Review: Brother MFC-640CW
I've had my Umax Astra 600p flatbed scanner for a long time. It was cheap, reliable and gave me decent scans and fax input. Last week as I was scrambling to get in my paperwork and get it faxed in, The old Umax started to choke. It made some grinding noises, gave me some real screwed up scans, and the best that I could do was a pretty grainy scan. It took about 2 hours to get that fax out. I was going to have to fix this and get a new scanner.
My setup was the Umax, an HP 930C deskjet printer, and Winfax Pro. A printer cable was routed through the scanner and terminated at the printer. Workes pretty well, recieves faxes easily, Sending from the computer was pretty straightforward, but sending multiple scanned pages was a multistep slow process.
Equality and I had talked about getting one of those multi-purpose devices. Scanner printer and Fax all in one devices. The prices seemed reasonable enough.
My computer system is named Mr. Fungus, It is messy and tends to grow and expand all over the place. There isn't much room at or near my desk. I have 2 USB ports which are both being used. (Memory Card Reader and PDA Sync cable) My printer is shared and Equality can use her WiFi connected laptop to print to it after a remote login to my computer (I haven't been able to fix that.)
Friday we went to Office Depot to pick one up. (we had a fax that just had to go out.) Our choices quickly narrowed down between an HP, and the Brother MFC-640CW. The HP was $50.00 cheaper and I like HP printers, they are proven and the cartridges are available everywhere, like most devices like this it was USB driven. If I selected the HP I would need a powered USB hub and a cable. The Brother would operate over the wireless network, though an ethernet switch, or USB. Although it cost 50 dollars more I would save that much in USB Hub in Cable. The wireless aspect meant that Equality's laptop can easly access it, and I can put it on the other side of my computer room. The 640CW has a very small footprint and fit very well on top of my UPS.
Set up wasn't completly troublefree, some of the instructions seemed a little sparce, and my Router/Hub cut out in the middle of the install confusing the crap out of me, but all in the install went pretty good. The QuickStart Manual is pretty managable, The actual user's manual is a real book Its too thick to store under the machine and your not going to want to lose this thing. although the documentation on the CD is even more complete. Keeping the manual easily found is important. The machine doesn't need to be kept near a computer so relying CD docs might be awkward. In fact one of the kewl things about this thing is that it very fuctional without any computer, as a small volume copier, fax and answering machine.
Copy function:
This document feader works pretty good and its real easy to get a quick copy of a multipage document. The scanner section doesnt need much warm-up time, and it scans and prints simultanously. Pretty much a one or 2 button operation. Nice to not need to need a computer to interface with it.
Fax:
There are so many options with this thing. I can fax from the computer any document that I can print or just send out a note fax in nanual mode just like any standard standard standalone fax. Recieving Faxes is very configurable. I was hoping that I could receive faxes in memory to recieve into computer, so I can select what I want to print. It all works just as I had hoped. It seems to me that every reasonable answering configuration is covered. One can also use this as an answering machine fax combo also.
Scanning:
I have only scanned a few things with it. Its a lot faster than my old Umax. No warm up, and the data transfer to the computing is lightning fast over the home network. It has a standard Twain interface that seems to agree with most of my programs. I was concerned about losing the ability to scan legal sized paper with this new machine but the document feeder will handle this size paper even though the flatbed is only 11+ inches long. The Scanner is configurable, the default will not take you into the scanner interface where you can select certain parameters such as dpi and scan area.
Printer:
I am pretty happy with my HP 930C its sharp text and beautiful photograph printing made it a good investment. Ink although expencive seems to last for ever. However my computer and Equality's lap talk don't seem to automatically log in. So its not so instaneous printing for her. She has instant access to the Brother once she boots up. I am very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the print on the brother. Text is very black and color rendering is accurate. I haven't tried printing on photo paper but on bright white paper at high resolution the quality is as good if not better than the HP.
Extras:
There are some extra goodies to the Brother that i won't use or didn't concider when I bought it.
