy paper, and a 10-page auto document feeder for unattended faxing, copying and scanning. There’s also a bright 2.5-inch flip-up colour LCD display for setting up and managing the device, matching 5.8GHz cordless telephone handset (expandable up to total of four handsets), and built-in message centre which includes a digital answering machine (stores up to 29 minutes) and full duplex speakerphone.

With both Ethernet and 802.11b/g wireless interface, the MFC-845CW is designed to be flexible regardless of your printing location needs. For instance, you can either directly connect it to your Wireless router via the Ethernet interface or you can print to the MFC-845CW using the wireless connection in either infrastructure or adhoc mode. This gives you the ability to share printing, scanning, faxing and media card access with multiple users on the network. The wireless feature also facilitates placing the unit where it is most convenient to access without it being bound to the location constraints of peripherals or end users.

The MFC-845CW does not stop there. In an effort to maximise user productivity and the use of space in the home or office, Brother has integrated a 5.8GHz digital cordless handset. Such integration frees up valuable desk space that may have been taken up by having a separate phone, or provides the added convenience of a cordless handset that did not exist in that location of the home. In other words, you longer need to be tethered to the printer when making phone calls - the MFC-845CW allows the freedom to move about freely while talking and conducting other activities around the home or the office.

The 5.8GHz frequency spectrum in which the handset operates should prevent interference with the wireless capabilities of the MFC-845CW or any other 802.11b/g devices within its range. The handsets back-lit LCD screen also makes it easy to see when placing calls and viewing incoming calls. A neat touch is that the MFC-845CW can be expanded by adding up to three more Brother 5.8GHz cordless handsets (for total of four) to be placed in virtually any other location in the home or home office. Even 3-way calling is possible (between handsets, the base and handsets, or three-way conference calling to outside calls). The additional handsets (BCL-D10) are available separately for £59.99 (ex. VAT).

In addition to its technical assets, there are several things which set Brother’s MFC-845CW apart from the competition. Most noticeable is its modern design with smooth lines and a well-engineered construction that lends to its conveniently small footprint. In contrast to competitive units of a similar size, Brother has added value with features such as stand-alone faxing and an autodocument feeder - especially important for multi-page faxing, copying and scanning functions. Many other manufacturers do not include these features for this category of product.

With a print speed of up to 27ppm black and 22ppm colour, the MFC-845CW is also among the fastest in its category. However, photo printing and scan quality is far behind the likes of Canon and Epson, so the 4-colour MFC-845CW shouldn’t really be considered if high-quality photo management is paramount. Text on regular paper isn’t too fuzzy, but you’ll have to invest in quality paper and knock the print settings to maximum when printing materials for potential customers.

You should also consider the cost of inkjet printing, which is prohibitively expensive compared to monochrome laser printing. The MFC-845CW’s Innobella inks have yields of up to just 500 pages for black and 400 pages for each colour cartridge (based on 5% page coverage). Thankfully, you can carry on printing when one colour runs dry. All things considered, Brother’s MFC-845CW sets a new standard for all-in-ones. It’s not the best quality printer or scanner, but it is a true all-in-one in every sense of the word. [8.5]

[Best Printer Pricing UK]
[Best Printer Pricing US]