PC label printer: Dymo or Brother?

x509 · 13 Oct 2020

Do I go with the less expensive Dymo model with the crappy battery life reviews or do I spend twice as much for a comparable Brother model? I need to buy a label printer that I can use from my PC. USB is perfectly acceptable. I don't need a wireless connection.

The Dymo is less than $40 but has crappy reviews on different websites because of battery life https://www.amazon.com/DYMO-LabelManager-Label-Maker-1768960/dp/B00464E5P2/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=dymo+pnp+label+maker&qid=1602622565&sr=8-3

Brother has a model that is more than twice the cost of the Dymo unit with a tape cartridge. https://www.amazon.com/Brother-P-Tou.../dp/B00DSYEB28

hsehestedt · 13 Oct 2020

I hate these types of questions only because they are so subjective. Sometimes there are really clear cut winners but it sounds like this one may be dependent more upon what is important to you. Maybe some others have some more concreate thughts on the matter, but here is my take:

Are you going to need to use the device for a long time on battery or are you only going to print a few labels at a time? Can it be used while plugged in? If so, how often are you actually even going to use it on battery?

As for the tape cartridge issue; does the tape cartridge produce results that are better suited to your desired output?

Other issues to consider...

Does either unit have other advantages such as being able to print graphics, a wide variety of label sizes and types, etc?

x509 · 13 Oct 2020

hsehestedt said:

I hate these types of questions only because they are so subjective. Sometimes there are really clear cut winners but it sounds like this one may be dependent more upon what is important to you. Maybe some others have some more concreate thughts on the matter, but here is my take:

Are you going to need to use the device for a long time on battery or are you only going to print a few labels at a time? Can it be used while plugged in? If so, how often are you actually even going to use it on battery?

As for the tape cartridge issue; does the tape cartridge produce results that are better suited to your desired output?

Other issues to consider...

Does either unit have other advantages such as being able to print graphics, a wide variety of label sizes and types, etc?

OK, sorry I didn't provide enough details.

I expect to print only one or two labels at a time, and maybe a week will go by before I need to print more labels. Or, I will need to print up a bunch of labels all at once. This is based on how I now handwrite labels for filing folder or for food containers, etc.

I will leave the unit permanently plugged in to my PC. I know from reading reviews that the Dymo unit has to run off its battery because a USB connection alone can't supply enough power.

All I need is text. No graphics, no barcodes, and just black printing on white (or maybe yellow) tape.

PiKo · 14 Oct 2020

Costs involve also price of ink, toner or in this case tape.

Gurn Blanston · 14 Oct 2020

I use a Brother model for file labels at work. It works pretty well for me.

fireberd · 14 Oct 2020

I have a Dymo LabelWriter 450 Turbo that I use for shipping labels. I think its a thermal printer as no ink is needed. I had a Brother before this one and it died shortly after warranty expired. Of the two, I like the Dymo better.

Callender · 14 Oct 2020

Some info here:

Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable Package (x86) install fails

Personally I've never used a dedicated label printer.