Brother DCP-9040CN Toner Cartridges

The Brother DCP-9040CN is a multifunction color laser printer designed for the small or medium office environment. It features well-designed multifunction functions and great print quality in a relatively compact size.

The DCP-9040CN is fairly compact, given its large feature set. It measures 19 inches by 17 inches by 19.2 inches (HWD). The unit weighs around 72 pounds, so be prepared to enlist help when moving it around.

The multifunction features of the Brother DCP-9040CN include printing, copying, and scanning, but no faxing. Each of the features is implemented very well. Scanning and copying are done either with the unit's large flatbed scanning surface or its automatic document feeder, which can hold up to 50 sheets at once. Scans are managed with the included PaperPort software. PaperPort is excellent software, and it is nice to see Brother including a full version with the printer. Scanning up to a resolution of 2400 dpi is possible.

Brother DCP-9040CN toner cartridges have a capacity of 2,500 for black and 1,500 for each color cartridge. High yield capacities of 5,000 page yield for the black and 4,000 page yield for each color Brother DCP-9040CN toner cartridges are also available and are a much more economical option.

Paper capacity may be a little tight for a medium-sized office, with a 250-sheet capacity in the main drawer and a 50-sheet multipurpose tray. The paper capacity can be expanded, however, with an optional 500-sheet drawer at any time. This allows the unit to adapt to the changing needs of a growing office, but this optional drawer and memory upgrades are its only expansion options.

Copies and prints can both print at speeds up to 20 pages per minute, but average printing speed will be closer to 17 pages per minute. Print quality is generally very good. Text is excellent, with sharp, defined characters. Color printing is good, but shows a few flaws on some prints. Given the unit's large feature set, the tradeoff for color print quality may be worth its many features.

Overall, the Brother DCP-9040CN is a highly capable color multifunction device, able to replace many pieces of equipment with just one. Limited expandability might be a problem for offices that expect a lot of growth.