Product:  Brother HL-2170W
Manufacturer: Brother
Price: $150     Find Lowest Price @ PriceGrabber
Author: Bill
Date: February 19, 2009

The Brother HL-2170W presents itself as an ideal printer for a family or small workgroup. The printer is packed with features such as an internal print server and wifi connectivity. I tested the HL-2170W alongside another (relatively) inexpensive laser printer from HP, the P1006.

In the box:

• Printer
• Printer Tray
• Toner Cartridge
• Quick-Start guide, manual, and drivers

Phenotypic Analysis

The printer is built functionally, sporting features normally found in larger workgroup machines. It comes equipped for use with WiFi, USB 2.0, or Ethernet connectivity. A 500-sheet feed tray comprises the bottom of the printer, with a bypass feeder above. The overall material feels thin and too flexible for my tastes. The cartridge is located behind a front panel, which feels on the verge of collapse when pried open. The cartridge consists of two parts: a toner tank, and a carrier that contains the photosensitive drum. Removal of the toner tank leaves a toner-covered roller exposed. The cartridge carrier bends in disturbing ways when being removed, and is far from the smooth cartridge replacements I’ve become accustomed to on larger printers from HP and Lexmark.

Unlike my diminutive P1006, this printer has a large footprint usually indicative of larger-capacity machines. A rear panel opens to reveal a paper-path for clearing jams.

Setup

My primary testing setup was a local USB connection using both Mac and Windows. The drivers included with the printer offer step-by-step instructions for setting up the printer on both platforms. The drivers offer manual duplexing assistance and a plethora of settings. The driver set forwards over Bonjour if sharing is enabled.

Using the HL-2170W’s wired network connection is a matter of picking a separate option in Brother’s configuration tool. The printer broadcasts itself using Bonjour, supports the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), and (most commonly) accepts TCP/IP connections using the supplied PCL5 driver.

A huge selling point is the inclusion of WiFi connectivity onboard. The Brother utility offers a number of different configuration methodologies. The printer can be instructed to set itself up using default settings (One-Push Configuration), can be configured as an ad-hoc device, or tethered to a computer for initial configuration. Holding the main button instructs the printer to become an ad-hoc device, and to print a configuration page. With this information you can connect to and configure the printer further using the web admin tools, not unlike a router. I found the tethered option to be easiest. It involves connecting to the printer via USB and encoding your appropriate Wireless LAN settings. From there, the printer will automatically connect to an infrastructure, exist as an ad-hoc device, and even navigate many common password protection schemas.

Operation and Testing

I found that the printer operated well. It behaved like a more expensive printer in that it took a moment to warm up, ran through its fans a few times, then printed quickly. It periodically runs-up the right exhaust fan during standby. The printer took 29 seconds to power up cold, but shuts down instantly.

To test print quality and speed I printed a 100-page section of the printer’s manual (in pdf format), which is approximately 50% graphics. On its default settings, the printer managed 31 pages per minute.

Print quality was measured by printing a black-and-white test image and gradient on both HP and Brother printers on both 600 and 1200dpi settings. I scanned the results below:

HP P1006 @ 1200 DPI

Brother HL-2170W @ 1200 DPI

HP P1006 @ 600 DPI

Brother HL-2170W @ 600 DPI

The lowly HP’s black levels are much darker, and the overall blend is smoother. The Brother HP-2170W is not well suited for graphics printing, but managed text with ease.

Conclusions

I would highly recommend this printer despite its issues with intense graphics and seemingly fragile build quality. It represents a good value, providing multiple connection options, a robust driver package, and solid performance. For the price, I can see a small/home office using it regularly for text printing. Setup can be initially daunting, but the manual explains the different methods well on both platforms. Once set up, the printer is relatively maintenance-free and cost-effective.

Pros:

+ Price
+ Connectivity Options
+ Print Speed
+ Solid Drivers and Documentation

Cons:

- Flimsy construction
- Graphics performance

Tags: Brother, HL-2170W, Laser, Printer, wireless