Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I am a very organized person, and I wanted to streamline the look of my filing systems. Martha Stewart recommended the Brother P Touch on her shows many times, and I figured I'd give it a try.
Here are some thoughts and comments:
* Sucks up battery life like crazy. I attempted to use NEW yet out-of-the-package AAA batteries (expiration 2009) and the machine would stop printing and power off. You MUST use extremely new/fresh batteries, but really, I suggest that you take this opportunity to buy yourself a battery recharger with several rechargeable batteries if you are going to use this product. I also think an upgrade to this product would be the ability to operate it two ways : with batteries AND electric power source.
*There is a little piece of paper included somewhere in the packet that is very easy to miss, but is crucial to its operation. It is of a diagram which shows you that you must first REMOVE A PIECE OF THIN FOAM from the machine before installing the tape. This is NOT in the instruction booklet!
*$10+ for replacement cartridges seems expensive, seeing as how they do not last very long. Think ahead and buy your cartridges online at a discount so that you do not find yourself at the office supply store mid-project, paying way too much for retail.
*Colored tape makes it easy for you to color code your files. Though I prefer the plain black/white, you can use different color tapes for specific projects. For instance, financial files could be GREEN. There are several colors available but I did not find them visually pleasing, so I'm sticking with the black on white.
*In addition to color coding, there are functions which allow you to BOLD, ITALICIZE, and UNDERLINE, as well as choose which border you'd like to use. One of the more fun borders is CANDY, which looks like a candy wrapper. It's fun and feminine, and I use that one for my designer files. But there are more plain borders, as well as a masculine WOOD look. Others options are font size ; normal, 1/2 and X2 and width, which you can use to adjust for more characters. For example, a short word such as BANK is short enough to fit X2 on a file folder, whereas FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2007 could be in regular size font and on 2 lines, to fit the folders. It's quite user friendly that way.
*The keyboard is obviously small, and therefore so are the keys. If you have big fingers, or long nails, use the eraser-side of a pencil on the keyboard.
*As with any new gadget, it will take some time to figure out how to use the product, but the instructions are easy to understand, overall.
Unfortunately, I paid full retail for this, but the price at Amazon is HALF of what I paid at the office supply store. I'm going to buy one from Amazon, with tapes, for my sister for her birthday. I think it makes a great gift, everyone will love this item. (And perhaps include the aforementioned batteries/charger as well!)
I have given the item 3 stars instead of 4 because Brother is soaking its customers with expensive replacement tapes. Doesn't seem very ethical to me. Also, new models are introduced to the market all the time, so while you may think you will use this for several years, it is more likely that newer, better models will become attractive with more experience and use. In this sense, the item is not cost-effective, especially since repair/replacement is probably more expensive than just buying a new one.
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Brother PT-80 P-touch Electronic Labeling SystemThe Brother PT-80 Personal Labeler is an affordable, handheld personal labeling system that can print a wide variety of tape colors and styles. Everyone can use a little help getting organized, and this compact, easy-to-use device makes it a breeze. It's perfect for homes, home offices, and small offices and particularly helpful for crafts, school projects, financial management, and all sorts of kid activities. You'll come up with hundreds of uses for this label maker. From tidying up your closet to making scrapbooks, the PT-80 can help keep your household -- and your life -- running smoothly.Special Features The PT-80 easily prints labels in six type sizes, nine type styles and one font for all different labeling needs -- all you have to do is type in your text and print. It's that easy! To make things even more precise, at the touch of a button you can also add the time and date to your label. This feature is especially helpful for labeling perishable food, financial records, smoke alarm batteries, and spice racks. With the PT-80, you can print non-laminated labels that are 0.375 and 0.5 inches wide.
Personalize Your Labels It's fun to personalize your labels. The PT-80 gives you the option of selecting from 71 symbols to creatively display information on the label, and also includes five auto formats and five framing options. In addition, you can take advantage of nine different types of styles, including italic, bold, and vertical. Along with its easy-to-view, 12-character LCD display and easy-to-use typewriter style keyboard, the PT-80 features raised keys for more accurate input. It also prints one to two lines of crisp text, and can add text framing and underlining.Print Speed, Resolution, and Tape Size The PT-80 is designed to offer you the very best label-making technology available in a compact, personal-use unit. The print speed is 7.5 mm/second, while the resolution is 230 dpi. You won't have to wait long for your labels to print out and when they do, the eye-catching sharpness of the text will stand out. The tape measures 26.2 feet, which means it won't require constant re-supplying. You can also print up to nine copies at one time.The PT-80 comes with a one year limited warranty.
What's in the Box PT-80 label printer, 1/2-inch black on white tape, and user's guide.
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