MFC-290C

Keeping an MFC-290C in service is mostly a parts question now, and the part list is narrow by design: this is one of 23 family models built for the standard LC61 tier alone. The high-yield LC65HY version sold for the same cassette family belongs to just four other printers — MFC-5890CN, MFC-5895CW, MFC-6490CW and MFC-6890CDW — so treat any listing that pitches LC65HY as an upgrade for this machine as an error, however alike the shells look. Only LC61 cartridges are listed here.

The Brother MFC-290C is an LC61 standard-tier printer: LC61BK black rated up to 450 pages and the three colors up to 325 pages each (ISO/IEC 24711). On cost per page, the standard black works out at about 1.9 cents a page ($8.69 for up to 450 pages) and each color at about 2.7 cents (up to 325 pages). If you print mostly black, the Set of 10's four-black mix matches how these printers actually consume ink.

Which LC61 should you buy?

One color at a time: black, cyan, magenta and yellow — $8.69 each.
Full refresh: the Set of 4 ($29.94) puts one of each color in one box.
Print every week: the Set of 10 ($59.85) puts four blacks and two of each color in one box.

Chip, ink and everyday use

Four separate slots are what make this printer cheap to keep alive: black, cyan, magenta and yellow each sit on their own, carry their own chip and are swapped one at a time, so one empty color never forces a full set. Grip a fresh cartridge by its housing and keep fingers clear of the chip contact. Brother has discontinued the LC61 line, yet every Clever Supplies LC61 cartridge still carries a lifetime warranty with 1-year free returns, rated at Brother's own ISO/IEC 24711 figures (black 450, colors 325).