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What is it:

The DYMO LabelWriter 450 Twin Turbo is a double spool label printer for Macs and PCs that utilizes thermal printing technology.  It can be print a variety of label types, including address, shipping, and postage.  The included labelmaker software, DYMO Label v.8, also includes DYMO File, which sets up barcodes for auto-sorting scanned documents, and DYMO Stamps for printing postage.  The DYMO LabelWriter 450 Twin Turbo is available for purchase from DYMO for $209.99.

The good:

There is a lot of good stuff with this label printer.  The dual spools let you print two sets of labels at once, such as address labels along with the postage, so you can get your projects done faster.  To print postage, DYMO Stamps makes use of Endicia.com, which doesn’t require a monthly fee to use, but does require you to sign-up for an Endicia account.  Being able to print postage at home makes for quick package drop-offs - no standing in long lines.  There is an optional DYMO USB postal scale available for $74.99, which might be useful for those who mail a lot of packages.

With no ink or toner to buy, thanks to the thermal printing, you only have to worry about being short on actual labels.  The thermal printing produces crisp print quality and makes for a fast printing speed.  The included labelmaker software is easy to use and includes a variety of label templates, clip art, auto text (date, counters), barcodes, and font formatting.  The program really lets you be creative and make labels beyond just your basic address label.  You can also import labels from productivity software (i.e., Microsoft Word and Excel).  There is a convenient quick-print feature when you need to print just one label.

The bad:

Though you will escape the ink/toner-buying nightmare, you will still have to buy labels.  A 2-roll box (700 labels) of address size runs $22 and a 200-label roll of postage size runs $14.95 - so, not quite as expensive as ink, but still a recurring cost to keep in mind.  Installing the label rolls is a little tricky - there are diagrams, but they’re not as clear as they could be.  I actually had a couple labels peel off as I tried to get the roll started.

The printer requires a DVD player to be installed, so netbook users beware.  Also, the initial cost of the printer, as well as the cost of the labels, may be on the expensive side for light users.

The crux:

The printer is really fun to use - you will start actively looking for stuff to label and mail.  The print quality is very good, the software easy to use, and the print speed is zippy.  It is definitely a useful tool for those who like to drop-off prepaid packages, send mass mailings (i.e., holiday cards, invitations), or like to be really organized.  I highly recommend the DYMO LabelWriter 450 Twin Turbo label printer.

Site: [DYMO LabelWriter 450 Twin Turbo]