- Media Reader. Included is the ability to read camera media. It reads most common idea including: CompactFlash®; SmartMedia®; Memory Stick®/Pro®; xD-Picture Card™ Conv./Type M; Multi Media Card™ Secure Digital™. Using this Media one can print thumbnails or full images. Neat feature, but not one I'm likely to use. However, one neat feature is ability to read the cards into the PC via ftp. making my card reader redundant. I will be able to free up a USB port.
- Answering Machine. The unit will store up to 29 minutes of incoming messages. I use a dedicated fax line. This should be a nice feature if one wants to share voice and fax features on one line. The unit has a funtioning phone so one can place a phone call, and then send the fax on one call.
- Speakerphone. I hate speaker phones, but its there if one wants to use it.
There isn't much I don't like. The LCD display can be hard to read . You have to look at it almost square on, and when it isn't being back lit it needs some good direct lighting. I had to use a flashlight at one point to read the display. I'm not real crazy about the papertray. Its a little flimsy and it only holds about 100 pages of 20 lb paper.
Summary:
I feel like I got more than I paid for. The card reader, and high quality scan and printing is more than I expected. This is a compact unit that can go anywhere, with only 2 wires (power and phone line) comming out of it. It works well independant of a PC, Yet it works well with multiple computers. The unit is very flexible, so far every time I think I find a limitation I find a configuration change to make it work as I would like.
Update: One week later 1/15/15
I've been using the Machine for another wek and I'm even more pleased with it. I want to make clear that this unit is only used for light printing, My HP 930 handles 90 precent of my printing tasks. The Brother is used for occassionan copies, and printing a single page from a laptop. This unit just stops printing when it believes its out of ink. Although one can print B&W if a color cartridge is out.
One pleasant surprise I've discovered about this package is the included software. Paperport in particular is real nice. This is the OCR. Its been years since I played with any OCR code and that was on a 486 Machine. The software was slow awkward, and just about useless.
I got a spam Fax, and I read it into the paperport, My Brother isn't configured to print any Fax's only to download them into paperport. The Fax was of low and quality multi-font with some simple line graphics. Most of the Fonts were of 9 and 10 points. Some 5 point fonts were at the bottom.
A simple drag `n drop translated the graphic image into a word document, with very few errors. The tiny text had lots of errors, and the few that were in the main body, were due to the ambiguity of the poor quality of the original. The formating and font replication in the Word Document was very good. This has a lot of potential for a blogger, or one who needs to transform printed matter into emails or other electronic documents.
Update:
I had the brother for a littlemore than year, and it gave out on me. It still recieved FAQs, but it stopped communicatting via the network either wirless or wired ethernet, I relaced it with a HP Officejet 6310 All-IN-ONE I'll review it later and link to it from here.
posted by Liberty @ 6:21 AM
26 Comments:
I am considering the MFC-640CW also, and have a question regarding its wireless capability. I would like to connect my computer in one room to the Brother in another, wirelessly. But, the salesman at Office Depot claimed that the wireless connection can only be used to Print on the Brother; I would not be able to Scan or send Faxes from the Brother to my computer. Is this true?
Not True.
Scan and Fax functions work well over the wireless network, as long as you are using a wireless router. I haven't tried without using a router. Scanning works just like any other twain scanner, or through the paper port software. Fax works through paperport to read the scans. or as printer select option. reading the photo cards is done through an FTP proto call.
Best of Luck.
The Brother does support adhoc mode according to the manual. This is peer to peer without a Router. Also according to manual in network function the following capabilities.
From The Manual.
Network function features
The Brother MFC-640CW has the following basic network functions.
Network printing
The print server provides printing services for Windows ® 98/98SE/Me/2000/XP supporting the TCP/IP
protocols and Macintosh ® supporting TCP/IP (Mac OS ® 9.1-9.2 / Mac OS ® X 10.2.4 or greater for a wired
network and Mac OS ® X 10.2.4 or greater for wireless network).
Network scanning
You can scan documents over the network to your computer (See Chapter 4 for Windows ® and Chapter 11
for Macintosh ® of the Software User’s Guide on the CD-ROM).
