The Brother MFC-8840D is a version of the MFC-8840 that is upgraded to include automatic duplexing, a feature absolutely key if your demands require frequent double sided printing. There is also a third variation of the product available, the Brother MFC-8840DN, which also includes networking capabilities. The interesting thing about the MFC-8840D and DN is, they both include a 50 sheet input capacity fold down multi purpose tray, whereas the base model does not. Why Brother chose to restrict this feature to the upgraded models is a mystery, but either way, it succeeds as an incentive to shell out the extra cash and go with one of the duplex capable versions of the line.
A multi purpose tray accepts not only standard legal and letter sized paper, but also oddly shaped printables, such as custom letterhead, and odd thicknesses such as you would find when dealing with envelopes and card stock. While many printers require non standard media to be hand fed one at a time, the MFC-8840D can hold up to fifty, depending on the thickness. This, combined with the stock paper tray with a capacity to hold 250 sheets of standard paper, bring the unit’s total paper input capacity to 300, with an option to purchase and attach an additional 250 sheet capacity tray to the bottom of the unit.
Print speeds are relatively speedy, clocking in a 21 pages a minute for copies, faxes, or standard prints. Outgoing and incoming faxes are fast as well thanks to the built in 33.6 K per second modem which can send and receive pages of data at a rate of one every two seconds. Quality is good on both accounts as well, with a 2400 X 600 (HQ1200) dot per inch print resolution. Compatibility is top notch, as the MFC-8840D comes with BR-Script 3 drivers for PostScript 3 emulation and PCL 6 for the die hard business you occasionally find that chooses to use DOS. Furthermore, Parallel and USB ports allow integration with both Mac and PC, running on Windows, Mac OS, and, of course, DOS operating systems.
One feature that is always nice to see on a printer is a nice huge, five line, multicolor, backlit LCD display, which allows you to scroll through menus and navigate options without the all too common frustrations often involved with tiny, hard to read screens.
Flatbed design on a scanner is another great help when hoping to minimize employee rage, as the large top door opens easily to reveal a legal sized document glass that anyone can understand. The scanner also implements “scan to” features that allow the user to activate scanning directly from the printer, and forward the data in the format of his or her choosing.
The Brother MFC-8840D is another in a long line of solid performing multifunctional centers from the brand, and is a reasonable option in a trilogy of great printers. The duplex feature may cost a little extra, but it also includes the MFT which could be considered as a nice bonus gift just in time for the printer’s release on Brother’s fiftieth anniversary, in 2004.
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