Brother's MFC-5860CN inkjet multifunction device features strong photo-printing capabilities and a low price. Its printing, faxing, copying and scanning functions also perform reasonably well, making this machine a good value overall.

The MFC-5860CN accepts any size of paper from photo-size to legal-size in two handy paper trays; one tray holds up to 150 sheets of photo-size paper, while the second tray holds up to 250 sheets. You can operate this machine over an Ethernet networking connection or connect it directly to your computer with a USB wire. You can also print directly from your camera's media card through the MFC-5860CN's card slot and use this unit's LCD to preview photos.

Maximum print speeds in draft mode are 30 ppm for monochrome and 25 ppm for color, although realistic speeds for photo-quality prints are much slower. The MFC-5860CN's maximum resolution is 6000x1200 dpi, which is very good for creating precise photo prints. Unfortunately, the MFC-5860CN doesn't produce particularly sharp text.

You can send fax messages at speeds of up to 20 ppm, but it would be better if the MFC-5860CN offered more than 32MB of memory. The copier runs at speeds of up to 22 ppm for monochrome and 20 ppm for color in draft mode. The MFC-5860CN's 35-page automatic document feeder is handy for large print and fax jobs. The scanner offers an optical resolution of 1200x2400 dpi, and it can scan in either monochrome or color.

For less than $200, the MFC-5860CN offers a lot of versatility and features. It can handle a maximum of 4,000 prints per month, which is a good performance level for a unit in this price range, but the MFC-5860CN might not be able to meet the needs of a busy small-office environment; paper jams also occur too frequently for our liking. Other multifunction devices work more quickly and produce sharper prints than the MFC-5860CN, but you may find this machine to be a good value regardless.


Pros: Good price, good photo-print features, good versatility
Cons: Text printing is below average, paper jams are frequent, not intended for busy small offices, realistic print speeds are slow

Warranty
2 years, limited