Reviews for Brother MFC-8500 Multifunction Printer

Monochrome - 15 ppm Mono - 600 x 600 dpi - Printer, Scanner, Copier, Fax - MPN: MFC8500

  • 4
  By member: natasha20 - Dec 3, 2003

Brother MFC-8500 Multifunction Printer

Strengths: Toner change and paper additions are easy. Jams are rare.

Weakness: It would be better if it could keep re-dialing the faxes instead of aborting after a busy signal.

I think this desk printer/fax is great. It never jams on me. Prints fairly quickly. The only thing I have to do is change the toner when it needs it.

It would be better if it could keep re-dialing the faxes instead of aborting after a busy signal.

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  • 2
  By member: stewartlgl - Apr 21, 2003

Brother MFC-8500 Multifunction Printer

Strengths: Good features and fast faxing; good software bundle (Paperport)

Weakness: Unreliable and impossible to repair at reasonable cost.

I have had this machine for about 18 months and a closely related model, the 8600 for another 18 months or so before that. It is well conceived, with usable convenient features, but there is always something not working exactly right in the software, with frequent lockups and reboots. The real proble is that it simply is not a machine for more than light use. We have had fatal breakdowns in two of these units after only 18 months of use each. This is unacceptable. The cost of repair in each case was not sensible, given the cost of the unit. The supply costs are also very high. Every time you turn around, you are replacing a drum and/or toner unit -- and they are not cheap.

If you are willing to put up with some software hassles and are running no more than about 500 sheets per month, fine, but more than that, go with something else.

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