which labelmaker to buy?

[bishblaize]

I would (and did) go for a portable one, just for simplicity. Label writers you plug in are better for more complex tasks, but I had no need.

[willbetoned]

I also have been avoiding the label maker - having thought of all the things I've purchased over the years that were going to help me get organized that ended up gathering dust and finally being given away.

But I am barely starting at GTD and I have purged SO much paper and general piles of "stuff" that I am breaking down and just went down to Staples (Canada) to look at the label makers. Label makers seem to be a weird little world onto themselves. THe staff seem not to know much about them and I had originally just gone in with Dave Allen's suggestion to get the cheapest Brother model that came with an adapter so I wouldn't have to worry about batteries.

Well the cheapest one - because it is on sale was the PT-2030AD ($40). And frankly - it looked HUGE to me. Of course the clerk did know enough to to tell me that it was a shame I missed LAST week's sale - when the smaller desktop models were on sale.

I had my eye on a very small, inauspicious Dymo Labelmanager Plug and Play (PnP) with has no keyboard but with would connect to my Mac (regular price - $80). It was SO small and now that I can finally see the so much of the surface of my desk - it seemed more appealing than dropping something that looked like a small typewriter on my newly recovered desk. (It's a big desk, it' just been buried for years!)

The Staples staff was really no help - so I decided to go home and see if I could figure out which one I wanted by browsing online. I found at least a couple people who absolutely hated both of the above models - the Net seemed to point at one even bigger than the "cheapest" one mentioned above - the Brother PT-2730 (regularly $120 - on sale this week for $80). Among other things, it will connect to my Mac and work stand-alone.

Of course several people hate that one too - is there anything that SOMEONE doesn't hate??

I really don't want to buy ANYTHING right now that will end up being unused clutter.

So I am watching this discussion thread carefully. Hoping to take the plunge before the sale ends Wednesday. The day is really arbitrary - I just want to get off the fence with the label maker thing - any advice would be appreciated

Wishing good luck to anyone else considering buying one of these odd little machines.

[Oogiem]

The ones that look lie typewriters are actually easier to use IMO. I hate the hand held ones, they are all designed for people with much larger hands and the kind where you have to twist the dial for each letter are way too slow. Filing has to be fast and easy for me or it won't get done.

Personally I'd go back and get one of the desktop ones with an adapter and ideally also running on batteries for those situations where you need it. Also be sure you purchase one whose tape supplies can be purchased either on-line or at a local store easily.

[willbetoned]

I've got the Dymo PnP http://global.dymo.com/enAU/Products...nager_PnP.html

Still trying to figure out which one to buy.

Are you happy with this model? It looks nice, is small, tidy.

PC Magazine complained that it didn't print labels wider than 1/2 inch.

Never having printed a label, I have no idea whether this should be a consideration.

DO people out there regularly print labels wider than 1/2 inch?

[vbampton]

Are you happy with this model? It looks nice, is small, tidy.

Yeah, very happy with it. I don't have a point of comparison, but I certainly haven't found a need for wider labels.

[Mike in Winnipeg]

My only suggestion would be to get a labellor with a properly laid out keyboard. QWERTY. Mine is laid out ABCDEFG etc. very annoying and I never get used to it.

[ksonnenb]

I have two labellers:

1) @Work: PT-1230PC - it doesn't have a keyboard but since my office computer is always on it's really easy and quick to create nice looking labels.
2) @Home: Brother PT-1750 - older model but this one has a QWERTY keyboard and is really quick at creating labels without a computer.

I agree that having an integrated keyboard is a really good feature to have - if you can find a reasonably priced one that has a keyboard and PC/MAC connection that is the best solution.

My only complaint it that the Brother TZ tape tends to be fairly expensive here in Canada - so I stock up when I visit the US.