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 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.

I got this typewriter to fill out 3 page carbon copy forms and it does the job great. It was easy to setup and get started right away. Loading paper is easy and keyboard feels great to type on. There are many options to make typing easier. It is quick to setup left and right margins. The one issue I had, which I saw in previous reviews is the way it handles Capitol letters. There is no cap lock in the traditional sense and I can't figure out why. It has a shift lock key instead, this enables you to engage Capitol letters, but won't disengage, instead you have to hit the shift key below it. I don't feel comfortable typing in the traditional way because I had to keep taking my hands off the keyboard to disengage shift lock, otherwise I kept typing in Capitol letters. Fortunately feeling out the forms doesn't take long lines to fill out and I use another feature to prevent accidental Capitol letters. There is a mode that lets you preview each line before it is printed, while this slows things down a little it helps reduce the frustration of making mistakes and dealing with shift lock key. The only other issue I have is that there is now way to store margins settings, you have to set it up each time you turn the typewriter back on, fortunately this is quickly done. This typewriter does everything I want it to do, just wish there was a traditional cap. Lock key and able to store margins settings. When using the typewriter, I turn off spellcheck since I'm using a lot of medical terminology and it would just keep beeping. The correction tape works great, but again I don't use it with the preview line feature, but nice to know it's there. Also the handle is great to have since I will be taking this floor to floor at work. I'm still happy with the typewriter and amazed how fast I got it.

Got this typewriter immediately ..... after researching Staples, WalMart, Kmart, etc....... as my wonderful computer would NOT properly download/pdf a Chinese Visa Application - then fill on via typing. As an old secretary whose IBM Selectric III finally 'cracked it's block' 8 months ago - and one who types 100 wpm/no errors, I was desperate. No one I knew even worked anywhere where typewriters are available! I was on a 2-day deadline, our govt was shut down, the Chinese Embassy was 'closed' for 3 days and I needed to get this app to an 'expediter' in TYPE. I got my typewriter, it was inexpensive, shipped immediately, complete w/correctable ribbons, daisy wheel etc. Took it out of the box, plugged it in and was done in less than 5 minutes. While I'm stuck on IBM Selectrics they are big, heavy and have 145 working parts. Also still VERY expensive. I've had Brother electrics before - this one is the best - I can haul it around w/one hand, it has a word processing function (kind of weird as that's what computers are for) - and it can type as fast as my fingers ....... which, to date, computers are just catching up with.

Typewriter did not come with a keyboard cover nor a manual.