Network PC-FAX
You can directly send a PC file as a PC-FAX on your network (See Chapter 6 for Windows ® and Chapter 8
for Macintosh ® of the Software User’s Guide on the CD-ROM for complete description). Windows ® users can
also PC-FAX receive (See Chapter 6 of the Software User’s Guide).
Network PhotoCapture Center TM
You can view, retrieve and save data from a media card inserted into the Brother machine. For Windows ® ,
double click the Network PhotoCapture Center TM icon on the desktop of your PC. The software is
automatically installed when you select network connection during the software installation. For Macintosh ® ,
launch any web browser in which FTP is available and enter FTP://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is
the IP address of your Brother machine).
At the moment, I connect my laptop to broadband wirelessly via a D-Link router. But I'd like to add an all-in-one to the mix. So here is my proposed setup: wireless router in one room, Brother MFC-640CW in another room, and laptop whereever I happen to be in the house. Am I correct that the Brother MFC-640CW will connect wirelessly without being connected to a router? Thanks!
The Brother will support infrastructure mode (using router) in wireless as well as Ad hoc. (using no router) If you have a router. I believe you would want configure it in the infrastructure mode. The Manuals are very good, and they cover just about any situation. The only Wires required are power and phone. Although it might be a little bit easier to connect with wires to the network to cofigure the unit it is not required. And no wires are required for operation
Hi, I have been considering the MFC-640CW as an inexpensive replacement for my print/fax needs. Would printing about 100 pages a month and occasionally some photos/cards. I noticed that you have had the unit for a while now. Have you had any problems with it or are you still pleased with its performance. Thank you in advance.
Regards
I am pretty pleased with it, I should note that I use my old printer for most ogf my print needs. I do use the brother to occassionally print a BW text document, and a web page once in a while. It does a pretty good job on that. I haven't done much photo quuality printing on it, but what I've seen looks pretty good. It does seem to use ink a little bit faster than my HP 930C though.
Thanks for the update. Just one more question, have you tried using the fax/phone feature with a voip line or do you use it with a plain old telephone line.
I use it on a dedicated Plain old telephone line.
I bought the Brother 640CW three days ago. I was looking for a compact, non-bulky unit and the the moment I walked into the store, there're were at least 4 different handsome models of these.
The 640CW caught my eye with its wireless function and handset - the former being the most attractive part.
Installation on Mac OS and Windows was a breeze - an error message appeared on the latter during installation - something about not being able to add the printer driver as admin privileges are not there - but following it all, the laptop printed stuff all the same. The diagnostics showed the printer and scanner drivers as uninstalled/failed, but I tried both and it worked.
So - this thing works for me. On Mac and Windows. I couldn't have asked for a better deal and quality.
I've just printed 4 x 6 photos and the quality matches my epson 890. Even better in fact. Quite stunning to be precise.
Every of its function works wireless - and I've really yet to do anything with it wired or hands on - it's all going from the computer to the machine - and I'm loving every minute of the use of the 4-1.
I too, purchased this machine approximately 3 days ago from Staples...primarily for the faxing and wireless capabilities.
So far, it works quite well, and I am having more "fun" with the MFC-640CW than any other piece of printing equipment I own.
I use the machine with Comcast Digital Voice Service, and have had no problems sending/receiving faxes.
I just simply plugged the MFC into the phone jack, and set the ringer to retrieve faxes after 2 rings.
I also like the idea that the machine does not have to be turned on in order to receive faxes.
One concern...I ordered the black high yield ink cartridge (LC41HYBK HIGH YIELD CARTRIDGE) before finding out from Brother that it is not compatible with the MFC-640CW.
I will have to return it for the standard black ink cartridge.
Overall, so far, so good.
I just bought this yesterday at Office Depot -- $75 rebate if you buy before 6/3. I hooked it up wired to my wireless router, since I had room to stick 'em next to each other & setup looked easier this way. NO problems with my laptop talking to it; acts just as though it were physically attached to my laptop. So far I am very pleased, although I did have trouble getting the thing to print -- ink didn't want to flow. Who knows how old the cartridges are.....I figure that'll work itself out over time.
does it work with Distinctive Ring feature?
