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Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer – Good Basic Printer – Black & White Prints

This was fine for a while and the toner cartridge lasted for ages. Am on my 2nd cartridge replacement now (bought online for c. £37 so not particularly cheap). Printer is showing its age now – leaves spots along one edge despite cleaning etc and also the rollers furrow the paper. Overall, the quality is not now acceptable for work / printing letters.

Good basic printer – black & white prints. The brother hl 2030 is a good basic printer which will produce good quality text prints. If your after a basic, low running cost printer this is the printer for you. I know it is the cheapest laser printer around but please hear me out. I am a graphic designer so naturally i produce a lot of prints, i use another printer called the epson r1800 which is amazing. The cartridge bay holds 7 colour cartridges i. Matte black, photo black, cyan, yellow, red, magenta, blue and can hold a gloss optimiser cartridge, it can produce prints upto a3. As a freelance designer, i send a lot of letters and invoices, so i decided to buy the cheapest laser printer available.

Have it still it is about 9 years old and still in use.

  • Great laser printer for home & small office use
  • Good solid printer
  • Good Basic Printer – Black & White Prints

Bought this printer three years ago in summer 2007 with out little or no research from pc world. By default prints in economy mode. Usually catridges supplied with new printer should run out very quickly. I do not use it every day, but once in few months. Always printed very well even on ‘value’ papers. Did not experience any paper jam. Brilliant product for home use if you wish to print notes and letters.

Have it still it is about 9 years old and still in use.

Features of Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

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  • 16 page per minute printing speed
  • USB 2.0 interface
  • 8 mb memory
  • Less than 8 second first print out time
  • 600dpi resolution
  • Single sheet manual feeder
  • 250 sheet paper capacity
  • Manual duplex printing
  • Memory Capacity

Something of a mixed blessing. This is an economical printer, even allowing for the price of toner. However, i have had two now, the first replaced under three year warranty, that have developed paper sensor problems which causes the printer to show that it is out of paper when in fact it is full. This problem goes away sometimes if you pull out the paper tray and push it firmly back in but that can get to be a bore. My current model has now developed this fault but is responding to the above measure but, alas, the first model obstinately refused to correct itself or be corrected and so was replaced, after about a year’s modest use. That model has now developed the same fault. Luckily it was under extended warrantythis model is showing up the same fault after only four months so i’m expecting to have to return it. Incidentally, although saying so will probably prevent this review from getting shown, this particular model has been reduced to as little as £49. 99 in major retailers so it’s worth shopping around – or buying a printer without the possibility of paper-feed problems. But it’s life makes it more expensive than it seems.

I have always used macs and it’s great to find a good priced laser thatn runs off a mac. I’ve have three of these printers running for a around a year now and they have worked with no problems at all. Setting them up is a doddle and they have a great 1 watt sleep mode where they will only wake up when you send a print to them. A fantastic printer at £100, let alone £70.

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One comment on “Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer – Good Basic Printer – Black & White Prints”

  1. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    Easy to use and i really wouldn’t be without it. I have this printer now for eleven years, for the first four was printing many copies for use in my job as a teacher. I am on my third toner cartridge. It is unbelievably efficient, easy to use and i really wouldn’t be without it. As to cost just look at the price of a black ink cartridge which lasts for a far shorter life span. Really here is no comparison – best buy ever.

  2. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    Easy to use and i really wouldn’t be without it. I have this printer now for eleven years, for the first four was printing many copies for use in my job as a teacher. I am on my third toner cartridge. It is unbelievably efficient, easy to use and i really wouldn’t be without it. As to cost just look at the price of a black ink cartridge which lasts for a far shorter life span. Really here is no comparison – best buy ever.
    1. Purchasing this printer was one of my better decisions. It works well for the jobs i need to print: letters, labels, etc.

