Customer Reviews

Brother DCP-110c Color Flatbed Multi-Function Center

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is one of a series, based on the same print engine. The units range from a simple scanner/printer (this model), to others with fax and even auto collators. So, it's simply a matter of features to base your choice on.

Since I do not have a land-line (cell only, thank you) and needed a cheap printer for photo and scanning, this model seemed ideal, because it's dirt cheap, prints decent photos when using high-quality gloss paper, and has one of the best color scanners I've seen. It scanned images much better than Epson units.

It has an unusual design, in that the ink cartridges are stationary, rather than moving with the print heads. Though, still not ideal as HP, which give you a new print head with each new cartridge.

Text quality and graphics are average. It does read memory flash cards (but no CRT display), and has very intuitive on-board controls. The basic LCD display is hard to read.

My only major complaint is that they install extra software (on start-up) that isn't really necessary and eats up your computer's memory.

The first unit had a banding problem, but the replacement is working fine, with no jams or clogged print heads (like my previous Epson inkjet).

For the money, this printer is just fine.

We purchased this product as a gift. We have never been able to get it to work. It does not recognize ink cartridges as installed when they are. The point of purchase (not Amazon) refuses to take it back because (on their recommendation) we removed the UPC code and sent it in for a mail-in rebate. Back to the point, this machine is utterly useless in the literal sense. It does not function at all, let alone "multi-function." If you do decide to buy this worthless item, be advised that the machine requires individual ink cartridges for black, cyan, magenta and yellow, and it will not print if even ONE of the cartridges is empty. Ah, yes. Very useful.

This is a product that tries to do too much. On the plus side are the price and the features. It is a flatbed scanner, printer, and color copier. One major feature is the memory card reader function, it will read secure digital, memory stick/memory stick pro, SSFD, and compact flash. One last feature, and it can be a major one, is the very compact size for such a full featured unit. I'ts not much larger than a typical Lexmark printer.

On the downside is the performance. It is fast but the output is not up to most current inkjet printers. On plain copier paper the ink wicks just enough to be visible and the colors (black included) are rather flat looking. Using photopaper and max. resolution it produces passable output but no one will ever mistake it for a true photograph, unlike most inkjets today. If you are not too demanding of your print quality then you get a quick, compact unit with lots of features.

As a quick note, I found installation to be a breeze. While mine did not come with a usb cable... no printer I've ever purchased ever has so I did not expect one.

Great machine at a great price. While not totally mobile, it is one of the best priced and lightest printer/scanners I have located with a flat bed that I can use as a mobile device. I have ordered two machines and have highly recommended it to friends.

Great Price, Has worked longer than any other printer that I have used (3 yrs).
The inks are the cheapest, and you only have to change the indivdual color that runs out. However, if you don't have one to replace it with, you cannot not print without it.

It has a self cleaning feature which uses up the ink even if you don't print often. I now have mine on a seperate switch which I turn on only when I want to print.
Scanner print function works with one button push and is great.

Considering the fact that this printer was free with the purchase of a digital camera, I would not recommend purchasing this printer. If you can get it for free - go for it. Biggest complaint was trying to print standard sized photos. It never would print the pictures correctly on photo paper. The scanner and copier worked fine. Like all the other reviews, ink cartridge replacement was very irritating. LCD panel was very hard to read. After 2 years (of very little usage), I got an indication in the LCD display, "Unable to Clean..." message. It no longer works. Now I am stuck with new packs of ink that I will never use. I would take another free one though.

I owned this printer for a year and a half. It finally died last week so I was actually motivated enough to get another one. The scanner never worked (tech support couldn't figure it out, and since I don't use a scanner all that often I let it go). As others mentioned, the LCD is terrible. Had to view it from the side while shielding the screen from the other side. Paper jams were frequent. And if one color cartridge was empty, the printer wouldn't work at all (even on B&W setting). Others mentioned good color prints - but I never managed to get good ones even with excellent paper and brother brand ink (and, yes, I do take good photos). However, it did an outstanding job on B&W photographs - crisp with great contrast. And it was useful for printing last minute stuff for work when I was only done said stuff at 3am and it was due at 8. This time, I did my homework before buying a printer...

No USB cable to connect printer. Set up was very complicated, I ended up calling technical support. After waiting 20 minutes to speak to a live person they troubleshooted me through the process. Together we managed to get the black to print. Unfornately, all attempts at color failed. She said that if I would give her my credit card number, she would see a replacement unit was sent to me. I declined stating I just had bought it today - and I could easily take it back.

What a disappointment -- I had high hopes for this print since I already owned a Brother. The compact size and added features is what drew me to it in the first place. Hopefully, the next person who purchases one will have a better experience than I have had.

The previous reviewers complain about the lack of a USB cable included in the box. Printers are NOT SOLD with cables any more. Customers are expected to provide their own.

This review describes a DCP-110C unit purchased in France.

This is an entry level MFP with no fax.

The installation on Windows 2000 was troublesome. This comment may not apply to Windows XP.

On our MFP, the LCD display is nearly impossible to see from directly above the MFP. It had to be viewed from an angle. This is a severe flaw. Make sure you see a model with the LCD turned on and viewable before purchasing. Hopefully other reviewers will clarify whether this is a one off situation.

One color cartridge didn't work. This was due to my attempt to insert the cartridge using the wrong orientation or into a wrong slot. I believe this to be a design error. Under no circumstances should a cartridge become damaged by such a common user error. Cartridges should be more clearly marked and impossible to reverse or misplace.

Initially, the copier function turned out black pages. All settings appeared correct. Strangely, scans appeared as expected so the scanning mechanism was working properly. Later, the copier function worked normally. Not sure what happened.

No USB cable is provided.

The quality of the printing, scanning and copying functions are as expected.

The unit has builtin slots for several types of memory cartridges. We found this to be a useful and unexpected feature.

Update: 28 August 2005
Disgusted by product description of "4 in 1 Multi-function Printer" that has no fax.