Brother HL-L2300D Monochrome Laser Printer with Duplex Printing

This is a lazer printer using older and similar technology designed by people who use the KISS principle. Older CAN BE better. I used it for a Win7 machine... yes, it needs a chord, but given how many printers are a nightmare to setup to wireless print... I will take a chord and a dvd setup disk any day over that nightmare. GREAT printer.Review for Brother HL-L2300D (NOT the wireless model L2305W)2023 Tried several other Laser printers before this one. All failed, didn't work with Win7 (even though they said they did), and the mega challenges of setup made them not worth keeping them. With the 'old school' HL-2300D, setup was breeze. Connect the USB/Printer cable, Pop in the CD, remember those? :) run the setup, a few minutes later I was printing. While the L2300D is technically not a wireless printer, you CAN set it up to print wirelessly from other machines. I attached the L2300D on my Win7 laptop, and connected to my home wireless. Set up a home group with the printer SHARED…. and voila! All other machines in my home, can print to the Printer attached to the Win7 laptop… WIRELESSLY. I have the other (Win10, Win11) computers connected to the SAME wireless connection, they download the needed drivers… and it works with zero problems. Some Pros: +Works with Win7 +EASY setup. +Can print wirelessly, although you do have to have the "home" computer that the printer is attached to on, and setup to share that printer on the home group network. +IT WORKS! and produces a quality output. +You will not have brain melt as you would if you attempt to setup other Laser printers Cons: -As with most printers sold by the corporations, the scam is to buy the printer, then overpay for TONER that limits how many copies you get for each toner. (A scam, but as long as monopolies are allowed, it's the game.) -Rumor has it, that how many copies you ACTUALLY get, is different than what is advertized. (given the number of reports on this issue, it is likely true, but I can't say for sure, as I am not going through the hassle to tracking that going forward.) -The chord you need, doesn't come with it, fortunately, you can often pick these up at garage sales / thrift stores, etc for about a buck… or even free. - Had to press the Off/On switch and HOLD it for ~5 sec before printer will turn off / which is odd. -Built in power chord is a negative. -Reports of questionable functionality with Linux… though I guess that if the printer is connected directly to Linux machines they might work fine. (Didn't bother testing this, as I am only needing it for Win machines.)Neutral: As with all printers, things wear out, and there is need for two basic things: more toner (solvable) and a new drum (they often last, but they do need to be replaced sometimes ~5+ years -Most products produced by the Corporate Elite, are designed to malfunction after a time, so you will forced to buy a new replacement. (A common practice) -- I will mention that some printers have a way of resetting the toner counter, AND a way to reset the need to replace the drum… I am not sure that applies to this printer, though I will mention it, just in case one of you gets into that scenario. :) Had a Lexmark in the past, that this worked for, and knowing how to do that, saved needless toner/drum replacements. (Likely the corporations have disabled this feature on new models.)Rating: Fantastic. It works, setup is EASY, and you can print wirelessly if you set your WIN computers up to do that. Compared to the options on the market, cost, and the other Wireless printers that being sold now, this machine is smoking hot, pun not intended. :)

The Brother HL-L2300d is a great little laser printer. Easy to set up and maintain without headaches. I am quite particular about what I buy and use. I read through all the reviews and the FAQs before I decided to go with this printer. First of all, this printer has been out for a few years so it has stood the test of time. This printer allows you to reset the count (or clicks) on the toner cartridge and drum so you can get all the life out of these items. It is easy to set up and get running. The printer doesn't come with a USB printer cable, so just buy one at the same time or most people would have one on hand. To reduce possible problems, use a printer cable that is only 6 ft. or shorter. Problems arise when using long cords with serial data transmissions...just believe me on this.This printer does not allow WiFi. Please understand that most problems that I see people having are with the WiFi connections. Listen to me when I tell you that WiFi, printers, sleep modes, dynamic DNS and overcrowding on WiFi routers do not always go together. Most WiFi printer setups are not ready yet for the typical consumer. It might work for a while, but throw the sleep mode into the mix and then you're in a pickle. It is so much easier to just use a USB printer cable. You may even thank me later.I have Windows 10 and it was easy to install. The Brother support website does a good deal of providing directions and problems solving. There is one part that might throw you off so I will take the time to give you easy directions for Windows 10. Get your printer all ready according to the quick help guide (i.e. remove the packing materials and install the toner cartridge, load paper, install power cord and connect USB printer cable to the printer only). DO NOT turn on the printer or connect the USB cable to your computer yet. DO NOT use the installation CD/DVD that comes with the printer. Go to support.brother.com on the ol' interweb. Do a search on "HL-L2300D". It doesn't need to be in caps, but I did that for clarity. Click on downloads and the website automatically determines what OS version you have installed. At this point say, "How cool is 'dat!" in the same manner as the Crazy Russian Hacker. Start downloading the FULL DRIVER & SOFTWARE PACKAGE. The software will start downloading and then will pause. This is when you plug the USB cable into your computer and turn the printer on. The software will continue to load and install your printer.Now if you did like me, I got too antsy and plugged in my USB cable and turned on my printer before partially installing the software/drivers from the Brother website. This installed a built-in driver which only supports the basic functions of the Brother machine. You just need to back up the process. Have your printer on and connected via USB cable. Go to support.brother.com just as you would in the previous paragraph. Go to the download section and halfway down the page you see a UTILITIES section. Run this uninstall tool to get rid of this basic driver. Now unplug the USB cable from the computer and turn off your printer. Go back to the previous paragraph and get it done right this time.Always use good quality paper especially when printing in duplex to reduce the risk of jams. I picked up some HP Office20 (20#) but am not really impressed by it. It works well but seems a little too translucent. Using slightly heavier (24#) and a better brand will easily fix that. I hope this review helps someone. Please take the time to read all the FAQs, sort through the good/bad reviews before and scour the specifications on the manufacturers' websites before making purchases. It will solve most of the problems people encounter.

I recently purchased the Brother HL-L2300D Laser Printer and it's been a fantastic experience. This printer, embracing the KISS principle, offers easy setup and reliable performance. It's perfect for users like me who prefer simplicity over complex wireless setups. I particularly appreciate its compatibility with older operating systems like Windows 7. Despite not being inherently wireless, I was able to set it up to print wirelessly from other devices in my home, which was a pleasant surprise.Another great aspect is its affordability and efficiency in handling toner usage, though the toner's cost and capacity can be a bit of a downside. The lack of a USB cable in the package is a minor inconvenience, but easily solvable. Additionally, the printer's design is compact, making it a suitable choice for smaller spaces.I've also used the Brother HL-L2305W model, which offers a good value for its price, though it only connects to a slower 2.4GHz network. This model is slightly more challenging to set up, especially for those unfamiliar with printer configurations. However, once set up, it delivers excellent print quality.The printers' performance is commendable, with high-quality prints and the ability to handle various paper types, including cardstock. While they may not be suited for high-volume printing needs, they are perfect for personal or home office use.Overall, the Brother HL-L2300D and HL-L2305W models are excellent choices for those seeking reliable, cost-effective laser printers with easy setup and solid performance. They are especially suitable for users who do not require color printing and prefer a straightforward, no-frills printing solution.