Get Organized
CBS Radio News Tech Analyst Larry Magid takes a look at label makers.
I don't label people, but I do like to put labels on things. My cell phone and digital camera have labels with my phone number, just in case I misplace them. I label my videotapes and even put labels on music CDs that I burn. Of course, I also label file folders and envelopes. In fact, I've found dozens of uses for my new electronic label maker.
The device I'm using right now is the DYMO LabelMANAGER PC, which is attached to the USB port of my Windows PC. Unfortunately, it does not come with Macintosh drivers. I've also used other DYMO label printers as well as electronic label makers from Seiko, Casio and Brother.
There are basically three strategies for printing labels with a computer.
One option is to forgo a label printer altogether and use a regular inkjet or laser printer. You can purchase label stock from Avery and other companies that works with just about any printer.
A big advantage to using a regular printer is saving on the cost of materials needed. Not only can you use the hardware you already have, but also the label stock itself is cheaper. Avery, for example, charges $12.23 for a package of 25 sheets of label stock with 30 labels per sheet. That's a cost of about 1.6 cents per label.
By the way, Microsoft Word has a feature that makes it easy to print on label stock. You'll find it on the Tools menu under "Labels and Mailing" or a similar option. Type what you want to print and then click on Options to select the particular label stock you have. The feature also works well for creating business cards on special perforated business card stock.
The downside of using a regular printer is that, though it can be done, you can't easily print just one label. These sheets are really designed for printing multiple labels or copies of a single label.
That's where a dedicated label printer comes in. Printers such as DYMO's LabelWriter 315 ($169) or Seiko Instruments' Smart Label Printer 100 ($99) allow you to print one label at a time. These machines connect to a PC or a Mac via either the USB port of the serial port and come with software that lets you design labels with text, graphics or both. There generally is a way to import names and addresses from a database should you want to use the printer for creating multiple labels.
These particular units print on thermal labels that, like old-fashioned fax paper, work by having the printer apply heat to the label to produce an image. It works great, but there is a downside. Thermal labels tend to fade very quickly when exposed to sunlight. Also, these labels are printed on relatively thin paper, which is fine for most applications but not all that great for labeling things like pagers and cell phones, which tend to be handled a lot. Label stock for these types of printers can cost as much as 5 cents per label.
Instead of printing on paper labels, DYMO's LabelMANAGER PC prints on glossy coated stock that is more suitable for labeling objects. DYMO claims that the labels are permanent. I have no way to verify that, but after a few days, the labels I affixed to various devices are still there—clear and readable.
The stock comes on a 7 meter (275 inches) continuous roll ranging from 1/4 inch to 1 inch wide. A roll of half-inch and other small-width tape costs $18 (6.5 cents an inch), while the larger tape costs $25 (9 cents an inch). Almost any label you print is going to be at least an inch long, so this printer can get awfully expensive if you use it a lot.
The software is very easy to use. You can type text directly into the little editor that pops up, or you can paste it from a word processor or other program. You also can print directly from other programs, but formatting can be tricky.
Casio and Brother also make permanent label printers with similar stock, but one thing I like about the DYMO stock is that there is a slit on the backing, making it very easy to peel the backing off the labels. With some stock you have to use a special tool or pick at it with your fingernails. It can be very annoying.
Brother, Casio and DYMO also offer label makers that do not have to be connected to a PC. They come with a small keyboard that you can use to enter the text. In addition to the obvious advantage of not needing a PC, these devices are typically portable, making them easy to move from room to room. But, like all portable devices, they can also be lost or misplaced.
A syndicated technology columnist for nearly two decades, Larry Magid serves as on air Technology Analyst for CBS Radio News. His technology reports can be heard several times a week on the CBS Radio Network. Magid is the author of several books including "The Little PC Book."
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