Dr David Mills
A question for the #hivemind - I need a #printer for home, is the consensus still "Just get a Brother"?
Jul 17 at 10:19amWeb
Show threadDr David MillsJul 17
I'm considering the Brother HL-L2400DW. It seems to have excellent reviews, and I can't see any mention of toner fuckery or anything like with HP.
Show threadDr David MillsJul 17
Ordered one.
It won't be here in time to print what I need right now, but I can get that printed elsewhere.
Show threadDr David MillsJul 18
The new printer has arrived. I had it wired in and printing in 5 minutes. Full automatic duplex. It just works.
My only wish is for a clunky mains switch that actually turn it off, rather than what I suspect is a soft-power switch.
Show threadKincaidJul 18
@dtl i am rather fond of just cutting in an inline 10A switch....
Show threadDr David MillsJul 18
@kincaid Yeah, I can see that happening. For now I just pulled the kettle lead out the back.
Show threadSimon G0FCUJul 18
@dtl
When I had a Brother I had a discussion with their tech support after it used a full cartridge of ink in a cleaning cycle. TL:DR leave it on at the mains all the time. IIRC every 24 hours it does some sort of cleaning cycle to keep the heads clean (supposedly). I now have an Epson Eco printer with refillable ink reservoirs
@kincaid
Show threadJamesJul 17

@dtl I've owned the 2360DW and 2370DW over the years. Highly recommend both.

I have heard that the aftermarket toner for them is sketchy, but the OEM stuff is reasonably priced and lasts forever so I've never bothered with it. (It's possible to be too cheap. . .)

Show threadDr David MillsJul 17
@mack505 Given how much I print the demo toner that comes with the printer will probably last me a few years.
Show threadSir Osis of Liver 🇨🇦 🇲🇽Jul 17

@mack505 @dtl

I'll second the 2370DW. I needed a printer occasionally for working from home. I picked up one of these and it's been great.

It's nothing fancy, but reliable.

Show threadJamesJul 17

@Sir_Osis_of_Liver @dtl I only replaced my 2360 b/c I was traveling with it a lot. Dropped it and broke the double sided feature.

I still limped it along for years but in the end I missed that.

Show threadAl WirtesJul 17
@dtl I bought one of these six months ago or so, and I love it! Setup is not intuitive & the app you have to use is wonky at best. But it eventually works. Then it’s rock solid. It just works.
Show threadDr David MillsJul 17
@alwirtes Is the app to connect it to wifi?
Show threadAl WirtesJul 17
@dtl Yeah. There’s the ability to print from anywhere on the Internet, too. But I didn’t bother setting that up.
Show threadDr David MillsJul 17
@alwirtes I won't be letting this on the wifi. It'll get a USB port and be happy with it.
Show threadAl WirtesJul 17
@dtl Then you’ll love it! It’s a great machine!
Show threadM0KHRJul 17

@dtl

We have a HL-L2375DW, and had a HL-L2360DN before, and I can only say, it's a printer and does its work with absolute no drama.

It's the kind of printer you want to have.

Show threadDr David MillsJul 17
@M0KHR That's what I need. Something I can forget I own for 6 months, but have it work when I need it.
Show threadozengJul 17
@dtl HP are a scourge.. either their printers, consumables,drivers, or all of the above at once. We have a Lexmark laser and it just works
Show threadDr David MillsJul 17
@ozeng I had a Lexmark inkjet a long time ago, and it completely turned me against the brand. I don't think I've ever seen one of their lasers in the wild.
Show threadozengJul 17

@dtl it seems cyclical. All brands have their “never again” moments.

HP’s has lasted for a couple decades, an exceptional achievement, but I’m sure they’ll be a poster child again sometime

Show threadcthululemonJul 17

@dtl

I have the 2460DW and like it. I’ve held out on updating the firmware for a few months (and turned off auto updates) after someone here on fedi said the new update forced OEM toner checks or something. Don’t know any more about it than that, but I do like the printer as it is.

Show threadManawyrm | SarahJul 17

@dtl Yes, laser printer only. Color and B/W are both OK.

WiFi isn't super rock solid, if you can get one with Ethernet, those are bomb proof.

Show threadDr David MillsJul 17
@manawyrm I don't need wifi. I'd be happy with just a USB interface. At a push I could still connect it to something with an IEEE1284 port.
Show threadStewart RussellJul 17

@dtl @manawyrm One plus point for wifi: (almost) every device on your network will find the printer and automatically set itself up to use it. AirPrint is magic.

No problems with wifi on our MFC-L2750DW

Show threadAndrewJul 17
@dtl lowest toner/ink to paper cost ratio. Support the business model you want to see in the world
Show threadDavid Penfold Jul 17
@dtl I've been putting buying a new printer off for ages now since my ancient laser Samsung finally gave up. But by all accounts Brother is the best choice.
Show threadDr David MillsJul 17
@davep Everyone was raving about them a few years ago.
Show threadD. B. StuckJul 17

@dtl @davep

Yep. A Brother laser printer is a solid choice. Anything that's built to work seamlessly with Linux seems to be designed for a long performance life.

If your research shows that the Eco-Tank is plug and play with Linux too, then I'd be confident that it's meant to last a long while as well.

Show threadMarkAtMicrochipJul 17
@dtl The Ecotank series has been a cost savings for us. YMMV.
Show threadBen HutchingsJul 17
@dtl Yes, quite happy with the Brother b&w laser we got a few years back
Show threadDr David MillsJul 17
@bwh Do you use CUPS to drive it?
Show threadAdamJul 17
@dtl @bwh I use CUPS to drive a USB Brother B&W laser with no problems at all. It uses cheap third-party consumables without complaining.
Show threadMark EichinJul 17
@pseudomonas
Same, but to be fair I got the printer (HL-2270DW) in 2013, and last got (vendor) toner in 2022. (Last printed 3 days ago :) ubuntu 24.04 cups, over usb.
@dtl @bwh
Show threadBen HutchingsJul 17
@dtl Yes. It is automatically detected and set up over wi-fi with no driver installation needed. However sometimes CUPS won't send anything to it until I delete the printer and let it be re-detected
Show threadwoe2youJul 17
@dtl Don't have experience of a bunch of different models, but I'm pretty happy with the one I have (MFC-L8900CDW).
Show threadAnneHJul 17
@dtl Had one at work. No trouble ever.
Show threadbazzarghJul 17
@dtl I've got 3 and very disappointed. None of them have a printer I can use. Sisters are no better.
Show threadDr David MillsJul 17
@bazzargh Have you tried a cousin?
Show threadFish in the PercolatorJul 17
@dtl @bazzargh there are pretty strong taboos against that this day and age. Back in the day, though!
Show threadTroed SångbergJul 17
@dtl Laser printers, yes.
Show threadGiles PatersonJul 17
@dtl I use an ancient HP Laserjet I bought on ebay about 20 years ago, and it was old then.

It accepts postscript and PCL, so doesn't need any drivers - every OS has generic options for those in place.

It sits quietly on my network waiting for the chance to spit out a few pages without issue, and doesn't do anything nefarious (that I'm aware of).