Review: Brother MFC-420CN

When my old fax machine finally quit working, I decided to replace it with a multi-function device, since I also used it for copying documents. After looking at several models, I decided on the Brother MFC-420CN.

The MFC-420CN can be used as a printer, copier, scanner, and fax machine. It's very similar to the popular MFC-210C, except it adds a sheet feeder and network interface. As a bonus, it also has a built-in card reader that can print digital camera images directly from CompactFlash & SD cards. The MFC-420CN, like the MFC-210C, is very Mac-friendly as well. Without installing any additional software, you can print or send faxes with it using Mac OS X's built-in CUPS printer drivers.

The included CD contains both Macintosh & Windows software including TWAIN drivers, a dashboard widget that monitors the ink level, and the control center for scanning. However, the TWAIN driver only works if the MFC-420CN is connected via USB.

Setup is very simple, even using the network connection. The MFC-420CN uses a DHCP server (such as your network router or access point) to obtain its IP address and even supports Bonjour. It will automatically appear in the printer list as a Bonjour printer.

If you want to scan using a network connection, you have to use their control center, rather than the TWAIN driver. The control center appears in the menu bar as a status item for easy access. In addition to the preset scanning operations, you can configure the buttons to open a particular application or scan to a file. You can even scan directly to another printer (such as a laser printer).

The print quality of the MFC-420CN is excellent and it's quite a bit faster than my old Epson C82 which it replaced. The output is very sharp with no streaking. It uses separate cyan, magenta, yellow, and blank ink cartridges which cost about $11 each. I've only used it for about a week, so I can't tell how long the cartridges last.