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Brother DCP-330C

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By Damian Koh, CNET Asia
Dec 25, 2006

Brother's DCP-330C is a feature-packed multifunction inkbox that uses the company's new Innobella-branded consumables. But what really makes this AIO shine is the affordable price of S$218. It's not all rags and bones, though. You get a built-in 2.0-inch color LCD panel that allows you to check the ink level status or preview your images, as well as an onboard memory card reader.

Design
At that price, most people would assume the printer won't be the fanciest machine around. Well, they're right. The DCP-330C's design is plain, but it is functional. The buttons on the control panel are well-labeled and we like the rubbery texture which reduces the occurrence of unsightly fingerprints.

Everything is kept fuss-free on this Brother. However, being simple doesn't mean it's sloppy. The 7.3kg DCP-330C felt solid when we took the unit out of its packaging. Ink cartridges are conveniently slotted into the compartment on the front of the printer so you don't have to lift the top lid to find the ink holders.

Features
There's an onboard memory card reader that reads most types of storage devices, though you'll need to use an adapter for those smaller miniSD and Memory Stick DUO cards. A PictBridge port allows the user to print direct from the digital camera. Working hand-in-hand is a 2.0-inch color LCD that can be lifted at varying angles for picture review.

With the exception of fax, this printer prints, scans and copies. However, if you intend to connect the machine to a network of computers at home or require an automatic document feeder (ADF), you'd have to turn to the higher-end DCP-540CN. Like most devices these days, setting up and installing the printer on our test PC wasn't a challenge. The user manual and quick setup guide was easy to follow.

What's unique about this multifunction printer is its dual-purpose tray that allows the user to load both A4 (100 sheets) and 4 x 6-inch media (20 sheets) concurrently. When you're not printing 4R photos, all you have to do is slide the top tray forward by releasing the catch and the lower tray will feed A4-sized paper for normal printing.

 
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