Rating: 
Summary: One year old now
Review: I have XP Pro and previously owned an HL-1440. I purchased the MFC-8500 because I wanted, in addition to printing, to "scan to email" and similiar functions. I am computer literate and carefully followed the quick install guide. The computer is about 3 months old without the installation of additional hardware or software that might cause conflicts.The software installs in two parts - the initial usb "inbox" drivers then the "native" usb drivers. Despite repeated attempts the drivers never installed properly. If I stopped after the "inbox" install, the printer worked fine. Printed, copyed and faxed extremely well. But the "native" software would never install correctly. After hours of trying different things (including downloading the lastest drivers), I gave up. I then installed using the parallel port. While I managed to get both the "inbox" and "native" drivers installed, the "Brothers Control Panel" did not function (probably did not install). Again, interoperability between the PC and MFC did not function - no scanning functions. The manual does not mention the scanning function at all. The online manual provides almost no information re scanning - except to suggest that you uninstall the scanning software if you don't use it. The web site hardly mentions scanning. While the hardware seems well designed, and very quick, the software does not communicate well with XP Pro. I had high hopes for this machine and was very disappointed. Its the first time Brother has failed me.
Rating: 
Summary: Prints nice - does not scan
Review: I have XP Pro and previously owned an HL-1440. I purchased the MFC-8500 because I wanted, in addition to printing, to "scan to email" and similiar functions. I am computer literate and carefully followed the quick install guide. The computer is about 3 months old without the installation of additional hardware or software that might cause conflicts. The software installs in two parts - the initial usb "inbox" drivers then the "native" usb drivers. Despite repeated attempts the drivers never installed properly. If I stopped after the "inbox" install, the printer worked fine. Printed, copyed and faxed extremely well. But the "native" software would never install correctly. After hours of trying different things (including downloading the lastest drivers), I gave up. I then installed using the parallel port. While I managed to get both the "inbox" and "native" drivers installed, the "Brothers Control Panel" did not function (probably did not install). Again, interoperability between the PC and MFC did not function - no scanning functions. The manual does not mention the scanning function at all. The online manual provides almost no information re scanning - except to suggest that you uninstall the scanning software if you don't use it. The web site hardly mentions scanning. While the hardware seems well designed, and very quick, the software does not communicate well with XP Pro. I had high hopes for this machine and was very disappointed. Its the first time Brother has failed me.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Brother! Lousy software and UI!
Review: I really hesitated before purchasing this Multifunction, as I had a low-end Brother fax years ago and wasn't thrilled with it. Alas I wanted a laser based multi-function, and at anywhere near the ($$$) price point, Brother's currently the only game in town. While the mechanics and electronics of the unit seem reasonable, the print speed fast, and the unit very quiet when not in use, the software and documentation just flat-out stinks... The installation process was buggy, and even when finally installed, the "tools" they give you to scan, print, fax, copy and manage the printer from your PC (as opposed the printers front panel) are primitive, lacking any help screens, buggy, slow, and do not play well with other PC applications. Brother, develop some real specifications for what this software needs to do as well as looking at how other vendors create a polished user interface, then hire (or outsource) a good development team to complete these tasks! Till then... the 8500 get's returned and I'll buy another HP and live with the slightly higher cost, slightly slower ink-jet engine.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Brother! Lousy software and UI!
