- PROS
Prints wide-format labels up to 4 inches. Copious connectivity. Fast enough for moderate-size label jobs. Good print quality for a label printer. Handy design, printing, and database software. Easy to use.
- CONS
Consumables somewhat costly on a per-label basis. No battery for untethered use. Can’t print pre-designed labels from the unit itself.
- BOTTOM LINE
Brother’s QL-1110NWB supports network and mobile protocols galore and prints to wide labels from PCs, Macs, or mobile devices. Handy software and a nifty mobile app make this a strong pick among pro label printers.
The flagship model of Brother’s QL series of portable, pro-grade label printers, the QL-1110NWB ($279.99) is a step up from the Editors’ Choice QL-820NWB. These two label printers have very similar feature lists and capacities, except that the QL-1110NWB can print to wider labels (4 inches wide, versus 2.4 inches). However, the smaller version offers the option for an internal battery (making it truly portable) and a few other features missing on the QL-1110NWB—enough to keep this latest QL model from taking the place of the QL-820NWB as a PCMag top choice. That said, if your work routine calls for wider labels than the QL-820NWB can produce, the QL-1110NWB will serve as an excellent, networkable label printer for your home office, small office, or warehouse.
Read the entire review at PCMag
Posted by William Harrel on Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 10:41 am
Filed under Communications Technology Watch, Featured, Labelers, PCMag Articles · Tagged with brother, Brother QL-1110NWB, commtechwatch.com, Communications Technology Watch, harrel, label printer, labeler, pcmag, thermal printer, wide-format label printer, William Harrel, williamharrel.com
PROS
Exceptionally low running costs. Prints fast. Open programming platform for custom applications. Wide selection of label media. Dual simultaneous connectivity through serial and parallel ports.
- CONS
Complicated software installation. Ethernet costs extra. Lacks wireless and mobile support.
- BOTTOM LINE
The Zebra GK420d, the next step up from a consumer-grade label printer, provides wide-ranging expansion options and a very low cost of operation.
[amazon_link asins=’B00EUN90SG’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’95883b47-09d4-11e8-b92a-4524e0042018′]At the lower end of Zebra Technologies’ somewhat extensive stable of label/barcode printers, the Zebra GK420d Direct Thermal Printer ($595) [amazon_link asins=’B00EUN90SG’ template=’CopyOf-PriceLink’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’a0648968-09d4-11e8-a92d-1ba6c73ba849′] is small and relatively low-priced as industrial-strength label printers go. Though the GK420d is big and beefy, compared with the combination consumer-grade/small business professional label makers we’ve reviewed recently, such as the Editors’ Choice Brother QL-820NWB,[amazon_link asins=’B01MTYE0X6′ template=’CopyOf-PriceLink’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b235d858-09d4-11e8-91e3-cdf636de9f00′] it’s more than capable of printing a wide range of label types from your team’s PCs, as well as some tablets and smartphones. It’s a great choice for mid-volume, industrial-strength labeling in near-limitless settings, from warehouses to medical facilities and beyond.Read the entire review at PCMag
Posted by William Harrel on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at 10:44 am
Filed under Communications Technology Watch, Featured, PCMag Articles, Print Media Watch, Printers · Tagged with commtechwatch.com, Communications Technology Watch, GK42-202510-000, harrel, label maker, label printer, pcmag, print media, printer, William Harrel, williamharrel.com, Zebra GK420d Direct Thermal Printer
PROS
[amazon_link asins=’B0725W4BHR’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’6f2c34f8-ed89-11e7-88a3-09106fa8372a’]xThe newest Dymo desktop label printer, the Dymo LabelWriter Wireless ($149.99) [amazon_link asins=’B0725W4BHR’ template=’CopyOf-PriceLink’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b189f43f-ed89-11e7-9aa1-e7ab7544f1ee’], is comparable in price and features to Brother’s QL-810W,[amazon_link asins=’B01MTWGMRR’ template=’CopyOf-PriceLink’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’e5304db6-ed89-11e7-a1c4-b1421334aa32′] which itself is a step down from our Editors’ Choice, the QL-820NWB.[amazon_link asins=’B01MTYE0X6′ template=’CopyOf-PriceLink’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’2143a3ae-ed8a-11e7-9fe6-8baeab147145′] The LabelWriter Wireless is much like the Brother QL-810W in that they both have adept label design and print software for PCs and mobile devices, and you can connect to either via Wi-Fi or USB. However, the Brother model is somewhat slicker in a few key ways: It comes with an automatic cutter, as well as support for an optional battery that makes the printer functional where power is unavailable. Even so, the LabelWriter Wireless is a highly capable, networkable label design and print system, making it a decent alternative to the Brother QL-810W as a home-based or small office labeling solution.
Read the entire review at PCMag
Posted by William Harrel on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at 11:23 am
Filed under Communications Technology Watch, Featured, Internet Watch, Labelers, PCMag Articles, Printers · Tagged with commtechwatch.com, Communications Technology Watch, Dymo LabelWriter Wireless, harrel, label maker, label printer, labeler, pcmag, William Harrel, williamharrel.com
PROS
Good print quality. Comprehensive, easy-to-use label design and print mobile app. Strong selection of label types in several color schemes, including fabric iron-on labels. Runs on AC or battery power. Good value for the price.
- CONS
Cannot use with Windows or Mac PCs. Requires replaceable (rather than rechargeable) batteries.
