 "Makes decent labels except for wires and cables" | 2009-11-16 |
| - Reviewed By altenburgpj |
| I have been using this unit for about 2 years now, and there are two things that I can not get past. Using the keyboard is horrible due to the A to Z layout. A QWERTY board would have been 1000 times better. I have used a variety of labels, and even the flexible ones uncurl off the wires after a month or two. Not good for labelling wires. Great for office items. |
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 "About the best labeler for telecom/networking" | 2009-06-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: A152M68ONK8I12 |
I am on my second label maker only due to my last one being dropped from about 20 feet up, it actually functioned fine but the rear panel was ruined and the tabs that panel attached with on the main body were busted...
Gladly bought another.
Yes it will waste a little tape but a little planning will solve much of that, this unit will make duplicates and also make labels in series, alpha and numerical, at the same time. A little time getting familiar with its operation goes a long way. I have used the high dollar Brady labeler, this one is far cheaper (unit cost and consumables) and far easier to use. Also it is more portable. Granted the Brady has some spiffy specialized labels, but by and large unnecessary. Label ty wraps are a much cheaper, more durable alternative.
The cutter error issue is overcome by a tiny bit of patience and also don't let go of the lever after making the cut, it seems to bounce or jar the sensor for the cutter. You don't have to let the lever down particularly slow, just keep enough pressure on the cutter so that it doesn't pop back. |
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 "Takes wide tapes, lots of options" | 2008-12-11 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3KDRLIBWILPMJ |
I bought this label maker because of its ability to take wide tapes (up to an inch), for its built-in templates, the extended symbol set, barcode capability, and ease of entry. It also can be used one-handed, being specifically shaped for that, and it sits solidly on the desk, too. Batteries last forever. Note that though it's designed for one-handed use, it is big and bulky, compared to most labelers.
In short, this labeler has it all, for a handheld.
Shortcomings? Two: If you use the default cutting option (there are several), you waste a bit of tape for each label you print. Unfortunately, for most people, this cutting option is the only one that makes sense, as it's the one you use for one-off labels. Second, unless you are careful about how you press the cutting button that sticks out of the top left of the unit, you get a cutting error and have to re-print the whole label.
I'm happy with mine and would buy it again, in spite of its minor issues. |
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| "Excellent label maker for a clutterbug stay-at-home-mom" | 2008-11-21 |
| - Reviewed By willolevin |
I've had the PT-1400 for almost 2 years now. I happened to get it at half price, which is the only reason I sprung for such a pricey version. It turns out to have been an excellent splurge for my needs.
First of all, not all P-Touch label makers can handle label tape widths of one inch. (I know some top out at 3/4", and others may only handle 1/2".) For home use, such as storing seasonal items and hand-me-down clothes in the attic where they may sit for several years between kids, the 1" label is perfectly clear from our attic stairs to the far wall (10 feet?) where the clothing bins sit.
Another feature I didn't think much about when I purchased the PT-1400 and had only one older toddler is the DURABILITY of this particular unit. Because it is made for an industrial environment, I think they built it extra tough. Thank goodness, because little kids are drawn to a label maker like you wouldn't believe. Buttons! Tape coming out, and not just tape, but STICKERS!!! (I try to keep it up high, but they have gotten to my labeler and they have dropped it--repeatedly.)
I, too, dislike the wasted 3/4" bit of tape that pops out before every label. I care about the environment, and I'm cheap! One solution I have is to type in several labels worth of text at once and print it in one go, using scissors to separate the different labels. That only makes a single "waste" square per grouped set of labels. The other trick I have is using my kids' love of stickers--I have declared those little squares "love stickers", and I dole them out to the kids as I'm doing my organizing and labeling. (Since I'm often very busy and distracted while doing a major seasonal cleaning, taking a minute to tell a kid how much I love him and bestowing a little square sticker is a very fine thing.) You'd be amazed at how much a 4 year old loves being covered with a dozen or more plain square "love" stickers.
I'll also address the ease of use question since the other reviews seem quite cursory. The PT-1400 is very, VERY easy to get started with and produce basic text labels. Upper and lower-case and all-caps are easily done without reading the manual. Using the SYMBOL key to access useful symbols is trivial. A person who wants to go into more exotic style changes such as using different font sizes on multiple lines of text within a single label will probably need to read the manual. I also created some bar code labels for my part-time job at a bookstore, and that required first internet investigation (to learn what type of bar code format is used for the ISBN's on books) and then searching the manual of the PT-1400 to figure out how to convince the device to make my bar codes. In the end, I did end up with bar codes that our cash register wands could scan for automatic data entry.
My final comment is that I have found 1/4" tape to get tangled in my PT-1400, ruining both cartridges I have tried of that size. Since no other tapes have had such an issue, I don't know if my device just hates 1/4" tapes, or if all P-Touch units have trouble with them. After seeing it in person--I ordered many types of tapes to have on hand, and they are much cheaper online than in local office stores--I think 1/4" tape is just too tiny to be useful for very much. I got it thinking to save a little money (vs. 1/2" tape) for labeling file folders, but 1/2" tape works fine for that and is more often deeply discounted since it is the most common size. |
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| "Solid but wasteful" | 2008-10-14 |
| - Reviewed By punkdigital |
This is a solid and useful labeler. It's sturdy and obviously built for industrial use and it is ridiculously easy to use. Sadly, it is also a bit wasteful, which is my only serious gripe with it. You see, every time you make a new label you are asked to cut a piece of tape about 3/4 of an inch before the label pops out. Perhaps the thinking was that since this is an industrial strength label machine, many labels would be entered in one shot so the 3/4 inch cut would occur only in the beginning of a massive print run. Or maybe Brother was slightly less than competent in designing this with economy in mind. Or maybe they planned on selling lots of tape. I have no idea why it makes that cut, but it is annoying.
Aside from the wasting of tape it is a workhorse and it is very well built, so if you need an industrial strength labeling machine, this one will do nicely. |
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| "Tech Must Have!" | 2008-02-25 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3FUW67XCDNZAR |
| I've used this labeler for over 2 years. It's GREAT!. I bought a second one for a seprate location so I always have one handy. If you read the manual you can find how not to waste tape when printing multiple labels. You can print any kind of label for wiring, panels, or just about anything else. Go to Brothermall.com and get the flexable ID tapes for cables. If you shop around you can see how expensive labeling is so the price for the tapes is as reasonable as any other. You may want to get something cheaper for personal use but this is the best for professional quality installation. I got a Platt 507 case and customized it for carrying the labeler, 9 tape cartridges, and spare batteries. It gets great milage from the batteries too. Add some flat point tweezers to help in applying the labels so they're always straight. I recommend this labeler to all the technicians I work with and have complete faith in it. On occasions the cutter can use some cleaning with a cotton swab and alcohol to avoid a cutter error. You should press the cutter in a delibrate but not over firm motion when cutting the tape and you'll have no problems. I can't say enough positives about using this labeler. |
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