Review by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Labelling specialist Brother has a perfect range of label printers for amateur and professional gardeners alike.
From labelling seed trays, seedlings and plants, to organizing the garden shed and greenhouse, a label printer is an excellent addition to any horticulturalist's inventory.
Brother UK provided me with two different labellers for test and review and we will be looking at those below:
The first one is the:
GL-200
This printer is a hard wearing labeller and its labels can resist rain, humidity, heat, frost and fading. This model even allows users to change the label design for that extra creative touch.
Other features include:
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3.5, 6, 9, and 12mm labels
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ABC keyboard
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Quick time and date print
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Easy to read 12 character, one line LCD screen
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Convenient built in label cutter
This is a very easy to use label printer of the P-touch range of Brother's products and one that is ideal for the amateur as well as the professional gardener.
It has comes in a very suitable color, namely green, and has rubber pads on each side to make it easier for the user to hold the unit.
Being hand held makes this labeller suitable also for the use – on the move – in the greenhouse or the potting shed, but it is equally suited to be used indoors in the office.
The next labeller on test and for review is the:
PT-2700
Printing both inside and outside can be challenging for the horticulturalist. This versatile printer, the PT-2700, can handle complex print jobs such as barcodes (if someone could just explain to me how to create and generate a barcode) pricing labels, and call also incorporate sales messages or growing instructions.
Other features include:
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3.5, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24mm size labels
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Familiar QWERTY keyboard layout
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Easy to read large 16 character, 2 line LCD screen
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Vary designs with 10 printing and 17 frame styles
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Choice of 8 fonts and print sizes
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Conveniently built-in automatic cutter
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Peace on mind with 3 year warranty
In addition to this the labeller can be used in conjunction with a computer with the appropriate software, which comes supplied, and USB cable (also included). Users of Windows VISTA will have to download software and drivers from site as CD does not include those. This is not a problem, however, and it works well with the computer.
What one could use very much though, for the computer software, as for general use one is provided, is a manual. The non-expert will be presented with somewhat of a learning curve here.
While still being suitable, no doubt, for the amateur this printer is more something for the professional horticulturalist and horticulture business, as well as other aligned industries, as well as general business use.
Originally launched in 1989, Brother's dedicated garden labelling range has become popular with both amateur and professional gardeners thanks to its compact design and ultra durable label tapes.
The TZ tape has been tested to the extreme to create labels that are water, fade, frost, chemical and scruff resistant – making them ideal for use in the horticultural environment.
The labels come in a variety of colors including white text on black background, to create professional looking display labels for shows and competitions.
I have been making use of both of those printers for the creation of labels for my plug plants and seedlings for use in my food growing garden at home.
For more information on any of the label printer range visit www.brother.co.uk.
© 2010
