Brother SX-4000 Electronic Typewriter

As a typewriter collector and mechanical keyboard freak, I also have a very small collection of electronic typewriters. I use these machines for writing short notes and short stories. Starting to use manual typewriters for some time, I got really tired of typing on these machines, so I went for electronic typewriters. However I wanted a fresh and new one, clean and shiny. They shipped this typewriter all the way to Holland, which is great service. And it arrived in one piece. They could have packed the tyepwriter though, and not just the box that came with the SX-4000. As soon I was putting it into the socket, it stopped working. Beware, if you plan to use it in Europe, buy a step down converter from 230v to 110v! I changed the fuse and bought the converter, and it started working. The keys on this Brother give a nice tactile feedback! Not mushy rubberdome-ish. Very satisfying, but not as great as IBM model M and Wheelwriter keyboard feel, I think. This machine is light and portable and nice grey colour, preventing from getting yellow over time. Also, the display is very handy, saves some ribbon. Like the fact that the brother ribbon cassette is widely used in this machine and older Brother entry,- and midlevel typewriters. The professional EM or CE models use a different cassette. Another thing, is the sound the sx-4000 makes. Sounds like a machinegun or Chinese firework-ish. Very nice, not too loud. I think this Brother is also very durable. If there still were brand new IBM wheelwriters for sale, I would get one of those. But second best, has to be Brother! They just have proven themselves in time with both manual and electronic typewriters! Goodluck and have fun!

This is really a poor quality machine. Every single time I take it out to use it, I have to run a test sheet through to make sure the ribbons are lined up - they get knocked out of place extremely easily. Can't tell you how many red-ink, scannable IRS forms I have ruined in the beginning when I kept forgetting to test it and the correction ribbon was out of place again. In general, the construction is pretty substandard. Definitely go with a Smith Corona instead.UPDATE: As has been mentioned in the comments, Smith Corona hasn't manufactured typewriters since 2005. Best I can tell, Brother is now the only company in the entire world selling typewriters.UPDATE: Used this typewriter for over two years now, and still a piece of junk. Luckily, I don't need it very often - pretty sure it would have fallen apart if used on even a weekly basis. Apparently, most of the reviewers here are happy with theirs, so it's possible I just got a lemon.

I bought this typewriter from Amazon a few weeks ago in order to write briefly on forms and have found that it works great. Has more features than I can use. I like the spell checker altough I write many medical words (as a radiologist) like "epiploic appendagitis" that get "beeped" by the unit. Hey, the spell checker has 70,000 other words! The 16 characters in the LCD display help cut down the spelling errors. Comes with a very good manual. Arrived well packaged in a large box. There is no case for the typewriter, but there is a removable hard cover over the keys. I carry it around in a cloth bag that used to hold beach towels. People at work have cautioned me not to leave it around. Even in a room with three computers...someone might steal the typewriter! Go figure.I'm gonna keep it and will order a couple more ribbons.Mike

In this day of computer technology, there are still times in an office when a typewriter is need, particularly if your printer is just the slightest bit out of date. Thus our need for the typewriter. This seems to have been a good choice. It has some nice features which are easy to use and incorporate. The supplies for it are quality and last an appropriate amount of time - not a lot of waste. The only complaint any of us have is the slow response time between the time you strike the key and the time of the imprint on the page you're typing. Unfortunately, after being accustomed to the immediate response of a computer, this seems slow, and sometimes makes concentrating on what you're typing, a bit difficult, especially if you get far enough ahead of it by typing faster than it's printing. It's good though for the small amount of use it will get.

Works great. The keycaps are pretty yellowed but considering when the thing was made…My only issue is that the little metal guide what holds the paper against the roller was repaired poorly. Like… it disconnected from the single bit of what looked like gorilla glue used to pin it in place, and I had to repair it myself. Not a big deal, I can fix stuff, but maybe the people doing repairs will catch wind of this: use better adhesive; whatever was used here doesn’t adhere to metal well.

I am very happy with this product.. it is exactly what I wanted to replace another typewriter I’ve had for decades!PLEASE NOTE: I posted another very negative review a short while ago. I thought I was submitting feedback for another product., NOT Brother typewriter. This was my error and the seller of Brother typewriter should not suffer any poor consequences.

Amazon service great as usual and return easy thus a star. Right out of box things sitting in cartridge well. Set up easy. Pressed a key and it typed a different character 3 times. Once, moved 1/2 space typed, and moved 1 space and typed a third time. Never typed the right character. Cleared machine, checked wheel, and turned off and then on again. No different. Called Brother and waited 10 minutes for live person. After only trying a few extra steps I was told machine was defective. Given 2 options. Drive 90 miles to a service center or return it to Amazon. Should have just got another Adler Royal Satellite 40 and paid 3x as much.