Brother MFC-820cw
From the news release:
Brother International Corporation, a leading manufacturer of multi-function products, today introduces the MFC-820cw ($249.99*). This Multi-Function Center(R) product features the company’s first model with a 2.5″ color LCD and comes with a built-in 802.11b/g wireless interface. Its 6-in-1 versatility includes color inkjet printer, copier, scanner, PhotoCapture Center(R) feature, fax and PC Fax functions. It begins shipping in February 2006.
Demand for wireless peripherals like the Brother MFC-820cw is very much on the rise and according the recent market analysis by International Data Corporation (IDC), ongoing growth in the use of these products in home and small office environments is a key contributing factor.(1) The MFC-820cw is built around the same attractive, space-saving design as previous models in Brother’s stable of ultra-low profile inkjet MFCs. Among its many feature highlights are:
KEY FEATURES
– Photo quality color printing/copying/scanning
– Stand-alone color faxing
– A Flip-up 2.5″ color LCD display for previewing images, easy menu access, and more
– Built-in wireless (802.11b/g) and wired Ethernet network interfaces
– Up to 6000 x 1200 dpi(2) color printing
– Up to Built-in 10-page automatic document feeder
NEW FLIP-UP 2.5″ COLOR LCD GIVES USERS A HEADS-UP
The MFC-820cw offers many of the features available with the current line-up of low-profile color inkjet MFCs(3), but adds a great deal more versatility and ease of use with its new color LCD display. A number of important advantages exist as a result of the color LCD, including:
– Ability to preview photos and then select specific photos to print
– Allows user to print varying quantities of multiple selected photos, in a series or non-sequentially (e.g. the user may want to print 2 copies of photo 1, 4 copies of photo 6 and 1 copy of photo 18)
– Provides easy to use menus and includes help files with color line drawings that acquaint the user with various features (i.e. understanding 2-in-1 print features, resolving errors like paper jams, replacing ink cartridges, etc.)
– Includes a feature for previewing received faxes
NETWORK CONNECTIVITIY
Compatible with Windows(R) and Mac(R) environments(6), the MFC-820cw lets users on the network print wirelessly from any computer on that network. It also gives customers the convenient option of bypassing the router and printing directly from a wireless-ready (802.11b/g) notebook. Both of these connectivity options also support the following additional network features:
– Scan a document to any computer on the network(4)
– Fax documents from computers on your network using the Brother software(6)
– Receive faxes to any Windows(R)-based computer on the network
– Access images that are stored on media cards inserted into the PhotoCapture Center(R) of the MFC-820cw
When using the built-in 802.11b/g Wireless connectivity the MFC-820cw has the SecureEasySetup(TM) feature, which allows you to easily install the MFC on your wireless network. This feature automatically configures the wireless network and security settings of the MFC-820cw with the push of a button enabling simple and secure communications with a wireless router supporting SecureEasySetup(TM) feature.
Trusted Reivews reviews the Brother MFC-820CW, and finds that, while it’s not a particularly fast printer, “Our photo prints were smooth and well detailed. There was little dithering and no banding apparent and dark colours were as well reproduced as lighter ones. Text and graphics prints were also clean and showed very little feathering. Some slight bleed of black text over coloured backgrounds was the only fault we could raise. … The copy quality of the machine is better than most, with colours coming through close to the originals, with only slight lightening. Detail levels are a little lower on the copies, but no worse than copies on other makes of all-in-one.”
ITReviews has a review of the Brother MFC-820CW and writes, “Print speed is pretty slow, though, with a five page text print taking just under one minute 40 seconds and mixed text and colour taking just a second under three minutes. A 15 x 10cm (6 x 4-inch) photo print takes over three and a half minutes in photo mode and a staggering eight and three quarters in ‘best’ mode. Since there’s little difference in quality, we’d recommend sticking to photo mode. … Output quality is good enough, but what holds the machine back in comparison with its main rivals is its sluggish print speed, particularly over a wireless link.”