  3. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    Purchasing this printer was one of my better decisions. It works well for the jobs i need to print: letters, labels, etc.
    1. I only print occasionally and when i do i don’t want any fuss. In that respect, this printer is near perfect. The printer seems pretty frugal with respect to consumables but this is hard to gauge since i print infrequently. What i do appreciate is that it just prints even when it hasn’t been used for several weeks. There is no need to wait for print-head cleaning or ink flushing which was my experience with inkjet printers. I also appreciate that brother have good driver support. It prints perfectly from windows xp and 7, os x 10. 5 and ubuntu (even since hardy heron). The brother support site has a good selection of driver downloads.
      1. I only print occasionally and when i do i don’t want any fuss. In that respect, this printer is near perfect. The printer seems pretty frugal with respect to consumables but this is hard to gauge since i print infrequently. What i do appreciate is that it just prints even when it hasn’t been used for several weeks. There is no need to wait for print-head cleaning or ink flushing which was my experience with inkjet printers. I also appreciate that brother have good driver support. It prints perfectly from windows xp and 7, os x 10. 5 and ubuntu (even since hardy heron). The brother support site has a good selection of driver downloads.

  4. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    You can’t argue with this one. I wanted a basic black and white laser printer when i got fed up with buying ink cartridges. I don’t do much printing, so a basic laser seemed a good choice. This one is perfect for what i needed. It’s surprisingly small, so easy to fit under my desk, and silent when it’s not in use. Every now and then it spits a bit of paper out. We gave it some serious use when my mother-in-law wanted a load of menus printed, and it handled those too. All in all, i’m delighted with it, and i’d recommend it to anyone.

  5. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    You can’t argue with this one. I wanted a basic black and white laser printer when i got fed up with buying ink cartridges. I don’t do much printing, so a basic laser seemed a good choice. This one is perfect for what i needed. It’s surprisingly small, so easy to fit under my desk, and silent when it’s not in use. Every now and then it spits a bit of paper out. We gave it some serious use when my mother-in-law wanted a load of menus printed, and it handled those too. All in all, i’m delighted with it, and i’d recommend it to anyone.

  6. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    I have had this printer for ages and the toner keeps going and going. During that time i did a foundation degree and my fiancee also did a degree level course. It handles everything with ease. Cracking printer and amazing value. Came with disc, printer lead and a usb lead in mine well boxed etc. Does curl the paper very slightly but you can live with that. Will be looking to get an ethernet networkable one when the toner finally runs out. Although this is usb and it is possible to network through a printer server or via newer routers which have a usb feature to network usb accessories such as the latest belkin one. Absolutely outstanding with quite a small footprint.

  7. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    I have had this printer for ages and the toner keeps going and going. During that time i did a foundation degree and my fiancee also did a degree level course. It handles everything with ease. Cracking printer and amazing value. Came with disc, printer lead and a usb lead in mine well boxed etc. Does curl the paper very slightly but you can live with that. Will be looking to get an ethernet networkable one when the toner finally runs out. Although this is usb and it is possible to network through a printer server or via newer routers which have a usb feature to network usb accessories such as the latest belkin one. Absolutely outstanding with quite a small footprint.

  8. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    Bought this printer three years ago in summer 2007 with out little or no research from pc world. By default prints in economy mode. Usually catridges supplied with new printer should run out very quickly. I do not use it every day, but once in few months. Always printed very well even on “value” papers. Did not experience any paper jam. Brilliant product for home use if you wish to print notes and letters.

  9. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    Bought this printer three years ago in summer 2007 with out little or no research from pc world. By default prints in economy mode. Usually catridges supplied with new printer should run out very quickly. I do not use it every day, but once in few months. Always printed very well even on “value” papers. Did not experience any paper jam. Brilliant product for home use if you wish to print notes and letters.
    1. Purchased as a tempory measure untill i found a new printer, i am not going to bother as it is really greatreally easy to set up, take just a few seconds to warm up before you are ready to go.

  10. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    Purchased as a tempory measure untill i found a new printer, i am not going to bother as it is really greatreally easy to set up, take just a few seconds to warm up before you are ready to go.

