Most of the handheld label printers are built using ABC keybaords vs. the QWERTY keyboard, and that was a key factor in my decision to buy this scanner. Some people have claimed that using DYMO label makers vs. Brother label makers will save money as the DYMO does waste less label when printing, this is both true and false --- I will explain more further down in this review.
I would like to add to this review a comment about batteries, there has been multiple comments about this label maker "eating batteries"; I have used up trial cartridge and many labels into my second cartridge and have not changed the batteries in this unit. I am using Eneloop Rechargeable batteries and they have performed flawlessly. Keep in mind that this would be a higher drain type of device when printing and cheap "Super Duty" (Non-alkaline or cheap Rechargeable) batteries are probably not going to work well. As always, I recommend the investment in Eneloop batteries with a good charger (LaCrosse BC-700)
PROs:
- Handheld form factor
- Easy to use
- Prints nice looking labels
- QWERTY Keyboard
CONs:
- NO access to any special charactors except via menus (i.e. if you need a "-" or a "." on your label, there is NO button for this and you have to go into the symbol menu to find the symbol you want) ... This is annoying and is the reason that this label maker looses one star (most of my labels include "-" or "." in them)
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*** The truth about actual label costs (Pictures will be attached to this review) ***
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I printed out labels using a Brother P-Touch PT-2030 and the DYMO LabelManager 160 and these were the results of my findings:
As of the time of this writing, the DYMO 1/2" D-1 label roll is selling for $14 and includes 23 feet (276 inches) of label
As of the time of this writing, the Brother 1/2" P-Touch label roll is selling for $11 and includes 26.2 feet (314 inches) of label
I printed two labels that had this text in 24pt BOLD "TEST-XX-01"
The DYMO label that was printed including wasted space on both sides was 2.75" in length which would allow 100 labels to be printed on a $14 roll
*** $0.14 per label
The Brother label that was printed including wasted space on both sides was 4" in length which would allow 78 labels to be printed on the $11 roll
*** $0.14 per label
*** TIE ***
I printed two labels that had this text in 24pt BOLD "255.255.255.255"
The DYMO label that was printed including wasted space on both sides was 3.375" (3 3/8") in length which would allow 81 labels on $14 roll
*** $0.17 per label
The Brother label that was printed including wasted space on both sides was 4.5" in length which would allow 69 labels on a $11 roll
*** $0.16 per label
*** BROTHER WINS ***
The DYMO would win with smaller labels, it seems that my first label tested is about the tie breaker in size.
Bottom line:
If you print SMALL labels, you will get more for your money using a DYMO label printer with less waste per label
If you print larger labels, you will get more for your money using a BROTHER label printer even though it waste more per label
The DYMO generally prints more labels per roll than the brother, even though there is less label per cart, however the Brother label is cheaper at this time.
There is also the consideration that you might be ok with the extra tape used by the dymo, and that you might hate how much extra tape is used with the brother, ... How much time might you spend trimming brother labels because they are huge?
They are both great label makers ... I hope this review helps someone make an informed decision!
Wow really? People complain about the symbols? I've used a ton of label makers and this on is far and above passes them all!
OK so the symbols are on a separate button bug deal..
It's the perfect size
It prints super clear
It has a button for clip art designs and pictures!
It can write multiple lines on a single strip!
It has borders you can select to put around the text!
It can write horizontal and vertical!
The font sizes go from 8-20 on 1/2 inch tape with selection of 2 in between!
The price is 9 dollars! And it comes with tape!
Don't listen to these people complaining of things like "it's such a pain to need symbols" blah blah blah.
Just grab this and a 2 pack of 23 foot long rolls and you'll love the thing! I promise!
Oh and did I mention it's super quiet!
The tape cutter is very smooth and comes out from the top instead of the sides like other label makers!
And after all that... If you turn it over you can physically see how. Much tape you have left. Kind of like a gas gague, there is a little Window. Just buy the thing quick!
I love labeling things and was so happy to receive this label maker. Within a day I was severely disappointed though, when I attempted to label Oliver and it wouldn't adhere. I guess I'll give it five stars though. Whatever.
I just needed something simple that did 2 lines and had a descent amount of clip art. It does the job, and as an added bonus, it's actually easy to peel the backing off. It splits into 2 pieces. On my last labeler, you had to work that finger nail between the backing and the tape to remove it. That required some time and patience. IT professionals don't have that kind of time. Thanks DYMO for making things easy and quick! The labeler is fun to use and comes with a rechargeable battery. It's nice to be able to keep the battery inside and recharge with a charger. No more digging out 6 "AA" batteries like in my old single line labeler. Thanks!
