Brother IntelliFax-2840

Bottom line

The Brother IntelliFax-2840 laser fax machine faxes, scans and copies, and includes features like 400-page memory, a 250-page tray and an auto feeder. Owners say the machine does its job without a lot of fuss and is priced right.

Performance

A fast fax that's easy to use. The Brother IntelliFax-2840 is a laser fax machine that scans and sends faxes quickly, users say, even in superfine mode. Even non-tech-savvy users say the fax is easy to set up. There are very few complaints of paper jams, but a few users note that the machine is noisy (most claim it is quiet, however). Output quality seems well liked.

Features

Just the basic fax. Those looking for lots of bells and whistles will want to look elsewhere. But those interested in a solid black-and-white fax machine at an attractive price will put the Brother IntelliFax-2840 on their short list. Pluses include the ability to send faxes simultaneously to multiple locations (up to 272) and to scan a document into memory (up to 400 pages) while receiving or sending another fax.

On the downside, the Brother IntelliFax-2840 doesn't have document memory backup or an answering machine (though there is a socket for an external phone machine), which irks some small-business owners. The 250-sheet paper tray is ample for home or small offices, but will need frequent refilling in busier locations.

Value

High-capacity cartridge keeps costs under control. In general, users say that they are pleased with the bang for the buck offered by the Brother IntelliFax-2840. We did note a couple of complaints that toner costs are higher than they should be, and the machine ships only with a starter cartridge that yields around 700 pages. The standard toner cartridge (Est. $35) has a yield of 1,200 pages, but Brother also offers a high-capacity cartridge (Est. $55) that's rated for 2,600 pages, making it a much better deal.

However, for those that do a lot of faxing, the high-capacity toner cartridges available for office-class fax machines, such as the Brother IntelliFax-4100e (Est. $200) , might make such machines a better long-term value. The one-year limited warranty is fairly standard.