- Easy - Fast - Secure!
- Easy to Use - No software installation required
- Uses tapes up to 1" wide, laminated for indoor/outdoor use
- Prints multiple lines of text and graphics
- Uses AD-24 adapter (included) or 6 "AA" batteries (not included)
I got this product to replace my current Brother P-Touch Labeler, because I wanted something that I could create laminated labels with, but also be able to make them a bit snazzier than my current labeler allows. This product fits the bill, and then some!
With this label maker, you can hook it up to any PC, and print laminated labels. Let me make this clear though---you have to have a computer to hook the labeler up to, or it will not work. Hooking up the label maker is very easy, you simply use the USB cord that comes in the box and hook it up to the USB port on your computer. Once hooked up, and powered on, a built in software called "P-Touch Editor Lite" automatically comes up. It is very user friendly, and allows you to create your labels from your computer, and print them without having to install any additional software. The great thing about this, is that with this label maker you have access to a wide range of fonts, clip arts, and editing that you do not have on a regular label maker. But, the best feature of using a computer to generate your labels, is that you get to see what the labels are actually going to look like BEFORE you print them! At last no more wasted TZ tape!
Now, if you want to take your label making up another level you can install the additional software from the CD-ROM that comes with the labeler. Installing this software is totally optional, and not necessary, but just provides some additional features that the built in software does not have. This is where things got a little tricky for me, and why I would give this product 4.5 stars if I could. Installing the software was not as easy as I expected it to be. But I am going to tell you what I did wrong so you won''t make the same mistakes that I did!
The CD-ROM contains two applications that need to be installed--the editing software, and a driver for this editing software. After the editing software is installed, the CD-ROM will attempt to install the driver. This is where I got stuck--the driver would not install. But after browsing through the numerous pamphlets/manuals that come with this product I was able to figure out what I was doing wrong--but I wasted at least a half an hour trying to figure this out. Here is what you need to know: 1. Make sure you do not have the label maker plugged in to your computer or turned on--wait until the installation software asks you to do so. 2. Make sure that the "mode switch" on the bottom of the machine is turned to the "E" position.
As long as you follow those two bits of advice the driver will install properly, and you can be on your way to creating all kinds of labels. The reason I would take off half a star is because I wasted to much time trying to figure out what I was doing wrong--there should be a label on the CD-ROM envelope that says "WHEN INSTALLING SOFTWARE SWITCH MODE TO ''E'' & DO NOT PLUG IN/TURN ON MACHINE UNTIL ASKED". That would have saved me so much time!
With that being said, once I got the software installed (and as I mentioned earlier, the software is optional....it is just more advanced than the software that is already built into the labeler), I was very impressed. You can really do a lot with it--there are even two modes, "Express" and "Professional". There are just as many, and maybe even more, fonts as Microsoft Word, as well as many different symbols/clip arts/ frames that you can insert. You can also install add-ins for Microsoft Word/Excel/Outlook that allow you to print your laminated labels from there. You can also insert photos that you have stored on your computer into the label! I especially love the ruler, which shows you precisely how long your label is going to be, so that you know how much tape you are using. There is also a neat feature called "Snap" which allows you to take screen clippings from your computer, and insert them into your label.
The label quality is excellent, and just what you would expect from Brother. As far as I can tell, this label maker accepts any type of labels that Brother makes (and they make A LOT of different kinds!)--even the 1" width labels. Fonts, and other symbols, etc, come out very clear. I inserted some photos and screen clippings to see how they would turn out, and they came out well---a bit grainy, but I was taking a large photo and fitting it onto a ½" label, so I did not expect that it would be the best quality. You can also have multiple lines of text, arrange the text direction, and do many other things with the installed software--you can even make barcodes! Other notable features--the product is actually more compact than I expected it to be from the picture, a clear window for viewing what type of tape that you have in the machine, accepts batteries AND has an AC adapter so you can plug it in ( a big plus!),is Energy Star rated, and seems to be made out of durable materials.
There is not much room for improvement with this labeler, but I would have a few minor suggestions for the manufacturer. First, I wish this product came with more than just one "sample" size TZ tape. It would be nice if there were more TZ tapes included and even possibly in various sizes or colors. Second, although this product is quite small, the portability of this product would be improved by adding a handle. Lastly---it would be nice if the labeler came with some type of pouch to store the label maker in, along with its AC adapter and USB Cord.
Otherwise though, great product for making quality, personalized, laminated labels! Definitely several steps up from what I had been using!
Buy Brother PC-Connectable Label Maker with Auto Cutter (PT-2430PC) Now
(Please check out my images of the actual output for text, JPEG, and screen capture.)
I''ve never owned a dedicated label maker before, but certainly have an appreciation for a good label. After running a few tests for an hour, here are my impressions of the PT-2430PC:
PROS
*Ease of use. No driver or software to install if you don''t want to. A small self-contained program is executed when you plug in the device to the USB port. I did not bother to use whatever extra software might be on the CD.
*The text output is legible enough. While jagged edges are definitely visible, it''s just a label maker and not a graphic design machine.