Can you get the answering machine messages on the PC or do you need to pick it up on the unit itself?
I don't believe there is a Voice message interface to a PC. I couldn't find anything on the manuals with a quick check through the manuals. My machine is dedicated to to fax and I don't use voice messaging at all.
The Brother seems to support distictive ring, but its not a feature that IU've used or tested.
I guess that's a feature of the MFC-820CWP being facetious, no such device exists yet.
The only things missing from this printer are:
* Complete phone messaging center (which you can hook up to from another computer in the network)
* VOIP hub.
* Full duplex support
* Extra tray support.
* Separate manual feed.
* Printable CD support.
is there any continous ink system for this machine???
Hi. I am interested in getting one of these and was really intersted in you comments, Other reviews i have read suggest that it is generally noisy and the it is uncomfortable
to use the phone because of a buzz on the line. Has this been your experience?
Generally I've been looking at the HP aio 7210 and 7410 but some of the reviews are not so great and I think they may be too sophisticated for my needs. Basically I need to get everything in one machine that is as idiotproof as possible as i am not great with technology. As you seem to know a lot I'd appreciate any comments you might have. Many thanks
Just a quick one.
when scanning multiple pages via the ADF can the images be saved as a multi page file ie tif or pdf in the one step? or do they need to be scaned individually then combined?
I have just bought one of these. It was on special in Australia for AU$196, down from its RRP of AU$349, so a very good buy. At first I was quite sceptical as to how good it would be: a) for the price and b) because of the various reviews I had read. I wanted it for a home office and was used to HP inkjets and colour laser printers.
I had a few issues I couldn't initially resolve in setting the wireless networking up. I got it to communicate with my desktop, however my Dell laptop wouldn't 'talk' to it. Called Brother support who suggested some machines would only connect via an IP address, rather than by the automatically set 'Machine' name. I configured the Network settings manually, after doing an IPCONFIG to verify the IP address of the Brother MFC. Once inputted, 'Voila!' It worked!
Impresssions since: just amazed at ease of use, very reliable, simple to programme, and what really surprised me after a number of 'so-so' comments, was it's print quality. Great on normal printing, but superb using it's highest photo quality setting and on gloss photo paper. I used a 6MP Olympus digital camera for a portrait of my daughter and boyfriend and then printed it out on A4. Wow! Absolute photo quality. I had been considering getting a much more expensive HP MFC, and only went for the Brother on price. I can now say, this MFC is no toy, no piece of rubbish. It is seriously good, and regardless of the price, it gets my highest recommendation. Well done Brother!
The LC41HYBK (Black) HIGH YIELD Cartridge I purchased DOES work with the MCF-640CW, despite what Brother says.
Ours too quit responding to our wi-fi network after several months of working perfectly. However, even then it would work just fine with a USB connection. I installed a firmware update and that restored the wi-fi functionality. Once again, we loved our Brother! At least for a while, as now it has again quit responding to wi-fi. No idea what causes this problem, but since it worked before, I plan to once again re-install the firmware and we are hoping for the best.
I've had the MFC-640CW for about a year and I think it's really great for the money.. But--One problem I have now is that I just got a laptop a few weeks ago and all of the sudden (1 week ago) the Brother will not print out any Word documents from the laptop (it will from the desktop pc and they are both hooked up to the printer wirelessly)- it prints out anything else OK though. Anyone know what the problem is? Thanks
I found this site using [url=http://google.com]google.com[/url] And i want to thank you for your work. You have done really very good site. Great work, great site! Thank you!
Sorry for offtopic
It was very interesting for me to read the post. Thank author for it. I like such themes and anything connected to this matter. I definitely want to read a bit more on that blog soon.
Pretty cool blog you've got here. Thanks for it. I like such topics and everything connected to this matter. I would like to read more on that blog soon.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home >>