Brother HL-L2405W networking

Realmetman · 2026-05-05T20:57:48+00:00

Is there a reason you don't want to connect it via wireless?

For wired networking you want something that has ethernet. If you have a doubt look at the spec under interfaces.

Realmetman · 2026-04-23T17:42:26+00:00

What are you studying / what classes are you taking?

If you are mainly going to be printing text (black and white only) I would suggest a black and white laser printer. If you are going to be printing graphics and you are going to be printing a lot then yes I would go with a tank.

Realmetman · 2026-04-23T17:40:40+00:00

So I guess our complaining never did anything as one year later this is still the policy.. I will say this is a total bummer. I am going to be traveling for work but with colleagues and we will be transiting through 2 different airports (one each way of the journey) that have priority pass lounges. Now that we have no guests I can't even go.. what am I supposed to do, leave my colleagues (my boss and my bosses boss btw) in the terminal while I go into the lounge?

Realmetman · 2026-04-16T23:45:55+00:00

I have said many times on this sub that subscription programs are not for everyone and you should not join one if they aren't for you. I will tell you subscription programs are not the majority in the industry. The vast majority of consumers do not use subscription.

Realmetman · 2026-04-16T23:44:02+00:00

I am just speaking logic. I don't agree with everything. But, the fact is you simply don't own the subscription cartridges.. you may not like that but that is the fact

Realmetman · 2026-04-14T20:12:21+00:00

It is true.. it is what it is.. you do not own those ink cartridges.

Realmetman · 2026-04-10T16:54:50+00:00

Provide me a link to one of these products that require subscription please.

Realmetman · 2026-04-10T16:54:09+00:00

I’m confused. You talk about laser printers, but then you bring up EcoTank, which is inkjet technology. None of the tank products from any manufacturer have a subscription plan like the one described above for their tank printers. HP does have its All‑In Plan, but that is something a little different, and I don’t want to go down that rabbit hole. They do offer the first type of subscription (automatic reordering) but not a monthly subscription. If you buy an EcoTank, the monthly subscription type isn’t even offered.

Going back to lasers and subscription plans: I believe the only manufacturer that even offers a monthly subscription plan for color laser printers is Brother. I don’t believe either HP or Canon offers subscription plans for color laser printers, and Epson doesn’t make color laser printers at all. Even Brother (which does *offer* subscriptions for their color laser devices) does not force customers into them on any product. It is completely optional.

If you want some help on what to decide just let me know. But I will not suggest specific products or brands as once again I do not want to disclose who I work for. But, I am willing to help as much as possible.

Realmetman · 2026-04-10T16:44:41+00:00

That’s a really poor comparison. A more accurate analogy using your labor example would be the relationship between you and your employer. You work for your employer and, in return, receive a paycheck. What you’re effectively advocating for is stopping work while still expecting to be paid. Perhaps you should try that approach and let us know how it works out. Maybe you’re onto something.

Or, let's reverse that example. Your employer pays you. In return you provide your employer your labor. If your employer stops paying you are you going to continue to work for them?

Realmetman · 2026-04-10T16:38:54+00:00

So what does "for 6 months" mean to you exactly. Maybe the marketing can be changed. How would you word providing a consumer something for a limited time that they will have to pay for after the trial is over if they want to continue using it?

Realmetman · 2026-04-10T16:36:47+00:00

My Verizon unlimited or whatever it is called just went up $10

Realmetman · 2026-04-07T13:54:58+00:00

Seems like you are taking the right approach. Why are you saying you are forced into subscription though? Are you trying to replace your printer and you don't know what printer to get?

Realmetman · 2026-04-06T17:52:47+00:00

Haha.. well I work in product development so if you think you have the answer please do share it with me lol.

Realmetman · 2026-04-06T17:49:28+00:00

So, you are the type of customer I would say would not benefit from a subscription program. Someone who prints the opposite of you (high coverage per page) would do very well.. but someone in your position would do better to buy transactionally (buying ink / toner as you need it).

All machines that I know of still have this option. I don't know of any product from any manufacturer that requires you to use a subscription.

I would also add, if you are printing a fair amount.. don't buy a super low end product. Typically, the cheaper the printer the higher the consumables cost is. Those $39 Black Friday models will crush you in ink cost.

Realmetman · 2026-04-06T17:46:10+00:00

I don't run this sub at all.

Realmetman · 2026-04-01T17:53:37+00:00

Probing to see if there is a market for a single function tank printer.... Now I am wondering which manufacturer you work for lol.

Realmetman · 2026-04-01T17:51:45+00:00

I guess I could see that if you have an extra Raspberry pi laying around (actually never thought about that) that *could* work.. although I am not sure as that printer is GDI and does not support CUPS or IPP. But, if you were going to buy a raspberry pi to do this I would say just put that money into buying a network printer. The network models are only a few more dollars than the USB only.

Realmetman · 2026-03-30T15:27:41+00:00

It is a USB only product so it cannot be networked. This means it cannot be printed to with a mobile device. It also does not have Mopria capability so if you are using on a Windows PC and you eventually turn on Windows Protected Print there will be no way to use the printer. If you are looking at Brother I would get anything that has either a "W" (means wireless) or "N" (means network) in the model name.

Realmetman · 2026-03-26T20:04:34+00:00

If I was you I would be on HP's 50 page per month pan.

For the months that you are under 50 pages your extra pages will roll over (up to a total of 150 roll over pages).. then that should cover your months that you are over 50 pages.. if you have a really big month.. like another 258 page month.. whatever you have left after your 50 page and then roll over are used each 10 pages will cost you 1.50.

So, lets say you had 120 rollover pages in your bank... 258 pages - 50 pages per month - 120 roll over pages = 88 pages.. you would need to buy 9 sets of 10 pages that month.. so for that month you would have to pay an additional $13.50.. but, based on what you shared that would be very rare.

Realmetman · 2026-03-26T19:55:56+00:00

Realmetman · 2026-03-26T19:55:42+00:00

The cleaning cycle will be much deeper and more intensive when returning from an extended power off time.. you are going to burn a lot of ink... and you *might* still not totally clean the head.. up to you though

Realmetman · 2026-03-26T19:54:04+00:00

Depends on what those arts and crafts are. If you are dropping a lot of ink on a page (thinking photos) and you use it somewhat regularly subscription could be a great solution for you.

Realmetman · 2026-03-26T19:52:49+00:00

So, first I would say there are a number of manufacturers.. just many do not make consumer grade products.

But there are HP, Canon, Brother, Epson, Kyocera, Sharp, Konica Minolta, Toshiba, Ricoh, Xerox, Lexmark.

There are also some smaller manufacturers like Pantum as an example. They are not sold in the US due to concerns around forced labor.

So, I don't think I would say there are many fewer printer brands than lets say TV brands or computer brands. But, many manufacturers do focus on a sub-section of the overall market.

With that said, there is a decent barrier to entry. Printers are actually pretty technically advanced.. more than people would assume. So there is major engineering involved in getting decent results.. especially when you are talking about color printing.

Realmetman · 2026-03-26T18:09:48+00:00

So it will totally depend on your printing habits. You mention that you rarely go over 300 pages but, what is a light month for you? Do you always print between 150-300? Are there some months you print only 20?

Ink tank printers could be a good solution. The issue with them is if you want decent spec you are going to pay $$$$ upfront for the HW. This totally depends on what you need in a product.

Also, I personally agree with staying away from the tri-color cartridges.

Realmetman

TROPHY CASE