Review: I really hesitated before purchasing this Multifunction, as I had a low-end Brother fax years ago and wasn't thrilled with it. Alas I wanted a laser based multi-function, and at anywhere near the [price] price point, Brother's currently the only game in town. While the mechanics and electronics of the unit seem reasonable, the print speed fast, and the unit very quiet when not in use, the software and documentation just flat-out stinks... The installation process was buggy, and even when finally installed, the "tools" they give you to scan, print, fax, copy and manage the printer from your PC (as opposed the printers front panel) are primitive, lacking any help screens, buggy, slow, and do not play well with other PC applications. Brother, develop some real specifications for what this software needs to do as well as looking at how other vendors create a polished user interface, then hire (or outsource) a good development team to complete these tasks! Till then... the 8500 get's returned and I'll buy another HP and live with the slightly higher cost, slightly slower ink-jet engine.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent printer/FAX/copier
Review: I've been using this printer for a few months now. It is quiet, very fast for its price, produces very good quality print. It also works flawlessly as FAX and copier. A few weeks ago I bought NetGear's PS110 print server, so I was concerned that the printer would not work with the print server. Everything works better than expected. I love it! On occasion I wish it had a flatbed scanner for copying of irregular size pages. On the other hand, it auto-feeds paper from the source, while a flatbed with the comparable price probably will not have this feature. So far I've had excellent experience with this unit and recommend it to everyone. Almost 2 years later: a couple of months after my review the printed pages started having ever increasing gray spots until the gray color covered the entire page. All sugestions by the printer's manual failed except what I have not tried -- replacing the cartridge or the drum -- because this was supposed to happen much later, not after printing just a few hundred pages on a brand new printer (we do not print much.) At this point I can read the printed text, but the quality is not good. I have not used other laser printers and cannot compare how long those would survive, but I have been very disappointed with my experience. Hence changing the starts from 5 to 1.
Rating:
Summary: I must have gotten a good one
Review: I've had my Brother MFC-8500 for over 3 years now (I bought a 3 year service plan, but never have had to use it) and haven't had even one problem with it. I have a small, one room home office and it fits the bill nicely. I had Windows 98 when I purchased it, then I upgraded to XP Professional, called Brother and they sent me a CD for XP and I upgraded the software so it would operate on XP. The TN-460 High Yield cartridge is great--gives you a lot of ink for the money and the cost is very reasonable. The only thing the specs for this product don't tell you is that you have to buy a new drum unit every so often (I've bought 2 in the past 3 years) and they are about $150 at Staples. Now I'm not that printer savvy, so I don't know if other brands need drum unit changes like this one. But all in all, I couldn't be happier.
Rating:
Summary: Mac users beware!
Review: Mac users, as of 10/11/02, this product doesn't really work with OS 10.2.1. You may be able to print if you're lucky, but the scanner and the manual feed aren't supported according to the Brother website (a page that's impossible to find). The worst part of my experienec so far is Brother's technical support for the Mac. If you try to reach them by phone, they'll actually ask you to FAX your question to their Mac expert who can ONLY be contacted by written fax (no email address, no telephone number). Just a customer service nightmare. I wish I could return this, but I'm stuck now. Get the HP multifunction instead.
Rating:
Summary: Good Workhorse
Review: My office has a continous fax line using up at least 3000 pages
per month...so far it has been able to handle this volume.
Invest in TN 460 toner lasts twice as long (6000 pages) for
only marginally increased price. If decide to use the USB
cable remember it can only handle less than 9-10 feet length if
need longer cable go with a bidirectional paralell cable.
Rating:
Summary: Real problems with XP
Review: not the best printer. Using the 8500 with an ibook and OS 9 and find that its great to have a fax, copier, scanner and laser printer in the same package. Print is decent but took a while for the toner to even out. I suspect HP has a better system. OS 9 driver is ok. Can stack >50 pgs for scanning. Scanner is fast but software is unacceptably slow. Tried Omnipage pro X but it doesn't readily recognize the 8500. Photoshop is fast if saving as images. A great stand alone fax/copier. Most other buttons don't work with mac. Biggest limitation is the quality of the oem software and manual. Tech support is easier to access and better than many other venders. Overall- satisfied.
Rating: 
Summary: Mac Users: Good bang for the $ but
Review: not the best printer. Using the 8500 with an ibook and OS 9 and find that its great to have a fax, copier, scanner and laser printer in the same package. Print is decent but took a while for the toner to even out. I suspect HP has a better system. OS 9 driver is ok. Can stack >50 pgs for scanning. Scanner is fast but software is unacceptably slow. Tried Omnipage pro X but it doesn't readily recognize the 8500. Photoshop is fast if saving as images. A great stand alone fax/copier. Most other buttons don't work with mac. Biggest limitation is the quality of the oem software and manual. Tech support is easier to access and better than many other venders. Overall- satisfied.
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