On Wednesday 27 June 2018 10:20:01 Kate Draven wrote:
Just got a Brother printer-scanner-copier-fax combo, model is MFC-495CW, so
if
anybody has comments or recommendations from experience, I am all ears.
Here is my model:
https://support.brother.com/g/b/spec.aspx?c=us&lang=en&prod=mfc495cw...
I don't have a lot of money to spend (much less to waste) on printer cartridges, for example. (A couple years ago I bought a 12-pack of HP cartridges for my old HP 825c, but before I could actually use them, the ink dried up! I don't want to go through that again.)
I managed to download the drivers for Debian, the product manual, researched everything I could think of, but now it comes to spending my last few bucks (literally) on the second-most expensive substance* known in human history, so I hesitate before using my debit card.
[* laser toner refills are more expensive than refills for inkjet]
Brother, of course, "strongly recommends" not to use third-party, or refillable cartridges, etc., but I don't have a warranty, anyway, as I got this thing used.
Has anybody else tried the third-party replacement cartridges or
refillables?
I'll have more questions about set-up, I'm sure, once I get my cartridges. Everything seems to work fine, except for no ink.
Bill
My experience with brother is they are well supported under linux and print/scan well. HOWEVER (insert shocking and dramatic music here), they go through inkjet cartridges like mad.
A laser printer is always better because, whilst the cartridges are more expensive, they last longer and print more. I have an HP 1320N printer. I bought 2 ink cartridges 7 years ago. The first one lasted 5 years. The second one is on it's 2nd year. I print at least every other day.
I also have a Brother mfc-j615w. Another network printer. It's great, HOWEVER (insert even more shocking and dramatic music here) the new ink carts only lasted a week. They sell them cheap in bulk but I would have to buy about about $100 worth to last a few months.
I will never buy an inkjet (most inkjets I have were $1 purchased at yard sales or were given to me). I would rather save up and get a laser jet. Better overall investment.
I don't know if that helps but that is my experience.
(Kate hops off her soapbox, bows, turns and disappears into the mysterious fog)
Well, I don't have the luxury of shopping round for a laser printer. I got this one free, although I see that this printer model still retains for as much as $350 on Amazon. And it looks new, seems to run well, as far as I can tell without being able to print out yet.
Anyway, I only need my printer to be good enough to print out MSS for revision, and to do mock-up pages for layout; they do not need to be final print quality, as it is only for my own use.
I see refillable cartridges and refill bottles that will run me about $40. I hear that they work, but that some of them leak, etc.
Bill