Mini-Review: DYMO LabelWriter 450 Twin Turbo Label Printer

(Note: The productivity community has a deep and frightening labeler fetish, primarily inspired by the tremendous GTD following. The claim - which I've experienced - is that labeling your paper files is magic. I include them for my one-on-one clients because they make filing faster and more pleasant over hand labeling. Try it!)

A quick little something different, I thought I'd share my thoughts on a new labeler DYMO kindly sent me. The LabelWriter 450 Twin Turbo (~$200, Amazon link here) is a computer-connected labeler that holds two rolls at once so you can print a combination of labels like address, file, and postage, without having to switch them out each time. I installed it on my Mac (PC available too, of course), tried it a little bit, and boy is it fast! My trusty old hand-held, while inexpensive, was whimpering a bit in the corner. No worries. This thing is what you'd want for an office that prints a mix of postage, addresses, and file labels all day long, or that prints a lot of labels, such as for large mailing lists. Setup, documentation, and installation were fine. The application program was utilitarian, with basic Mac integration, but I found bugs in accessing Address Book data from within their program. Hopefully they'll iron them out.

I'm curious:

• Do you belong to the cult of the labeler?
  
• Do you prefer a hand-held or computer-based one?
  
• Got a geeky favorite you'd recommend?
  

Comments

[Dan Owen]

Frugality wins: I label by hand. I was so folder-oriented before coming to GTD that I didn't need any incentive to think in terms of folders and labels. But I indulge in several different colors of folders, which helps in organizing and finding things quickly. I use hundreds and hundreds of folders a year.

[Anonymous]

I must admit I do belong to the cult of hand-held labelers. I am a fan of the P-touch and have one at work and one at home. For some unkown reason however, I don't like P-touch labels for files. I do the old pass-the-sheet-thru-the-printer method. I've been thinking of getting a small computer based one so I make nice file folder labels but I'm a little reticent about the investment (machine and labels) and not knowing if it would really work. Thanks for the review.

[matthewcornell]

Thanks for the handy tip (ouch!) I generally don't recommend complex filing, including color-coding. However, knowing you, Dan, you've got a well thought out one. Share?

[matthewcornell]

Thanks for the comment, Anonymous. How do you use the pass through the sheet method? For individual labels...

[Randy]

I don't like the thermal labels that much. When I tried them with my P-Touch, they tended to fade and don't seem to stick as well for the long term. [I primarily use mine for file labeling]

I can see how this would be great for mailing stuff though...

I'll be interested to hear about your experience with durability...

[matthewcornell]

Hi Randy. Interesting! Thanks for the story. I've used them for four years, and I haven't seen the fading, but I've had a few loosen up. It hasn't been a problem, though. I noticed that the quality varies depending on the tape lot. I had a batch that would not peel well.

What do you use instead of the thermal?

[Anonymous]

I found the DYMO LabelWriter 450 at [ Newegg.com | http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3554580-10440558 ] for $99.99

[matthewcornell]

Appreciate it.

[Stan Denman]

I just got an Office Depot $100 off coupon for this thing, which would bring the price to near nothing. Thinking about using it for postage, and returning my $30/month Pitney Bowes. But what is the cost of the labels like? Is this a Gillette shaver kind of thing - sell the razor for cheap and make the money on blades?

[matthewcornell]

That's a good question, Stan. A quick search of Amazon yielded the following. I don't know how the prices compare, though.

[ DYMO LabelWriter Postage Label, DYMO Stamps, 1-5/8" x 1-1/4", 200 per pack: Office | http://www.amazon.com/DYMO-LabelWriter-Postage-Label-Stamps/dp/B000RPKDUU/ref=pd_sbs_op_5 ]: $20.37

[ DYMO LabelWriter Shipping Labels, White, 2-5/16" x 4", 300 per pack: Office Products | http://www.amazon.com/DYMO-LabelWriter-Shipping-Labels-White/dp/B00004Z64O/ref=pd_sbs_op_8 ]: $19.31

[ DYMO Address Labels for LabelWriters, 1-1/8" X 3-1/2", 350 Labels/roll, 2 Rolls/Box, 700 Labels (30252): Office Products | http://www.amazon.com/DYMO-Address-Labels-LabelWriters-30252/dp/B00004Z64M/ref=pd_sbs_op_9 ]: $18.84

[Label Printers]

Superb I lkie it I think DYMO LabelWriter 450 is the besst one to print us label layout its is productvity software to easily print real usage postage and 60+ unique label layouts

Thanks,