Brother Laser Printer Question

[sharq]

Hi all,
I saw the Brother HL-1440 laser printer on sale this week at office depot (an email I got from em), it will come out to ~100 for me (not including tax). I know that people have bought the samsung laser printer (ML-1710) for 20-30 less, but the brothers cartridge costs less. Now, basically those who own laser printers, and those who own the brother or samsung ones, or both, I am wondering what your experience has been with the brother printers, and if you don't like it, then please tell me why.
I have read the reviews, I have even read the long term reviews by people on amazon.com, but I'm looking to find out from people here who have used laser printers (especially those who have used the hl-1440). I read that the brother one starts printing with a gray background 6month to a year later, but I've read where ppl just replaced the toner cartridge and it was fixed. So, any advice/opinions/recommendations welcome.

Thanks,
sharq

 

[Elcs]

Well... Ive had my Brother HL-5040 for several months now and Im nothing but impressed with it. As a student, I can print as many as 100 sheets per week for lectures and seminars alone before counting in 'homework'. Perfect quality, no problems installing, fast. It also came with a nice big 20k print toner which was a nice suprise.

I looked at the Samsungs in the local stores but I was unimpressed. Expensive cartridges that werent easily available. Id rather I paid a premium for a printer that does the job I want it to do and maintains a high standard throughout its useful life.

Hope Ive been helpful.

 

[myocardia]

Sharq, that's what all laser printers do when they start to run out of toner, even the $4,000 HP's do that.

 

[mcveigh]

I have the hl-1440 I love it, never had a single problem

 

[resinboy]

ok- had this printer for almost a year,now, to take the load off my color Canon Inkjet. Very fast, never had 1 paper jam ( yet ), but developed the dark streaks when printing about 6 or 7 months into it's life. I had maybe printed 500 pages at this point. My printer is in a dusty environment, so I figured this was the culprit. After much troubleshooting and buying cleaning sheets, I took a shot at replacing the toner cart ( had LOTS of toner left) . Fixed it for sure.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: sharq
Hi all,
I saw the Brother HL-1440 laser printer on sale this week at office depot (an email I got from em), it will come out to ~100 for me (not including tax). I know that people have bought the samsung laser printer (ML-1710) for 20-30 less, but the brothers cartridge costs less. Now, basically those who own laser printers, and those who own the brother or samsung ones, or both, I am wondering what your experience has been with the brother printers, and if you don't like it, then please tell me why.
I have read the reviews, I have even read the long term reviews by people on amazon.com, but I'm looking to find out from people here who have used laser printers (especially those who have used the hl-1440). I read that the brother one starts printing with a gray background 6month to a year later, but I've read where ppl just replaced the toner cartridge and it was fixed. So, any advice/opinions/recommendations welcome.

Thanks,
sharq

Oh, you didn't say they developed streaks, is that what you meant? Well, I retract that last post then, they don't all do that. But, I'm still thinking that's not horrible, especially since the toner cartridges are so cheap for them, unlike all the others. I'm actually considering buying that same printer myself, so I won't have to use my inkjet for things that don't require an inkjet, and that wouldn't stop me from buying it.

 

[sharq]

Yeah, I meant the streaking factor, sorry I wasn't clear. I was thinking of getting an inkjet since my printing is not that heavy (I know I won't use up the cartridge in 6 months), but I would end up spending atleast 50 for a half decent inkjet printer (probably more). Then their cartridges cost around $25 (just for the black ones), plus when I don't use the printer for a month or so, then the cartridge has started drying up.
Anyways, so I calculated that I would be spending a little more with the HL-1440, but what I would be getting (speed, good quality printing) will be worth it. I just don't like the 6months avg for the toner, I would hope it would be atleast 10-12 months.

 

[ChefJoe]

Heh, people at work (grad students) are using those brother printers and they suck for the large volume they try to print. They have the cheaper 1240 and 1440 models and they just tear through toner cartridges which often develop the crack/streaking issue before the toner is done. If your money is that tight, you can get one and it'll work for a while, but it'll never be as simple/reliable as a basic (but certainly not as cheap) HP laser.

 

[sharq]

So it seems that HP laser printers are regarded to be better than brother's or samsung's?
I would much rather wait for a good printer to come on sale. I don't have a working printer right now (have a couple that don't work), but I don't have any immediate need to be printing anything. Till then I'll be searching for deals.
Thanks all.