INK & TONER
Brother MFC-9420CN Review
 
Editor's Review
Brother MFC-9420CN by Michael Wilhoyt 08/25/2010 OVERVIEW: The Brother MFC-9420CN is designed as a simple workgroup AIO (all-in-one) solution for a small to medium sized office. With the ability to print in economical black and white (grey scale) or full color, the MFC-9420CN can accomplish most office documentation easily and affordably. Built in Ethernet allows for quick set-up on most networks, while standalone copying and built in fax features round out the MFC-9420CN workgroup solution.
Editor's Pros & Cons
PROS: 31PPM B/W and 8PPM color printing is above industry standard for this class machine. Print resolution up to 2400x600 DPI is sufficient for workgroup color printing and for most presentations that are used by small businesses. A total weight of 76.7lbs is average for this class AIO and the dimensions of W 28.7 x D 26.9” x H 30.4” should allow for easy placement on most tables, credenzas or stand-alone shelving units. Built in Ethernet connection and support for most networking protocols allows for easily connecting to most small office networks, without the need for dedicated IT support. Stand-alone copying feature (including color copying) does not require a PC for quick copy jobs. You can also copy 2 or 4 pages to a single sheet to save on paper and toner consumables. The front panel LCD and controls allow for easily selecting virtually all settings for the MFC-9420CN and should be configurable by even the most technology challenged members of the office. Fax page memory of 400 pages means you should not miss any faxes due to paper jams or large print jobs, and can save on paper by printing out faxes only from expected numbers (no more paper trays full of spam faxes). Separate fuser unit and belt cartridge (60000 page duty cycle each) allows for lower total cost of ownership by only replacing needed parts. If connected to a network, the MFC-9420CN can scan directly to an email address for quickly sending colleagues or clients documentation. CONS: 64MB of standard memory may be small for graphic design offices or offices with large documents. This is expandable to 576MB, but at additional cost. No wireless Ethernet connection and no onboard slots for SD Cards means digital media will need to be sent from a PC and not directly from a digital camera or smartphone. There is no auto-duplexing option available, which may hamper the MFC-9420CN’s usefulness in some environments. For double sided printing, you will have to manually flip the pages once the odd number pages are printed, then do the even numbered pages. This will lead to wasted paper and toner if your office workers are not experienced with having to do this. Automatic document feeder is a small (35 pages) for offices looking for a heavy duty scanner to go paperless. Sheets may be added as scans take place, however, if you have a 200 page file that needs to be scanned, you will be standing at the MFC-9420CN for an extended period of time. Included paper tray of 250 pages may not be sufficient for high volume printing workgroups. Optional lower paper tray can expand the capacity by 530 (780pages total) but at an additional cost. Smallest paper size (5.8”/5.8”) and largest paper size (8.5”x14”) does not allow for much flexibility in printing pamphlets, photos or larger posters. The MFC-9420CN is NOT Energy Star qualified, meaning it did not meet the standards for energy saving set by the EPA and Dept. of Energy. If your office requires certification as a “green” environment, this printer does not meet those qualifications.
INK/TONER NEEDS:
The MFC-9420CN comes with starter B/W toner (5000 pages @ 5% coverage) and starter individual C/M/Y toner (3000 pages @ 5% coverage each) cartridges, which will allow for the recommended monthly cycle of the printer (300-2500 pages at 5% coverage). A high yield (10000 pages @ 5% coverage) black toner cartridge is available and the C/M/Y cartridges can be individually replaced with 6600 page at 5% coverage yield cartridges. The Fuser Unit and OPC Belt cartridges can be purchased separately and are built for 60000 yields, so replacement after approximately 6 high yield black toners is recommended. 
|
Maintenance