*Uses any True Type font installed on your computer, including whacky symbols!
*The quality of the labels are very good in regards to water resistance and peeling-and-re-sticking ability. I ran a printed label under a faucet for 15 seconds. There was absolutely no bleeding or damage to the base. The tape seems to be laminated and this gives it strength and durability. I was really surprised that the labels still stuck after I had thoroughly wet the adhesive (though I had to wipe off the water first). They also peeled off without leaving a residue and then easily re-adhered to the surface.
*Takes tapes of various width, up to 1-inch
*Works with AC or batteries (but it takes 6 AA!)
*In addition to text, you can print images and screen captures (but see the CONS section and the sample images I''ve posted)
CONS
*It is useless when untethered from a computer. A label will only print via a computer. It would have been great if there was a built in memory which could store a few labels which could be printed remotely. This is especially desirable since a good chunk of this thing is for holding 6 AA batteries.
*After a few minutes of inactivity, the self-contained software shuts off. You have to reset the label maker to execute the program again.
*It''s a bit too big for portability. It''s about the size of two stacked 3.5" hard drives. A lot of the extra space is due to the housing for the 6-AA batteries, which I plan to never use since it also works off an AC adapter. It would have been ideal if it could have been USB-powered.
*Every time a new label is printed, a 1-inch piece of unused tape is spat out. Considering that most labels I intend to make are 1-2 inches long, this is a very high proportion of waste.
*The labels, once the backing is peeled off, tend to curl and stick to themselves. It''s really only a problem if the label is longer than 2 inches. It also unsticks from itself without much damage if you''re careful.
*The ability to print images and screen capture is mostly novelty. The print resolution is so low that it looks very grainy like a super high ISO photo film.
*It seems rather expensive.
Read Best Reviews of Brother PC-Connectable Label Maker with Auto Cutter (PT-2430PC) Here
I''ve wanted a label maker forever, and when Amazon Vine offered this one for review, I was excited, but a little concerned that it had to be connected to a PC to work. I was afraid I would have trouble setting it up, but I plugged it in and within minutes I was printing labels. I couldn''t believe how easy it was to use because sometimes I can be electronically challenged. After playing with it for a while, I installed the P-Touch editor software on the CD-rom that is included with the label maker. While the basic software was sufficient for my use, the P-Touch editor software was fun to make really creative labels and even upload small pictures that I used on some. The 180 DPI print quality doesn''t make for detailed pictures, though.
Refills for the label maker come in a variety of colors and widths for various uses. The back is easy to peel off and the labels are laminated and high quality. The only complaint I have is that it wastes a bit of tape each time it prints, maybe about 3/4 of an inch that it just lops off and spits out.
It takes 6 AA batteries or you can use the A/C adaptor cord that comes with the label maker.
I''m very pleased with the unit and I''ve used it to organize my pantry shelves, and to label the fifty or so storage tubs in my attic. Next, I''m going to work on the kids'' closets!
Update: I''ve frequently run my labeled containers through my dishwasher and while I expected them to come off, they haven''t so far, and still look the same as the day I put them on.
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This is great little machine. Many users have commented that the unit wastes an inch of tape with each print. This is true if you''re printing only one label. However, if you are printing a bunch of labels, enable "Chain Printing" and only the first inch will be lost. The Brother website offers instructions on how to do this, and I''ve posted their text below.
I tried the method with a dozen different text labels and the process worked like a charm!
These are the notes from their website:
Due to the construction of the tape mechanism, the one inch (25mm) piece of tape that is produced prior to every label cannot be eliminated. However, when you print more than one label at a time and select Chain Printing, the subsequent labels can be printed without the excess tape.
To select Chain Printing:
1. Input the text for the label.
2. Click on the pull down arrow menu next to the Print icon and select Print Options.
3. Select Auto Cut and Chain Printing in the Print Options dialog box.
4. Click Print; the machine will feed and cut off the one inch blank tape and prints the label. The label will remain in the machine until you print another label.
5. Create another label and click Print. The machine will feed and cut off the first label you have created. The second label will remain in the machine until you print another label.
6. Continue creating and printing the next label. When you finish printing all the labels, press the Cut button on top of the machine. The machine will feed out and cut off the last label.
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Great labeler! I was using as 1230-PC for a long while, and this is just like it but comes with an AC adapter (yay!) and yes, it cuts the labels for you. The 1230''s "scissors not included" requirement was getting old, not mention having to boot up Windows just to print a label. All in all, the 2430 is proving to be a great unit so far.
For you fellow Mac folk: I found a driver for my Macbook Pro (running Lion), and it works fine. The packaging and included user guide only say Windows, but the Brother Japan site has a driver and the P-Touch Editor software (in English). You can''t use the built-in software, but so what? Who carries around a labeler the size of a trade paperback, plugging it into random computers?
The Mac printer driver file can be downloaded at http://d.pr/erul or if that doesn''t work use
The P-Touch Editor for Mac can be downloaded at http://d.pr/EnaD or if that doesn''t work use
Good luck!