- BOTTOM LINE
With excellent design and comprehensive print software, the reasonably priced Brother P-touch Cube prints several sizes and colors of good-quality plastic (laminated) labels from your iOS or Android mobile device.
[amazon_link asins=’B071RSC7ZH’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c8af9af2-c3e8-11e7-882f-2db2d6b035f3′]Most professional- and consumer-grade label printers (such as our Editors’ Choice Brother QL-820NWB [amazon_link asins=’B01MTYE0X6′ template=’CopyOf-PriceLink’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ed947d16-c3e8-11e7-b581-8b86718209bc’] and the Dymo MobileLabeler [amazon_link asins=’B01M9DNPYE’ template=’CopyOf-PriceLink’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ff736187-c3e8-11e7-90f0-6321223be119′], respectively) let you design and print labels from your computer and/or mobile device, but the Brother P-touch Cube ($59.99) [amazon_link asins=’B071RSC7ZH’ template=’CopyOf-PriceLink’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’0e6278a3-c3e9-11e7-98a2-a996e50c1665′] is the first one that we’ve reviewed that cannot be tethered to a PC or a Mac via a USB cable. In other words, its only mode of operation is connecting wirelessly to your iPhone, iPad, or Android mobile device. The good news is that the bundled Brother P-touch Design&Print app is simple to use, allowing you to produce a variety of good-looking plastic labels for your kitchen, garage, bedrooms, office, and schoolroom, making the P-touch Cube an easy top pick as an entry-level label printer for families, small workplaces, and classrooms.
Posted by William Harrel on Sunday, October 1, 2017 at 11:17 am
Filed under Communications Technology Watch, Featured, Labelers, PCMag Articles, Print Media Watch · Tagged with brother, commtechwatch.com, Communications Technology Watch, harrel, label maker, label printer, labeler, P-touch Cube, pcmag, printer, William Harrel, williamharrel.com
- PROS
Fast output. Good print quality. Excellent label design, print software, and mobile apps. Prints two-color, black/red labels. Good selection of label types. Good value for the price.
- CONS
Per-label media cost is somewhat high. Ability to print in red limited to one label type.
- BOTTOM LINE
The prints several sizes of high-quality label types from your PC, Mac, or Android mobile device via USB, making it an excellent value for its relatively low price.
[amazon_textlink asin=’B01N49R9KP’ text=’Brother QL-800′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’104ac4b1-c42c-11e7-b438-7773138e77cc’]Like its higher-end QL-810W [amazon_link asins=’B01MTWGMRR’ template=’CopyOf-PriceLink’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’32c0f1fe-c42c-11e7-ae61-151caa512527′] and QL-820NWB [amazon_link asins=’B01MTYE0X6′ template=’CopyOf-PriceLink’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’46ec3691-c42c-11e7-af19-dbf9e130b603′] siblings, the Brother QL-800 ($99.99) is a reasonably fast label printer that churns out good-looking labels in several different types and sizes, ranging from small one-line barcodes, to address labels, and everything in between. It can print labels up to about 0.5 inch wide by 1 inch long to 2.4 inches wide by 36 inches long.
Posted by William Harrel on Friday, September 8, 2017 at 9:07 am
Filed under Communications Technology Watch, Featured, Labelers, PCMag Articles, Print Media Watch, Printers, Uncategorized · Tagged with Android, brother, commtechwatch.com, Communications Technology Watch, harrel, label maker, label printer, labeler, print media, printer, QL-800, QL-800 Labeler, William Harrel, williamharrel.com
- PROS
Respectable print quality. Prints in black and red. Prints labels fast. Terrific label design. Great print software and robust mobile app. Wide selection of label types.
- CONS
Per-label cost is high. Battery costs extra. Ability to print in red limited to one label type. QL-820NWB offers much more for not a lot more money.
- BOTTOM LINE
The Brother QL-810W label maker prints a wide variety of high-quality label types from your PC or mobile device, but its higher-end sibling provides significantly more features and versatility for just a little more money.
[amazon_link asins=’B01MTWGMRR’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ab855b47-c42f-11e7-bf11-ade532a3015b’]The Brother QL-810W ($149.99) [amazon_link asins=’B01MTWGMRR’ template=’CopyOf-PriceLink’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c4eec9e2-c42f-11e7-a1a5-e9d1fca83d48′] label printer is a step down from the recent Editors’ Choice QL-820NWB.[amazon_link asins=’B01MTYE0X6′ template=’CopyOf-PriceLink’ store=’store-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d6d50178-c42f-11e7-a3d7-e7ef58f37cf8′] Although these two labelers essentially print the same types of labels at the same speeds over wireless networks or from mobile devices, what you give up feature-wise for the $50 list price difference between them is significant. With the QL-810W, for instance, you forgo a few different types of connectivity options, as well as the ability to use the label maker apart from a computing device. Overall, though, the Q-810W is a versatile and capable option, well worth considering for designing and printing many types of business labels via Wi-Fi, or from your team’s tablets and smartphones.
Posted by William Harrel on Friday, August 25, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Filed under Communications Technology Watch, Featured, Internet Watch, Labelers, PCMag Articles, Print Media Watch, Printers · Tagged with brother, Brother QL-810W, commtechwatch.com, Communications Technology Watch, harrel, label maker, label printer, labeler, labeling systems, notebook, QL-810W