  11. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    Amazing quality for the price range. Have been using one for about a year, with no problems at all. A 20 pound toner gives about 2700 a4 prints, which makes it cost effective. Moreover, the toner save mode has such a nice quality that i used it for my university reports and all.
    1. Amazing quality for the price range. Have been using one for about a year, with no problems at all. A 20 pound toner gives about 2700 a4 prints, which makes it cost effective. Moreover, the toner save mode has such a nice quality that i used it for my university reports and all.
      1. I run it with both a pc and a mac and it doesn’t get confused. Ok so it costs an arm and a leg to replace the cartridge (about £40, but shop around) but. It does around 1500 prints – and yes, the drum will cost practically as much as a new printer – i’ve had mine for just about 2 years. I’ve maybe had five possibly six new cartridges in that time. Now it needs a new drum as well. I can’t complain – it’s done far more copies than the drum was ever designed for. Cost of new cartridge plus new drum – around £90. Cost of new machine £50 – so guess what. I’ve ordered a new hl 2030 simple solution.

  12. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    I run it with both a pc and a mac and it doesn’t get confused. Ok so it costs an arm and a leg to replace the cartridge (about £40, but shop around) but. It does around 1500 prints – and yes, the drum will cost practically as much as a new printer – i’ve had mine for just about 2 years. I’ve maybe had five possibly six new cartridges in that time. Now it needs a new drum as well. I can’t complain – it’s done far more copies than the drum was ever designed for. Cost of new cartridge plus new drum – around £90. Cost of new machine £50 – so guess what. I’ve ordered a new hl 2030 simple solution.
    1. Cheap, fast, tiny footprint and small (lives on a little coffee table under my ikea desk): what more do you want?. My only regret is that i didn’t buy one ages ago but instead carried on printing text from my inkjet.
      1. Cheap, fast, tiny footprint and small (lives on a little coffee table under my ikea desk): what more do you want?. My only regret is that i didn’t buy one ages ago but instead carried on printing text from my inkjet.

  13. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    Great little printer, great little price. I’ve been using this printer for about 2 months and its great. Not had any problems and the speed is great. There is a slight issue with paper curling when it comes out but once the paper cools down its not that bad or noticable. For the cash i paid, i dont think i could have got a better printer.
    1. Great little printer, great little price. I’ve been using this printer for about 2 months and its great. Not had any problems and the speed is great. There is a slight issue with paper curling when it comes out but once the paper cools down its not that bad or noticable. For the cash i paid, i dont think i could have got a better printer.

  14. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    I have had this for few months now and although i dont usually do alot of printing at home but everytime i used it the resut was very good. At this price you would be surprised how well made and realiable this printer is. It doesnt take up much desk space and printing speed is very reasonable. The only little regret i have now is that i didnt spent a little more and invested in an colour laser printer. If you are a casual printer user and fed up with buying expensive ink cartriges only to find out next time you use them that they have dried up and ruined you printer then this is the printer for you.
    1. I have had this for few months now and although i dont usually do alot of printing at home but everytime i used it the resut was very good. At this price you would be surprised how well made and realiable this printer is. It doesnt take up much desk space and printing speed is very reasonable. The only little regret i have now is that i didnt spent a little more and invested in an colour laser printer. If you are a casual printer user and fed up with buying expensive ink cartriges only to find out next time you use them that they have dried up and ruined you printer then this is the printer for you.
      1. Great laser printer for home & small office use. I’ve had the brother hl2030 for nearly a year now and can highly recommend it. Very slight problem with page “curl” (was documented in a couple of computer magazine reviews when the printer first came out) but you can easily live with it – it doesn’t ruin the paper or the standard of the print. Never had a jam and it’s frequently used. Toner is a bit pricey, but shop around and you can get a good deal.

  15. This review is from : Brother HL-2030 Laser Printer

    Great laser printer for home & small office use. I’ve had the brother hl2030 for nearly a year now and can highly recommend it. Very slight problem with page “curl” (was documented in a couple of computer magazine reviews when the printer first came out) but you can easily live with it – it doesn’t ruin the paper or the standard of the print. Never had a jam and it’s frequently used. Toner is a bit pricey, but shop around and you can get a good deal.

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