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DYMO LabelWriter Printer 330
February 19, 2003 Your computer can provide a way to print just one or two or dozens of a variety of labels and badges. Just connect your computer to a compact specialized label printer and, using its companion software, you’ll make labeling quick, easy and surprisingly versatile. No more hand writing or finding a typewriter (if you can find one) to make labels, name badges and the like. It couldn’t be easier. The DYMO Corporation, long known for the embossed peel-and-stick type labels, offers the 21st century equivalent, the DYMO LabelWriter Printer (Dymo, Windows 88/2000/Me/XP or Mac OS9, OSX; ImageManager model, $90, up to 1 inch white or color labels; LabelWriter model 315, $130, up to 1.5 inch white labels, 8 LPM (labels per minute); LabelWriter model 330, $170, up to 2.5 inch white labels; LabelWriter model 330 turbo, $200, up to 2.5 inch white labels, 32 LPM). The LabelWriter prints on rolls of more than 40 sizes of self-adhesive standard labels, including large and small address labels, name badges, shipping labels, Internet postage labels, video and audio cassette labels, and the new CD-ROM and DVD disk labels. If you’ve had to deal with multi-label sheets or a printer that "eats" envelopes, you'll love this printer. The labels print quickly, so it's easy to make changes and print new labels for each need. The unit is compact, measuring about 7 x 4 x 5 inches, uses an AC adapter, connects to your computer via USB or serial ports and includes cables and a roll of sample labels. Dymo LabelWriter uses direct thermal printing. The companion included software provides templates for each type of label, so all you have to do is fill in the blanks to add names, addresses or other info. You can also include a graphic for each standard template. Or do a custom-designed label by adding your own graphics such as clipart, lines and photos to make labels that are jazzy, contemporary, or traditional. The program accepts a variety of graphic formats. You can add bar codes to many of the label templates directly from the program. Save the label design to use later (for example, return address labels or product ID labels). There is some limitation to the graphics you can print, since print resolution is 300 dpi and printing is black only. At the time of installation, you can choose to install add-ins that will allow you to print names and addresses or other data directly from Word, Outlook, ACT, GoldMine, and Palm Desktop using standard database formats. From these programs, you’ll be able to select the records and fields to include in your labels. Print single labels or print merged sets of labels. The program greatly simplifies mailings for businesses or organizations, meeting name badges, product inventory and much more. It also makes it easy to produce professional-looking labels when you need just a few. Dymo LabelWriter’s list manager supports several lists of names and addresses or other information to use with any of the labels. You can enter names directly in the list manager or import data from other sources in a CSV (comma separated value) or straight text format. From the list you can print a quick single label or select a group of labels to print. A neat feature of the program is the address checker. You need Internet access to use this feature, but you’ll be able to check the accuracy of a single address or a group of addresses and correct ZIP+four. To do this, the program connects to DYMO’s Internet site. The site uses the USPS system with latest updates for address and ZIP checking. This is not an address finder, just an accuracy checker. For example, if your address contains an entry of 3456 Oak Street in a particular city and there is no street address number that high, the error will be flagged. The same for the ZIP code you enter. If you don’t have the +four, the program adds it. There are some caveats to using the address checker, but if you follow the guidelines, you’ll be assured of accurate addresses. For any of the address labels, you can choose to have the USPS POSTNET bar code added. Better yet, subscribe to the Internet postage service (available at stamps.com,) which the DYMO LabelWriter software and companion Internet postage labels support. When you subscribe to this service, for each address, you print a two- or three-part label that includes the postage, mailing address and, if three-part, the return address. The postage is automatically billed to your account. No more standing in line at the Post Office, waiting for a postage meter to be filled, and the like. Very cool. Other neat uses for the DYMO LabelWriter are for printing membership cards for your group or organization. The membership card template makes it easy to add member names and numbers, expiration dates and a photo if you want. You can even add a bar code for quick and easy scanning of members at meetings, special events and such. Similarly, you can generate name badges for meetings, conferences or conventions. Print jewelry and wire identification tags (the kind that fold around a wire or part of the jewelry), or print ZIP and floppy disk labels. A special label for CDs makes it quick and easy to identify your CD-Rs or DVD-Rs. This 2 1/4 inch round donut label can be printed with identifying info and mounted accurately in the center of the disk using the special positioner. The Dymo LabelWriter Printer is a convenient, fast and often fun way to make labels. We enjoyed using it and came up with oodles of ideas for it. |
