Brother MFC-8500 Laser Multifunction Center

by Brother

Product Details

Product Manual [4.65mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 26.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 35 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00005MEP3
• Item model number: MFC8500
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #96 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Printers > All-In-One Printers > Laser All-In-One Printers
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

While most all-in-one machines sacrifice quality for convenience, Brother's MFC-8500 multifunction center compares favorably with dedicated machines on the market. A fast 15-page-per-minute print time combined with 600 x 600 dpi output provides quality images with little wait time, while an 8 MB memory can up to 500 pages for out-of-paper reception.

Three quick scan buttons provide plenty of convenience, while a maximum scanning resolution of 9,600 x 9,600 (interpolated) dpi provides ample quality. The fax machine is call waiting, caller ID, and distinctive-ring detection ready, has 116 auto-dial stations, and has a super-quick setting, which can scan faxes in as little as two seconds.

The copier has a multicopy function of up to 99 pages, can enlarge copies anywhere from 50 to 100 percent, and is capable of a 600 x 600 dpi output. USB and parallel port interfaces are provided for easy connectivity, while ScanSoft PaperPort and TextBridge OCR are included with the MFC-8500 to help you get the most out of your scans.

Even with all these features, the best thing about this machine could be the price tag. The MFC-8500 also comes backed with a one-year limited warranty.

From the Manufacturer

The MFC-8500 is a 5-in-1 commercial laser multifunction center that combines performance, connectivity, and reliability. This full-feature fax, laser printer, and convenience copier is also equipped with a 9,600 by 9,600 dpi (interpolated) resolution scanner that has three easy "Scan-to" buttons on the front panel, allowing users to scan directly into their applications seamlessly. PC Fax capabilities allow you to send and broadcast faxes directly. The MFC-8500 can work in most Windows and Apple applications.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HP watch out, here comes Big Brother....., April 4, 2002

By 

Marc W White [e-mail] (Nashville Tn.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brother MFC-8500 Laser Multifunction Center (Office Product)

The truth is that a "really good fax" will separate you from about a thousand of your beloved George Washingtons; they don't sell them at places where most of us shop. For the average SOHO buyer the options in Laser multi functions are limited at best. This is my fifth printer and second multi function through the years, my first Brother product. I am a retired Network Engineer and I have personally laid hands on some of HPs biggest and badest printers, lets just say I have been around the block.

I bought the MFC 4800 and a Panasonic and returned both within three weeks because of misfeeds; so far the 8500 has not skipped a beat yet. Is it fast? Yes, very fast and the print quality is as good as it gets. Notable differences from the 4800; prints faster, scans faster, copies more clearly, has a larger capacity sheet feeder, has one touch faxing, is network capable, holds more paper, can add another 250 sheet paper tray, has a larger LCD, and ships with a full toner instead of a starter. The warranty may also be better. Also the feed mechanism is better than the 4800 thus eliminating misfeeds. The 8500 will suck up your 20-page fax faster than you can say, "I'm a nine to five slave", spit it out, and let you get back to playing solitaire while it takes care of business.

For those of us who own real office equipment the 8500 feels light and flimsy but remember it is only four hundred street price, you get what you pay for. I like the fact that it goes silent in sleep mode, that's good. The dedicated left and right arrow keys make programming the unit such a snap that even a CEO can do it. For support ask for a supervisor when you call Brother, the front line people don't know how to turn it on much less trouble shoot it. The manual is horribly lacking, it will do more than the manual tells you it will and Brothers web site about using the online manual is wrong, it is not any better. If you have trouble with the software and want to just install the drivers they are on the CD. Use the Distinctive Ring feature from your phone company if you don't have a dedicated line but be sure to read the manual to set up the unit.

In my epinion this is a great unit, full of features at an entry-level price. It's a laser and remember a few years ago these things did not even exist yet so we are lucky just to have them at all. Stay away from ink jets, they are loud, slow, messy, very expensive, and just don't belong in a real office setting. Go for the high capacity toner, for ten more bucks you get twice the toner, it's a no brainer and it gives you about a penny a page printing cost. Get the 8500, take it home, love it and it will love you back but watch the return date on your receipt in case you want to file for divorce but I doubt that will happen, this is one sexy, snappy little baby....

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast, quiet, great price!, November 6, 2001

By 

George P. Hatzigiannis DMD, MD - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brother MFC-8500 Laser Multifunction Center (Office Product)

I have owned this printer about 2 months now, and could not be happier. It is silent when not in operation, warm-up is only 2-3 seconds, and a single sheet pops out in seconds. Have done print jobs as large as 300 pages or so, and the printer really does crank them at 10-12 pages/minute. Print quality is excellent. Mac OS 10.1 works great with the printer; kudos to Brother for staying up-to-date. Don't know about long-term durability, but seems solid enough. The Fax works fine. Can't go wrong at this price.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Oh Brother! Lousy software and UI!, August 29, 2002

By 

Paul From Boulder "pfb" (Boulder, Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brother MFC-8500 Laser Multifunction Center (Office Product)

I really hesitated before purchasing this Multifunction, as I had a low-end Brother fax years ago and wasn't thrilled with it. Alas I wanted a laser based multi-function, and at anywhere near the ($$$) price point, Brother's currently the only game in town.

While the mechanics and electronics of the unit seem reasonable, the print speed fast, and the unit very quiet when not in use, the software and documentation just flat-out stinks... The installation process was buggy, and even when finally installed, the "tools" they give you to scan, print, fax, copy and manage the printer from your PC (as opposed the printers front panel) are primitive, lacking any help screens, buggy, slow, and do not play well with other PC applications. Brother, develop some real specifications for what this software needs to do as well as looking at how other vendors create a polished user interface, then hire (or outsource) a good development team to complete these tasks!

Till then... the 8500 get's returned and I'll buy another HP and live with the slightly higher cost, slightly slower ink-jet engine.