Brother DCP-365CN

The DCP-365CN is the entry-level multi-function – printer, scanner and copier – device in Brother’s range.

Like many of the other devices in the company's product line, it takes up quite a lot of room on a desk or table, but it has a low profile and neat appearance.

The front panel has only a single-line display but this is enough for status updates and simple messages. By default it shows the enlargement/reduction level, print quality and number of copies, all of which are useful.

There are also separate buttons to select photo capture and scan modes, and start and cancel copy and scan jobs.

Set into the front lip of the machine is a three-way slot for SD, MemoryStick and xD memory cards and a PictBridge USB socket into which you can plug a camera for direct printing. Below these is a single paper cartridge for either 100 sheets of plain paper or 20 photo blanks. You can't load both at once, though.

Inside are the connections to a computer, either USB or wired network. You have to hinge the scanner section up to get at them but that should be a one-off process. Outside, at the front, behind a fold-down flap are the four ink cartridges, which slotted in easily and are all you need to keep the printer running.

Brother reckons the DCP-365CN can print 33 pages per minute (ppm) for black text and 27ppm for colour prints. That is optimistic to say the least: we could only get around 3ppm and 2.5ppm respectively. Even allowing for the fact that we measured in normal print mode and Brother measures in draft, its figures are highly unrealistic.

Print quality is only average, with some bleed of ink into plain paper, giving a slightly spiky appearance to characters and rather insipid colour. This is particularly apparent from copies, where tones are much lighter than in the originals. This is true of scans, too, though some adjustments can be made to improve things.

Given the price of cartridges, the running costs work out at around 4p per black page and 11.5p per colour page, which is quite high, even compared similar devices. The DCP-265CN is well designed but poor value.