The Brother MFC 5460cn is an all-in-one photo inkjet printer. However like many articles I’ve wrote here it is about yet another discontinued product. I hope to be able to lead you from this model into considering a more realistic and generally available printer of the same standard.
Fine Old Printer
None of this is to say that anything is wrong with this model; it is based on pure practicality as the likelihood of getting a new model of this particular machine is slim. Let’s discover what the MFC 5460 is capable of.
The Brother MFC 5460cn is able to perform printing, copying, scanning, and faxing. If you were ever fortunate to find a new model you can expect to pay around $265. Sometimes you can stumble on refurbished models and used models selling for as much as $85. If you’re looking to save money and still want good quality, go the refurbished route if at all possible but I have my doubts on you achieving finding one.
Used Only
The Brother MFC-5460cn Color Photo Inkjet All-in-One Flatbed with Networking currently is only available on Amazon for $85 which is well overpriced for a used model.
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As A Performer
Despite its unavailability, let’s go over speed first. The Brother MFC-5460cn can print up to 30 pages per minute black and 25 pages per minute color, which is above average. The fax uses 33.6Kbps high speed, which is standard.
The PC is also not required for fax use. The copier can print up to 20 pages per minute black and 20 pages per minute color. These are very impressive numbers. Unfortunately, there are no speed stats for the scanner.
Now let’s go over quality. Prints can reach resolution up to 6000 x 1200 dots per inch and ink droplets will be as small as 1.5 picoliters. This is above average. Copies will reach resolution as high as 1200 x 600 dpi. This is good, not great.
However, the copies can also be enlarged and reduced from 25% to 400%, which is a nice feature. Scans can reach interpolated resolution as high as 19,200 dpi. The software for the scanner is very easy to use.
There are some other good features for the Brother MFC 5460cn.
One of the more important convenience features is that the networking interface will allow for shared printing, scanning and faxing. There is also a 35-page auto document feeder, which is pretty much standard for all-in-ones in this price range.
The front-loading paper tray can hold up to 100 sheets. Most models can hold more paper. Then again, this isn’t a high volume machine intended for a busy office. It’s more for the home or a small office. The Brother MFC 5460 is PictBridge compatible. It’s also capable of producing borderless prints.
It has a fair speed in all areas. Good quality in most areas. The ink is regarded by some as a little expensive and the odd complaint of paper jams, but this is a very decent old printer. Of all the 4 functions, none are bad.
The biggest negative for the MFC 5460cn is ink consumption. While this is a common complaint for almost any model on the market, there are models that are good on ink consumption – the Brother MFC 9840cdw is one of them.
There have also been ink jam complaints for the 5460cn, but this is normal and often has more to do with overloading of the paper tray, especially when it’s thick paper. This model does request cleaning itself too much and you will be required to sort pages when you receive a fax. Other than that, it’s a good machine.
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The Brother MFC 5460cn is best suited for small offices, college students, or home offices. It’s PC and Mac compatible.
Available Alternative
The merit in buying used printers is lost on me in a case where the replacement model for an old printer is available on Amazon, new and only a little more expensive than the used older printer is the Brother MFC-5490CN Professional Series Color Inkjet All-in-One with Ethernet Networking can be found for as little as well under $100.
This again prints, scans, faxes and copies with a maximum resolution of 6000 x 1200 dpi and it has a print speed of up to 35ppm black and 28ppm color. It even handles paper sizes of 3.5″ x 5″ to 8.5″ x 14″ and a standard paper tray holding 150 sheets.
It has a Built-in wired Ethernet network Interface. Other features include Hi-speed super G3 33.6K bps fax modem speed. The copy speed is 23cpm black and 20cpm for color and 25% – 400% reduction and enlargement capability.
The scanner has an optical resolution of 1200 x 2400 dpi and 48 bit Input color scan Bit depth. All functions are in color and it is fairly obvious that this is a far greater option than any outdated and discontinued model such as the featured MFC 5460.
In almost all cases it seems you are going to do better with a new model and a little research should lead you to a discontinued models replacement. Forget the old, look for the new.
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About James Wikkee