Brother SX-4000 Electronic Typewriter

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

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

Bought this to replace another Brother typewriter that stopped working - the striker hammer didn't strike anymore - and it was cheaper to buy a new one than to have the old one repaired (the one it has replaced was over 23 years old).For starters, this one is much lighter and more streamlined, which for me is a plus because the model I had used before was a chore for a girl to lug around and set up on a table or office desk. The power cord is easier to handle as well, the older model's cord was quite stiff and not very manageable. This is one instance where older is not necessarily better. I also never cared for the 80's/early 90's 'squarish' style, certainly not as aesthetically pleasing to look at as this one is. I am pleased that Brother still makes the keys taller and with a firmer feel than other brands, not that the keys are hard to push, quite the contrary, but it makes it much easier to type accurately without missing any keys in my opinion, and it's the classic typing touch that I am used to. I have never tried the electronic spell-check feature, preferring to just type free-hand the old-fashioned way, but I was the best at spelling in school so that feature may prove useful for those who want to use the electronic computer. Yes, this is a high-tech computerized typewriter with many features and you could type and double-check the screen before actually approving it to physically type on paper to save time and money on paper and ink.I still can type faster than the typewriter can actually type on paper, but that is to be expected as there are physical limitations to how fast the little hammer can strike accurately and I find that this model types faster than the older model and it only takes a few moments for it to catch up with me so I can continue on the next line and it isn't as though I'm going to write a book with it so that doesn't bother me at all. Personally, I love the sound of an old-fashioned typewriter and this one has a beautiful 'typing' sound, about the closest thing you can get to the classic WWII-era typewriters. My parents could never sleep with a typewriter working so I tried not to type at night, but for that matter they couldn't sleep even if I was typing on a computer's keyboard and I don't type any harder than the average person but I do type over 40wpm.I use it mainly to type W-2's (and W-3's) and a few other forms for another person's small business. When I was a teenager I used to volunteer to help type paperwork and fill in forms with the old Brother typewriter, so I still find it faster and easier to just pull out the typewriter and fill in certain forms that I need filled rather than the hassle of installing form-filling software on a computer and figuring out how the cheap program works, only to find that after much trial and error it still doesn't print out as professional-looking as when I use my Brother typewriter (which I keep stored with a dust-cover to protect it since I only use it a few times a year).For most letter-writing, and most typing in general, I use a desktop computer and printer, but for certain envelopes, labels and especially for filling forms I find it much more enjoyable and efficient to pull out the Brother SX-4000 and type. The perfect-looking results are well worth it, and so for me, this is a real time-saver!Thank you for taking the time to read this review and if you have found it at all helpful, please let me know by voting below.

Bought this to replace another Brother typewriter that stopped working - the striker hammer didn't strike anymore - and it was cheaper to buy a new one than to have the old one repaired (the one it has replaced was over 23 years old).For starters, this one is much lighter and more streamlined, which for me is a plus because the model I had used before was a chore for a girl to lug around and set up on a table or office desk. The power cord is easier to handle as well, the older model's cord was quite stiff and not very manageable. This is one instance where older is not necessarily better. I also never cared for the 80's/early 90's 'squarish' style, certainly not as aesthetically pleasing to look at as this one is. I am pleased that Brother still makes the keys taller and with a firmer feel than other brands, not that the keys are hard to push, quite the contrary, but it makes it much easier to type accurately without missing any keys in my opinion, and it's the classic typing touch that I am used to. I have never tried the electronic spell-check feature, preferring to just type free-hand the old-fashioned way, but I was the best at spelling in school so that feature may prove useful for those who want to use the electronic computer. Yes, this is a high-tech computerized typewriter with many features and you could type and double-check the screen before actually approving it to physically type on paper to save time and money on paper and ink.I still can type faster than the typewriter can actually type on paper, but that is to be expected as there are physical limitations to how fast the little hammer can strike accurately and I find that this model types faster than the older model and it only takes a few moments for it to catch up with me so I can continue on the next line and it isn't as though I'm going to write a book with it so that doesn't bother me at all. Personally, I love the sound of an old-fashioned typewriter and this one has a beautiful 'typing' sound, about the closest thing you can get to the classic WWII-era typewriters. My parents could never sleep with a typewriter working so I tried not to type at night, but for that matter they couldn't sleep even if I was typing on a computer's keyboard and I don't type any harder than the average person but I do type over 40wpm.I use it mainly to type W-2's (and W-3's) and a few other forms for another person's small business. When I was a teenager I used to volunteer to help type paperwork and fill in forms with the old Brother typewriter, so I still find it faster and easier to just pull out the typewriter and fill in certain forms that I need filled rather than the hassle of installing form-filling software on a computer and figuring out how the cheap program works, only to find that after much trial and error it still doesn't print out as professional-looking as when I use my Brother typewriter (which I keep stored with a dust-cover to protect it since I only use it a few times a year).For most letter-writing, and most typing in general, I use a desktop computer and printer, but for certain envelopes, labels and especially for filling forms I find it much more enjoyable and efficient to pull out the Brother SX-4000 and type. The perfect-looking results are well worth it, and so for me, this is a real time-saver!Thank you for taking the time to read this review and if you have found it at all helpful, please let me know by voting below.

It doesn't work it gives me only IIIIIIII like this IIIIIIIIII why

It doesn't work it gives me only IIIIIIII like this IIIIIIIIII why

Great for use in filling out forms etc. Has a small window that shows what is being typed in case you want to make a correction. Saves on paper this way.

Great for use in filling out forms etc. Has a small window that shows what is being typed in case you want to make a correction. Saves on paper this way.

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.

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.

Nice little typewriter, but DOA.Unfortunately I bought in USA and took it with me to England before I found out.Everything comes alive, carriage moves, Daisy Wheel whizzes round, but little electric hammer won't hit type.Bought it for my old-fashioned wife, who is very disappointed.It is obviously my fault (first rule of marriage)My life is not worth living.To be perfectly honest it was so cheap that it is not worth trying to repair.I suppose I must chalk it up to experience and buy another for peace in household.Be warned!

Nice little typewriter, but DOA.Unfortunately I bought in USA and took it with me to England before I found out.Everything comes alive, carriage moves, Daisy Wheel whizzes round, but little electric hammer won't hit type.Bought it for my old-fashioned wife, who is very disappointed.It is obviously my fault (first rule of marriage)My life is not worth living.To be perfectly honest it was so cheap that it is not worth trying to repair.I suppose I must chalk it up to experience and buy another for peace in household.Be warned!

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

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