I ordered the dymo LM 280 with one roll of black on white tape. The product description and reviews said no ac adapter came with the unit, but mine came with an ac adapter. So, now I have to return the extra ac adapter I ordered. Anyways, this label maker doesn't even take batteries, so I'm thinking they have to give everyone an ac adapter. Everyone who is saying they needed 6 AAA batteries is full of it because it literally doesn't take batteries. The unit is extremely light weight to where it almost feels like a pretend toy label maker for a child. The unit is nice. You can literally hook it up to your laptop and print with any font, insert any image, etc. Its a quality device, and it definitely does much cooler stuff than any other label maker I've used. BUT... I don't want to say it, but I actually hate the way it looks lol The amazon photo looked like it would look similar to a Blackberry, but it looks like a gigantic fake scanning device from star trek. Also, I read a TON of reviews complaining about the amount of tape being wasted. I've used many label makers, and I have no idea what people are talking about. This label maker puts the same amount of space that every other label maker does. I'm actually wondering if people are reviewing an older model of the 280 (i don't even know if that exists) because I'm finding the tape/battery claims to be completely false. Plus, I literally ordered two rolls of black on white tape for $6 and you can get a better deal if you buy your tape in bulk. Seriously, if you want an awesome label maker and own a computer, this one is $26 and will literally print your face if you upload a picture of your face, it will just be a very tiny image of your face and in black and white lol But, don't buy this if you don't have a computer. The device on its own has less features than you could get with a $10 label maker, so you literally need a computer to access the awesome features. Also, your going to want only the 1/2" tape from now own, no matter what. I've always been a 3/8" girl, but since I can print so many cool fonts now, I need the wider tape to see my designs better. I actually got really bored the first time I used this because you have so many options! I usually like to waste my time making just the perfect label, but it literally took FOREVER to go through every one of my fonts, then add in pictures! I literally got bored and just picked whatever. Don't let everyone's stupid reviews freak you out. I honestly was so concerned about buying this or some other label maker on Amazon. But, then finally I realized you have to buy Dymo. You can't not buy a Dymo. And I'm really surprised I could get a label maker this cool for only $26! Even if it looks like a $4 star trek kids toy.
Feature Product
- PORTABLE LABEL MAKER: Compact and lightweight for portability, making it easy to label just about anything, anywhere
- TYPE QUICKLY AND EASILY: Label maker lets you quickly type text on the familiar computer-style QWERTY keyboard, edit with one-touch fast-formatting keys and print perfect, professional labels every time
- PRINTS CUSTOM LABELS: Customize your label with 20+ ways to format text and 200+ symbols and clip art
- EXTENDED BATTERY LIFE: Enjoy extended battery life with automatic switch-off
- USE WITH AUTHENTIC DYMO LABELS: For best performance, use authentic DYMO Label Tapes in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" (6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm) widths available in a variety of colors
Description
The DYMO LabelManager 160 is a fast, simple label maker that's easy to take with you. Quickly type text on the computer-style QWERTY keyboard, edit with one-touch fast-formatting keys, and print perfect, professional labels every time. Compact and lightweight for portability, making it easy to label just about anything, anywhere. 20+ ways to format text and more than 200 symbols and clip-art make it easy to create high-quality labels for all your organization needs. To extend the battery life, the auto power-off function turns the label maker off when not in use.
I had an older Dymo labeler that used a specific cartridge. I bought a replacement cartridge to find that my labeler had stopped working. This is the only new Dymo labeler I could find that used that same cartridge, so I bought it and it's actually pretty cool! First of all it's quite portable and has a rechargeable battery. Second, it comes with a USB cable so you can attach it to your computer, download some free software and it becomes a real printer! No, you're not going to print out a letter to grandma, but you can create your label on your computer screen (which is easier than typing it directly into the labeler) and the coolest thing (at least with my MacBook Air) I can print a label out using any font that's on my computer!! You're not limited to the few that are native to the labeler. Want a label printed out in Ariel, Helvetica, Courier, Papyrus, Brush Script? You can do it! And you print right from the computer! Very cool! I've been putting labels on everything!
I had a Dymo label maker (similar in size and shape to this one but older) for about 10 years. It worked really well. I never had an issue to complain about it. Then one day I pulled it out to use and it didn't work any more. I contacted their customer service and we tried a few troubleshooting ideas. Still didn't work. She said that sometimes the motor just dies and it costs less to replace than to try to fix. So the Hunt was on for a new one. I found this one on Amazon. Great price and it works with all of the cartridges I already had in my supplies. Bonus! I've only had one opportunity to use it since purchasing it so I can't give a full review, but I am very pleased so far.
As far as the batteries and power adapter question, I've never had to worry about it. I like the convenience of being able to take the label maker anywhere and not needing to worry about trying to find a place to plug It in to use it. And the fact that I have a power adapter from my previous Dymo label maker that fits this label maker (210D) is another added bonus.
I didn't find the learning curve too steep for this device since there is a nice digital screen to read what I typed before hitting the print button.
