Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is a nice, compact laser printer with good build quality. Wireless was essential for me - I've been waiting quite a while for a wireless laser that had reliably great reviews. I unpacked the box, removed the plastic strips, scanned the quick start guide, plugged the printer in, and everything was great so far. I then downloaded the newest drivers from the Brother website (drivers on included CD's are usually 3-12 month old) for my Windows 7 x64 and Windows 7 x32 laptops; executing the driver programs walks you through setup. In the past for wireless products, I've found you usually have to first set them up on a wired (Ethernet or USB) connection, then change things over to wireless. I decided to test the technological development level and go straight to wireless setup, starting with the 64-bit machine. This consisted of inserting the tip of a pen [you could also use a paperclip, etc] into the wireless setup button hole, telling the printer to start looking for a router; then I ran downstairs, pushed/held the WPS button on my wireless router, telling it to start looking for another device - in one minute they met, and fell in love. That was it. The driver installation software (on the wireless 64-bit laptop) detected they had a successful partnership and moved on to the final screens. Windows 7 had installed the printer with all of the advanced menus and controls. I then installed the driver on the 32-bit laptop and it auto-detected the successful partnership without touching any hardware - very simple install and wireless printing was ready to go. I never bit with the wireless inkjet offerings, as the long term operating costs of inkjets are crazy. I've been refilling the toner cartridges on laser printers for years, running them for so cheap it's amazing. If this unit just had laser printing and reliable wireless it would be a fantastic deal. However, it has many features which are totally surprising. This review is already too long so I'll just say that the auto duplexing is great. What is even cooler is the Booklet feature. I'm holding in my hand a 20-page PDF that I selected "Booklet" in the options while printing. It printed on both sides of the paper, reduced the pages to half-sheets, arranged the pages in the precise/complicated order, and output tiny stack of FIVE sheets (from 20). I folded the stack in half and viola - a perfect booklet that is more convenient to travel with and uses one-quarter of the paper! I'm not sure you can know how cool this is until you actually have a booklet in your hand - so buy this machine now and see for yourself. One final caution, the supplier I normally order bulk toner from does not yet have the formulation for this printer. I'm sure they will in time, but for now you might actually have to buy the TN450 replacement cartridge which runs at roughly 2.2 cents per page, once the 700-page starter cartridge is exhausted. I've only had this printer for a few days, so hopefully it lives up to my current expectations and retains its 5-star rating. To be honest, these things are going for less than a hundred (on sale + coupon, at office supply stores) and at that price point just straight laser printing with wireless is a great deal.