The HL-5280DW is the top model in the newly launched Brother HL-5200 family of business-oriented mono lasers. All offer fast printing (up to 28ppm) at up to 1,200dpi, with a range of paper handling and networking options including, on the HL-5280DW, built-in wireless connectivity.

A 266MHz RISC processor provides the motive power to drive this Brother laser with 32MB of on-board memory, expandable up to 544MB using standard DIMMs should you need it. PCL and PostScript 3 (BR-Script) emulations come as standard, with drivers available for all versions of Windows plus Apple Mac and Linux systems.

Networking is also standard on the HL-5280DW, with a 10/100Mbps wired interface and an integrated 54Mbps wireless adapter, the latter supporting both 802.11b and 802.11g networks. Moreover, the wireless interface can be used to connect the printer to an existing LAN and enable wireless clients to print directly on a peer-to-peer basis.

Supporting print server emulators then add sharing on a wide range of platforms, including Windows and Novell NetWare networks plus UNIX/Linux setups using the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) and Internet Printing Protocol (IPP).

Installation is very straightforward, with a wizard to install the required software plus an integrated Web management interface for fine-tuning and day-to-day management. SNMP support is also on offer, with a free copy of Brother's own Windows print management console (BR Admin) thrown in for good measure.

On the paper handling front, a 250-sheet A4 paper tray comes as standard, to which two more can be added underneath. These bring the capacity up to 750 sheets altogether with the usual fold-out feeder for card, transparencies and envelopes plus a built-in duplexer for double-side printing; again, as standard.

There aren't any finishing options. Printed pages are simply ejected into a well in the top of the printer but you do have the option of a new, high capacity toner cartridge (7,000 pages at 5 percent coverage) and the luxury of a separate drum unit, good for around 25,000 imprints, to help keep running costs down. Consumable prices will, naturally, vary depending on supplier but Brother reckons on around 1.2p per page, which is good for a printer of this type.

Among the things we liked about the HL-5280DW was its fast warm up, taking just over 8 seconds to come out of standby mode and start printing. It's also very quiet and, unlike some other budget printers, doesn't give off any whiff of ozone. Quality is good too, even when printing at the default 600dpi setting rather than the full 1,200dpi, with well defined text and nice graphics reproduction.

The only criticism we had was with the duplexer, which seemed to want to print everything double-sided - even when there was nothing on the reverse of the page to print. But that's a minor gripe in what is otherwise a fast, capable and very affordable small business laser.

Verdict
The base specification of the HL-5280DW is impressive with a 28ppm, 1,200dpi, laser engine plus a duplexer and networking as standard. Add the wireless interface and low running costs and you have a small business laser that's hard to match.

Company: Brother

Contact: 0845 6060 626

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