this post was submitted on 04 Apr 2024
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I've got a Brother laser printer myself last year, and I like the printer, but I'll agree their software is bit of a hot mess. I used to have an old Canon multi-function laser printer that wasn't locked to 1st party toner, and their software was much easier to install and use. But it finally broke down after >10 years of moderate use and the new models are reportedly DRMed, so Brother was the only decent option.
?
How new is new?
I have a Canon ImageClass MF733CDW at home that's maybe six years old and it'll print with off brand toner just fine. I've run nothing but generic/counterfeit toner cartridges in it since I ran out the ones it came with. It did bitch about it on its little screen the first time I installed one, but you can turn that nag off in the options and it never prompted me again.
At work we have one (1) Canon LBP632C that's probably around a year old, our sole color printer in the building, and it too has no problem with generic toner cartridges. That one's just a printer, not a multifunction machine.
The only gripe I have with the generic cartridges is that the toner level reporting is not very accurate, but I've never found it to be very accurate to begin with so I'm not sure I'm missing out on much.
I think they do (or at least did) put some form of DRM on their toner cartridges, but it is fairly easy to bypass as you mentioned. There was an article about the fact they had to instruct customers how to bypass it due to COVID related chip shortages a while back. https://www.techspot.com/news/92915-canon-printer-owners-get-official-guidance-bypass-printer.html
I did like the quality and longevity of my (very) old Canon MF8350cdn from 2011 - it was a workhorse! But my new(ish) Brother MFCL2710DW has been great so far too. Only time will tell if it lasts as long as the old Canon though.
This appears to be for their business class and workgroup size printers, which makes a little more sense to have some manner of toner DRM in because they're typically leased or at the very leased serviced under some kind of contract. Sticking a toner cart some bean counter ordered from Wish or whatever in there is probably a nonzero probability of a malfunction (even if it's just the "colors being wrong") that'll result in a complaint from some PHB type who doesn't know shit about shit, and is thus something the manufacturer would really rather you not do.
Obviously I'd still rather they just not DRM anything at all, but this never applied to their consumer models as far as I can tell.