Just got a Brother printer-scanner-copier-fax combo, model is MFC-495CW, so if 
anybody has comments or recommendations from experience, I am all ears. 

Here is my model: 

https://support.brother.com/g/b/spec.aspx?c=us&lang=en&prod=mfc495cw_all

I don't have a lot of money to spend (much less to waste) on printer 
cartridges, for example. (A couple years ago I bought a 12-pack of HP 
cartridges for my old HP 825c, but before I could actually use them, the ink 
dried up! I don't want to go through that again.) 

I managed to download the drivers for Debian, the product manual, researched 
everything I could think of, but now it comes to spending my last few bucks 
(literally) on the second-most expensive substance* known in human history, 
so I hesitate before using my debit card. 

[* laser toner refills are more expensive than refills for inkjet]

Brother, of course, "strongly recommends" not to use third-party, or 
refillable cartridges, etc., but I don't have a warranty, anyway, as I got 
this thing used. 

Has anybody else tried the third-party replacement cartridges or refillables? 

I'll have more questions about set-up, I'm sure, once I get my cartridges. 
Everything seems to work fine, except for no ink. 

Bill