Brother 8050 Toner Cartridges

Brother 8050 Printer Review

The Brother 8050 and 8050p are small office monochrome fax machines that are affordable, yet underwhelming compared to other multipurpose devices. This laser unit isn't among the quickest of similar models, incorporating a maximum transmission speed of only 14.4 Kbps that can send a fax in as fast as 6 seconds. While buyers can find more technologically intuitive devices with faxing capabilities, the 8050 does have simple controls and low-cost toners.

The machine provides a standard 200-sheet input tray and a 20-sheet automatic document feeder for scanning pages for faxing. Users can also expand the standard built-in RAM of 2 MB to a maximum of 4 MB. Despite this upgradable feature, the 8050 is best used for light faxing needs in a home or small office.

Features for sending and receiving faxes include the ability to store up to 50 speed-dialing locations, error correction mode and fax forwarding for forwarding incoming faxes to another number. The machine also includes a single-line monochrome display for reports on job progress and incoming documents. Incoming monochrome faxes have enough detail for internal distribution with a maximum resolution of 200x400 dpi using black Brother 8050 printer toner.

The device uses two separate supplies to operate, a black Brother 8050 toner cartridge and a 20,000-sheet capacity drum unit. The Brother 8050 toner cartridge can yield up to 2,200 pages, which is long-lasting considering its price and will help keep running costs low. Compatible replacements supplies are available from third-party vendors and can help maintain the most cost-efficient operation.

With its inexpensive price tag, the 8050 has a decent enough design and performance to be worth a look. While new units with multifunction capabilities can perform the job of the 8050 and much more, this monochrome device is a solution for those that need a dedicated fax machine to sit comfortably on their desktop.