Upgradable and above average ...

I would like to highlight Tips .: at this point
"Papadimitriou" (... To reset the toner-level status)
"Roman" (... information regarding optional network fine filter)

Please do not forget:
Many finance products to. Through the consumption material for printers not otherwise Original inks and toners or can thus quite exceed the purchase price of a printer. So definitely worth before buying Printer to look at the anticipated follow-up costs. Also, high-quality toner alternative providers be interesting if you are interested you should therefore also look at whether there is sufficient alternatives for this printer are present at all.

Upgradable and above average ...
... Is the Brother HL-3040CN.

What was before ...
My Samsung CLP-300 has acknowledged after about two and a half years in time for an approaching weekend service. Again and again, jam and striped prints adorned the everyday. Fetid toner me head / and breath - // - prepared complaints, as well as a highly heated device surface during the heating phase were other features of my first color laser.

A little earlier ...
For many years I used inkjet printers from different manufacturers, but dried ink nozzles, smeared ink and the strong differences in quality of printouts depending on the paper texture have extremely bothered me from the beginning, also I as private users have an extremely low pressure requirements. I have always longed for affordable alternatives.

The Solution ...
I print photos for about three years with a special Sony photo printers (thermal transfer printers ...), which meets my requirements. For all other printed matter, I think, in spite of the clean case with the Samsung CLP-300, color laser printer for the right choice.

Currently ...
Currently I use the Brother HL-3040CN. The extremely large product packaging had me start first very frightened, although the mentioned predecessors similarly packed suspect a huge device read. After unpacking I could breathe again, it's just all exemplary packed. The new printer is indeed considerably larger, but fits just (B409 x H250 x T466 mm) on the parking space only available in my small living room, which also housed the old printer. Until ready to operate it, even for inexperienced users so about 10 to 15 minutes, the printed manual leads naturally and quickly to the goal. Out remove from the box, packaging material and transport locks, unpack the toner container and insert, cabling, switch and change the menu directly on the device in German, install test prints and drivers ready. Optional Brother should be visited on the Internet to download the latest drivers there and perform the product registration.

The image ...
I use it at home to compare the expression of the Brother HL-3040CN directly only with the remaining print my old Samsung CLP-300 and am layman's terms happier than before. The manufacturer indicates that prints with a resolution of up to 2400 x 600 dpi possible the machine is applying a color laser, but not as photo-laser printer, so please do not expect any lab photo quality when printing the holiday pictures , Color / photo and - // - print with a resolution up to 600 x 600 dpi are no problem, but it is extended memory needed since the fixed pre-installed 32 MB is often inadequate. A low-cost upgrade to a maximum of 544MB is possible and sensible, but the Aufrüstspeicher should not be ordered from the printer manufacturer, because it may be up to twenty compared to compatible alternative products there times more expensive.

After some time of use ...
The cold start with maximum memory configuration takes about 1 minute, it will Wore a memory test instead, which I do not feel as a further disturbing. The first printed page when you wake up from the sleep mode is after about 30 seconds ago. In general, the print speed is after the initialization time at very high levels, as measured by the price which is great. The Brother is in operation at any side of the unit more than lukewarm. Operating noise during initialization and during printing are clearly audible, it's just no iron :-) In sleep mode, the printer is silent. Also, the toner odor is minimal and directly wahrnembar during printing directly at the device. Distributed in the ambient air toner caused no headaches for me. On request the unit (manufacturer ... lt ca.8 watts.) May after printing already one minute later automatically into Sleep mode go. The straight current printer driver provides many optimization options, such as preventing the toner-saving mode or curled paper, etc.

More ...
Even with this printer no data cable is included, for me the opportunity reuse at least the cable of my old printer. The supplied toner container rich according to the manufacturer for about 1000 printed pages per color, at five percent coverage, as I will probably not first have to look for toner. The paper tray can hold a maximum of 250 sheets and vanishes into the device. Behind a flap above the paper tray there is an additional single sheet feeder. The case for the memory upgrade is easily accessible from the outside and there is no tool for the insertion of an expansion module requires. The printer has two case fans that are turned off completely in power-saving mode. The power switch is located on the right side in the lower right quadrant. The power consumption is during initialization, warming up and the pressure at ungefär 500 watts, at other times it is content with a fraction of. The apparently high energy requirement of the device is only for frequent printers really relevant, have to buy the weekly new toner. The printer is equipped with a print server and has a LAN connection.

Computer image ...
The computer image is the Brother HL-3040CN is a "Full pollutant load" a high power consumption and a lot of noise certified in November 2009.
The computer screen has the Samsung CLP-300 "passed tests for harmful substances" one in November 2007, the power consumption and the volume certified as deficient.
The statements I leave without comment at this point, as I have already shown my impressions with two devices layman and me, of course, lacks any means for elaborate comparative tests.

Conclusion ...
I use anyway (... still excellent) continue the Brother HL-3040CN and solve during the printing operation through properly, this seems to me the time being the safest solution, at least for my head being. Of course I hope that Brother future developed more environmentally friendly consumables. In the meantime new printer driver may affect the print quality, toner consumption, and the positive speed. In addition, the energy required by the user can be optimized, for example, by using existing power-saving settings are customized, often helps reading the owner's manual. And the computer screen is probably not the last word. Product tests are always to be regarded as a snapshot, because some product features may over time improve (... production cycle) and also deteriorate. The same products can thus appear at a later time of purchase as modified or revised models with different characteristics in trade ...

The extremely high quality appearing overall impression convinced me finally. Everything seems robust, functional, and well thought out. All moving machine components are processed sufficiently stable and precisely, nothing rattles or crunches and a paper jam has not been given. Then, when the pre-filled toner container are running out, I'm going to switch to less polluting consumables, if necessary, I use quality toner from alternative providers ...

Memory compatible with Brother HL-3040CN .:
Manufacturers - matter
Memory Size - 32 ... 64 ... 128 ... 256 ... 512 MB (maximum)
Number of Pins - 144
Memory type - SDRAM - (SODIMM)
Classification - PC100 PC133 ...
Latencies - - -

Update v2012.06.26 .:
What can I say?
He is there for me when I need him. He is rather unremarkable, if I do not need him. He does what he is provided all reliable and fast enough ...

Update v2013.03.05 .:
Toner ... from any provider / manufacturer, so that supply is by no means be regarded as safe, every time you print reach millions of very fine particles in the ambient air, so should the operation of a laser / LED or - // - printer principle for plenty of fresh air be taken care of. Although some products are advertised as a particularly low-pollution, you should be aware of the potential health risks always aware.