I am very pleased with this labeler. It works as it describes. I do have issues with the tape that came with it. It seems that it has aged and isn't the newest on the shelf. The tape didn't stay adhered to most things I labeled. But, again I believe it is because of the age of the tape. As you can see in the pictures. the tape adhered wonderfully to a can I had "painted" with a sharpie pen. But, in the second picture, I have circled where it had pulled away from the rubber phone cords. In the third image. It pulled away from the curvature of my hand set on my desk phone. Please note. This pulling way took place within a 48 hour period while I took the day off. So, it really didn't last 48 hours. I had to re-tape the labels with common office tape. Another reason why the machine didn't get 5 stars is some of the clip art was very out of date. But, overall I found the machine VERY easy to use. It upsets me that it doesn't come with a power cord, and it doesn't have an internal battery. It doesn't use six AAA batteries. But, on the flip side it turns itself off within seconds of being used and when you power it back up it has the same label you used last. I did buy a case for it and the case does hold an adaptor you can buy and a spare tape cartridge. I will say that the tape sticks well to the lacquered finish of my kids dresser and to the metal inside casing of my computer. I will contact the company about getting newer tape, or go to bestbuy and get some fresh. that may make a difference.
A label maker is an organizational MUST HAVE and this brand/model is a great option for those new to labeling (oh the joy! I'm so excited for you!)! I already own a Brother brand labeler myself and bought this for a friend for Christmas. I was anxious to compare the two. Here's the skinny on this Dymo:
- Cheaper than brother (both the unit itself and the tape cartridges)
- Intuitive and easy to use
- Love the QWERTY keyboard
- Love that it has different outline, underline, text size and style options
- LOVE that it doesn't waste NEARLY as much tape on the sides as my Brother model does (which can't be changed in settings). This is one of the major selling points for Dymo over Brother in my opinion. The tape cartirdges aren't cheap and when so much tape is wasted on either side of your text (which I usually just end up clipping off anyway) that really adds up! Hooray Dymo!
The only thing that is lame about this particular model is that it only comes with ONE FONT. While the description is technically correct, I will say that it mislead me to believe that I would be getting multiple fonts when it told me there were 6 font styles. I have no idea what they think the difference is between 'font style' and 'text style' but to me a 'font style' is simply a different font and a 'text style' is referring to bold, italics etc. This feels very misleading and confusing and I am disappointed that there is only one font. Even 2 or 3 to choose from would be nice. That's where my Brother wins out. But that's the only area. Everything else about this labeler is fantastic! If I had to buy a new one for myself, I'd buy this one over the Brother in a heart beat. Hope this helps!
With 4300 reviews, there's nothing to add regarding the pros (keyboard input / PC interface / links to other software) and cons (Battery life / Mac weirdness / proprietary battery / more battery stuff) of this printer.
My review is more of a DIY solution to the battery problem.
Battery Problem: Battery is a standard 7.4V Li-ion battery in a proprietary case (read: expensive) that is continually charged via USB cable. This is needed because (probably) the printer requires more current than the USB can deliver. But the printer charges at 8.4V and can damage the battery if it charges too long. (The instructions tell you not to leave the battery in the printer if unused, and not to leave it plugged in to the USB all the time either - not going to happen in real life. Bad design for sure.)
DIY Battery Solution:
I bought a 7.4V Li-ion charger on Amazon (PowEver ACK-E8 Replacement AC Power Adapter Supply Kit for Canon EOS Rebel T5i T4i T3i T2i Kiss X6 Kiss X5 Kiss X4 700D 650D 600D 550D) ($12) and a matching DC pigtail (iMBAPrice iMBA-CCTV-PGTM-10 CCTV Security Camera DC Male Power Plug Pigtail Cable - Pack of 10 (Black/Red)) ($5). I took apart the printer case, drilled a small hole avoiding the sensitive bits inside, and soldered the pigtail to the battery terminals. Now it runs on battery or DC input.
Step-by-step (see photos):
You will want to install the DC pigtail in the back above the USB jack. It looks cleaner this way.
1. Open the case. To get access to the space behind the battery compartment, you will need to remove the back cover (opposite the door). To do this, first remove the base (held on with a single phillips screw), and remove the two smaller phillips screws holding on the back cover (one located just to the right of the barcode label at the top, the second in the lower right corner). Starting at the bottom where the base was attached, pry the back cover off with a small flathead screwdriver (it comes off easily).
2. Remove the battery terminals. The battery terminals are held in with a metal clip. Use a small screwdriver to pry the metal clip down and you can then slide the terminals out. It may help to use a second small screwdriver to push the terminals from the door side as well.
3. Add the DC pigtail. Drill a small hole in the case (outer wall only, don't hit the door hinge mounting screw), thread in the pigtail, tie a knot in the pigtail for strain relief, solder the ends to the terminals (mind the polarity), then replace the battery terminals.
4. Close up the case. Reassemble following steps 1-2 in reverse order.
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