The Brother MFC-8710DW is the sort of mono laser MFP that can fit nicely as a workhorse printer in a micro office, small office, or workgroup. It doesn't offer any standout features, but it prints, scans, and faxes, including over a network; it works as a standalone copier and fax machine; and it delivers enough overall—in output quality, speed, and paper handling—to make it a strong contender for any small office or workgroup with relatively heavy-duty needs.

The MFC-8710DW has a lot in common with the similarly priced Editors' Choice OKI MB471SEE IT, but there are also some important differences. In addition to both printers offering print, scan, copy, and fax capability, both can print from and scan to a USB memory key. Both also offer a 50-page automatic document feeder (ADF) to supplement their flatbeds.

Unlike the OKI printer, the MFC-8710DW doesn't offer duplex (two-sided) scanning with its ADF, which means you can't scan, fax, or copy duplex originals easily. On the other hand, the OKI printer's flatbed is limited to a maximum letter-size page, while the MFC-8710DW's flatbed is legal size. In addition, the MFC-8710DW supports Wi-Fi while the MB471 doesn't. For that, you would have to get the more expensive OKI MB471w ($475 direct), which OKI says is the identical printer with Wi-Fi added.

Paper handling for printing is also similar for the two printers, but not quite a match. Both include a built-in duplexer (for two-sided printing), a 250-sheet paper drawer, and a multi-purpose tray, with the MFC-8710DW offering a somewhat lower capacity for the tray: 50 sheets instead of 100. That's not a significant difference, however. Even the 300-sheet total should be ample for most small offices. If you need more, you can add a 500-sheet second drawer ($209.99 list) for a maximum 800-sheet input capacity.

Setup and Speed

As is typical for this class of MFP, the MFC-8710DW is too big to share a desk with comfortably, but small enough, at 17.6 by 19.3 by 16.3 inches (HWD), so you shouldn't have much trouble finding room for it in most micro or small offices. Once in place, network setup is standard. Also note that the printer includes support for a variety of mobile printing options, including AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, and Brother's own mobile print and scan app.

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For my tests, I connected the printer using its Ethernet port and installed the drivers on a Windows Vista system. On our business applications suite (using QualityLogic's hardware and software for timing), I clocked it at 10.5 pages per minute (ppm). That counts as a respectable speed, and it makes the MFC-8710DW a little faster than the MB471, at 9.5 ppm. However, it's not a particularly impressive speed for the price or for the 40-ppm engine rating. As a point of reference, the Editors' Choice Canon imageClass MF4570dnSEE IT, which is both less expensive and rated at a much slower 26 ppm, came in at 12.3 ppm.

Output Quality

Output quality for the MFC-8710DW is dead on par across the board. Text is in the middle of the range that includes the vast majority of mono MFPs, which makes it easily good enough for any business need, but a little short of what you'd want for high-quality desktop publishing.

Graphics output is similarly good enough for any internal business need. Depending on your tastes, you may or may not consider it good enough for, say, PowerPoint handouts when you need to convey a sense of professionalism. Photo quality is more than good enough for printing Web pages with recognizable photos, and even suitable for printing photos in company or client newsletters and the like.

The Brother MFC-8710DW doesn't offer any particular strengths to make it stand out from the crowd. However, it doesn't suffer from any real weaknesses either. It delivers reasonable speed, par-quality output, ample paper handling, and all the MFP features most small offices need. The MB471 stands as Editors' Choice primarily because of somewhat better text quality and a slightly lower running cost. That said, the Brother MFC-8710DW comes in as a close second overall, and if you need Wi-Fi it may well be your first choice.

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