Brother have gotten to where they are now by not innovating
Many commenters praise Brother laser printers and other “boring” appliances that simply perform their core function reliably, contrasting them with rival products that add Wi‑Fi, apps, DRM cartridges and subscription schemes that mostly serve vendor lock‑in rather than users. The thread broadens into skepticism of “innovation” as practiced today—smart fridges, dishwashers and TVs with fragile cloud features and security risks—arguing that growth- and engagement-obsessed design often degrades usability, repairability and longevity. While some note that Brother is starting to adopt tactics like chipped consumables and subscription ink, the brand is still seen as a rare example of restraint and long-term thinking in an otherwise “enshittified” printer market.
Brother printers: reputation and real‑world experience
- Many commenters report long-lived Brother laser printers (often 8–15+ years) that “just print” across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS/Android, often with zero extra drivers via CUPS/AirPrint.
- Black‑and‑white mono lasers are especially praised for reliability, very low running cost, and tolerance of infrequent use.
- Network features (Ethernet/Wi‑Fi, scanning over network, email‑to‑print) generally work well, though setup UIs are often dated.
Enshittification, DRM, and signs of change
- A major theme: Brother is “least bad” because it historically avoided hard lock‑in, subscriptions, and aggressive firmware.
- Some models still accept cheap third‑party toner, counters can be reset, and older lines are seen as user‑friendly.
- Others note newer models with chipped cartridges, firmware updates that block third‑party toner, and an HP‑style subscription (“Refresh”/“EcoPro”), citing this as Brother sliding into the same behavior as competitors.
- A minority report serious issues: deep‑sleep Wi‑Fi bugs, printers that stop accepting jobs until power‑cycled, or require obscure firmware tools to revive.
Laser vs inkjet and competing brands
- Strong consensus: for low or sporadic home use, laser beats inkjet because toner doesn’t dry out or clog.
- Inkjet is called a “scam” by some due to tiny, expensive cartridges and cleaning cycles that waste ink; tank systems like Epson EcoTank and Canon Megatank are the main counterexamples and get praise for low per‑page costs.
- Color laser is recommended when color is needed only occasionally; high‑quality photo printing remains an inkjet domain.
“Innovation” in appliances and IoT
- Broader rant: many “innovations” (smart fridges with cameras, dishwashers with Wi‑Fi, app‑gated features, subscriptions) are seen as useless complexity, new attack surface, and a vehicle for data collection or lock‑in.
- Desired “innovation” is in core function: better print heads, color management, paper handling, energy efficiency, and repairability—not apps and clouds.
Growth vs sustain mindset
- Several comments connect printer and appliance degradation to a growth‑at‑all‑costs corporate mindset (stock‑price, subscriptions, lock‑in) versus a “sustain” mindset that values long‑term reliability and brand trust.
- Debate ensues around stock buybacks, capitalism, and whether returning cash to shareholders or relentless growth benefits or harms product quality and society.