Assuming a need for basic document printing every now and then, what's the least-crap option?
This is taken as of 2021-06-15, and they're all multifunction print-scan-copy devices.
Reassessed the Brother options on 2023-06-20, it still sounds good albeit having gone up in price a bit.
Brother Colour Laser MFC-L3750CDW
$450 from Officeworks, apparently a decent all-rounder, and you get the benefits and cost of it being a laser printer (or close enough, technically it uses LED instead of a laser).
Prints A4 paper, can duplex print. The larger one can duplex scan as well apparently.
Brother Colour Laser MFC-L3770CDW
The larger sibling adds NFC function, and has a multi-purpose feed tray instead of the single-sheet feed. This lets you do labels and envelopes and stuff. Also add duplex scanning.
Both models are otherwise damn close in capabilities, and have the same speed for everything.
Manual: https://download.brother.com/welcome/doc100914/cv_dcpl3510cdw_asoce_oug_b.pdf
Officeworks has it for $530: https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/brother-wireless-colour-laser-mfc-printer-mfc-l3770cdw-brmfcl3770
Epson Workforce Pro WF-4830
$200 from Officeworks, it's an inkjet device. It's smaller brother is the 3820 and maybe not worth it, it's a smaller control screen, slower speeds, and smaller paper trays for $60 less.
Prints A4 paper, has individual colour tanks, not sure if there are generic options.
https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/epson-workforce-pro-printer-black-wf-4830-epwf4830
Epson Workforce WF-7830
$300 from Officeworks, it's an inkjet device. It's bigger brother is the 7840 and not really worth it, you get a bigger control screen for $80 more.
Prints A3 paper, has individual colour tanks, not sure if there are generic options.
Choosing between Epsons
Of the two options above, the differences can be summarised as:
|
WF-4830 |
WF-7830 |
Notes |
Price |
$200 |
$300 |
- |
Size (cm) |
43x39x33 |
52x40x35 |
10cm longer and an inch taller |
Weight |
11.9 kg |
18.2 kg |
- |
Print size |
A4 |
A3 |
- |
They use the same inks, $107 for a full set or $30 for a single tank.