5.8 GHz Digital Cordless handset (expands to a total of 4 handsets)
2.5" Flip-up Color LCD display
Wireless 802.11b/g and Ethernet Interfaces
Prints up to 27ppm black and 22ppm color
Built-in Digital Answering Machine holds up to 29 minutes of messages
Rating: - all-in-one office equipment - this is the way to go
It's amazing that a UPS crew can drop, kick, tumble, fumble and crush the box and yet when I peeled away the tattered outer packaging the Brother MFC-845cw came out unscathed. I've used it for a month and love it. I don't do a lot of copying or faxing but this machine is great and I'm really glad to have it when I need it. I can finally do color enlargements - my favorite feature. I discovered it by reading a review in WIRED magazine. They said it was the only one they'd seen with a cordless phone - - duh, why don't they all have that? Anyway, I highly recommend it. I got free shipping, paid no sales tax, and got it for $25 less than MSRP. Score!
Rating: - Brother MFC-845cw
I'm using this machine on a wireless network that includes 4 macs and 1 PC.
Software installed on all machines easily (OS 10.3.9, OS 10.4.7, XP home) and quality and ease of use has been exceptional.
I can't speak for the photo features as I've yet to use them but other than that all was and is as promised by the add hype.
Imagine my surprise.......
Rating: - Expensive mistake
I bought this product primarily because I wanted a FAX/TAD that had a cordless phone. I needed to replace my Panasonic and the store that I went to did not have a Panasonic in stock. The only fax that also had a cordless phone feature was the Brother All-in-One so I decided to give it a try. It was the worst purchase I have made in a very long time. Having an extra printer/copier around was just a bonus to me and in fact it is the only part of the machine that is not a disappointment.
The restrictions on how the TAD can be used make it complicated and ineffective. Callers who leave a message have limited time to do so and that cannot be adjusted. I have had numerous clients have their messages cut off and I think that they find it insulting. When monitoring calls I have to listen to the outgoing message each time. Also during monitoring: if the caller hangs up we have to listen to a dial tone blaring in the room for several minutes. It's very distracting. If you are in the middle of a project and do not to stop to pick up the phone you will wish you had when you hear this racket. As an added annoyance: If the caller hangs up right away you have to hear the outgoing message on top of the dial tone (both at the same time). It's hard to imagine why Brother thought that was a good feature.
The outgoing message is limited to 20 seconds for the message center to work properly. I have confirmed with customer service that there also must be a delay of 5 seconds before our outgoing message starts. I have had clients who when confronted the with the five seconds of silence when they first called have assumed that they misdialed and hung up before the message came on. It even happened to me the first time I called my number after installing the Brother MFC-845CW...
Picking up calls from a remote phone is cumbersome enough that we just do not do it. If you are used to calling your phone and typing in your three or four digit code you will not be pleased with this system.
I finally gave up and spent a $114 on another answering machine thinking I could just use the Brother for faxing and copying. I was then told that I cannot bypass the TAD on the Brother but still receive faxes without a number of new restrictions: My new TAD needs to be set to pick up on two rings if the Brother is to work as a fax machine. I am not interested in trying to run to pick up each call within two rings in order to avoid having the answering machine pick up. There is one possible way to get around this: having distinctive ring for faxes. Unfortunately that is not available though my local phone company (I am located in the Virgin Islands).
I am not alone in hating this device. The two other people working in our small office also find it intolerable. Having purchased the Brother All-in-One, and an auxiliary answering device I am still without what I needed in the first place: a TAD/ FAX with a cordless fax.
As for the the great customer service: we did not find them exemplary. The three people we spoke to did speak English (not as a first language but well enough that we were not frustrated) but we did get conflicting information. I guess it is hard to be a great customer service representative for a really bad product.
After a month of frustration I am going to discard it unless I can find someone to give it to that just wants a copier. I'll get the Panasonic that I originally wanted. I hope I can save someone else from this product.
Rating: - So far So Good
I have only had it for about a month but so far it is everything that I wanted and it works great. I use my printer on a daily basis so even though I haven't had it long, I have used it a lot already. So, for now, it's great.
Brother MFC-845cw Color Photo Inkjet Flatbed All-in-One with 5.8GHz Cordless Handset Reviews
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