Brother DCP-J515W Review
The Brother DCP-J515W is a wireless color inkjet multifunction printer with a media card center for Memory Sticks, Memory Stick Duo, and SD cards. Some may be disappointed that a Pictbridge port not included, but as you can use the 8.2cm screen to view and print the contents of your card, this should not cause too much inconvenience. Like most multifunction printers, this printer is capable of printing, scanning, and copying your documents. The DCP-J515W doesn’t have a fax machine or paper feed for multiple copies, so if you need something with more sophisticated features for an office, I suggest looking for another printer in the Brother range.
The unit comes with ink, software, and a power cable, so you have everything you need to get you up and running straight out of the box, assuming you will be setting it up wirelessly. If, for whatever reason, you were going to hard-wire it to your computer, be sure to either purchase a USB A-B cable or use the one from your old printer. In all honesty, if you are not going to be using this printer on your wireless network, I would recommend saving you money and checking out an entry-level Brother machine like the DCP-195C or DCP-197C.
Setting up the printer is very simple, and the only bits that are likely to cause any confusion is getting it configured with your wireless network. However, it is no more taxing than setting up any other wireless devices, and anyone new to the process is probably best following the instructions proved on the software disc step by step.
But it does have a tiny footprint and a brief profile that makes it suitable for most desktops. This is mostly thanks to the paper tray (similar to those found in laser printers) that pull paper into the machine for printing instead of relying on gravity-fed paper, which is prevalent in most inkjet printers. This tray also has a separate paper feed for 6 “x4” paper, which is ideal for quickly stretching photos. The only negative point of paper feeding is the maximum paper thickness of 220gsm for the printer because the paper must be rotated 180 degrees inside the printer before it can be printed.
Like all Brother inkjet printers, it takes comparatively large cartridges containing 25ml for the black and 12ml for each color. If you should decide to use compatible cartridges in your printer, you will find this an incredibly cheap printer to run as the cartridges used are very affordable to produce as they don’t require any chipping electronically. As a result, you will experience no color from your printer when a compatible cartridge installed, as the printer will not be able to tell.
With a maximum print speed of 35 pages per minute, it is a very speedy inkjet printer and is pretty quiet when compared to other machines. With a maximum resolution of 6,000 by 1,200dpi, it is not designed to be a high spec photo printer, and photographers may want to look at 5+ color Epson or Canon machines. However, the quality of photo prints at a glance is more than acceptable and should not disappoint a casual user.
In summary, the DCP-J515W is an excellent wireless printer, and while it doesn’t have many extra features, it is recommendable for any small office or user that wants an economical and functional printer, scanner, and copier. This printer costs typically around £ 80- £ 90, and there isn’t much reason to choose this machine over the DCP-J315W, which many places currently have on offer for around £ 20 less. If, however, you need a larger screen or perhaps have to have the printer substantially higher than the desk level, you might appreciate the 8.2cm adjustable screen.
