Brother 3800 Printer Review
While not a full multifunction machine, the Brother Intellifax 3800 still has a lot of functionality in a single package. It is a laser fax, a copier and also operates as a phone with the included handset. It uses a laser printing engine with printer toner for faxes and copies, which keeps costs low. The high capacity and affordable price of Brother 3800 toner cartridges make it an economical choice, though not as much so as Brother TN115C toner.
Paper capacity is 200 sheets, and the 30-page automatic document feeder makes it easy to fax or copy multi-page documents quickly and easily. Faxing transmission speed is fast, at up to 33.6 kbps. It can store up to 128 stations for auto-dialing and has 8MB of page memory for storing incoming faxes even when the machine is out of paper, ensuring that users never miss an important fax. With the included handset, the machine also functions as a phone with answering machine functions.
Intellifax 3800 toner cartridges have a capacity of 2,200 pages, though the Brother 3800 toner included in the box is only a "starter" cartridge with a reduced capacity. Toners are a large part of the ongoing cost of a fax machine or printer, so the low cost of Intellifax 3800 toner has a big impact on the cost of ownership. Brother 3800 toner cartridges are easy to access and replace, and users can save even more money by purchasing compatible Brother 3800 toner instead of the higher-priced OEM versions.
Compared to other models on the market, the Brother 3800 comes in a little more expensive than some on its upfront price. Many less expensive models do not have its 33.6 kbps transmission speed, however. Still, some users might gravitate toward a multifunction unit with faxing, at a similar price.
Overall, home and small office users who want a dedicated fax machine with fast transmission speeds will want to consider the Brother 3800. Its excellent phone and answering machine features and low-cost Brother 3800 toner make it a great value.
