Brother P-Touch® PT-1500PC Label Printer
- Output Type: Monochrome Printer
- Technology (Detailed): Direct Thermal / Thermal Transfer
- Printer Type: Label Printer
- Max Resolution (BW): 180 x 180 dpi
- Total Media Capacity: 1 Roll(s)
Available From
Why are these offers here?
Lowest Price!
- Overview
-
Reviews
- Compare Prices
User ReviewRead All Reviews »
Tethered, but very flexible and a good deal
Pros
inexpensive, produces quality labels
Cons
wastes tape, mediocre resolution, "plasticky"
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Very good solution if you can live with the PC dependency
If you're looking at this device, you most likely already know what you'd be getting yourself into: without computer, it won't print anything, and there is no way telling whether in five years from now, Brother will support the then-in-vogue operating systems.
If you can live with that, you get plenty with this package. For just a little more than you'd have to pay for an inexpensive handheld printer, the 1500PC lets you print just about anything that fits on tapes 1/4" to 1" wide.
The basic hardware appears to be the same as in the similarly priced handhelds (except you can print up to 1"). Its plastic construction feels a little cheap, and the print head works at only 180dpi, giving visibly jagged diagonals and curves. Yet the produced tapes themselves are of high, durable quality.
Speaking of which, the "TZ" tapes used here appear to be the (Brother's) choice these days. Unlaminated tapes ("TM") for a cheaper printer (pt-65) also exist, plus apparently an older system, but there are good deals on the web for TZ tapes now, making it the most sensible choice.
I am using the printer with Windows, so if you have a Mac, the following not necessarily applies (Kudos to Brother for supplying Mac software though!):
Foremost, don't use the CD, get the newest version off Brother's web site. You will install a printer driver, and two more programs for creating labels.
That is a nice and convenient suite. The labeling software appears to be the same for all Brother label printers, increasing your chance to obtain an updated copy in, say, two years from now.
One tool, the Quick Editor, installs itself into the Windows taskbar. Right-click on it & select display, you get a simple window where you can type text, select the font and one of three sizes. This software actually already goes beyond the capability of the inexpensive label printers, letting you type any number of lines, insert symbols and center the text (!). As a nice feature, you'll also see how long the label will become. I found the software to be without surprises, just like it should be.
The other package is a full-blown label editor that lets you design labels down to the last dot in a "desktop publishing" manner. Only with this program you can use different font (sizes) in the same label, or actually save your work. It's still very intuitive to use, so I personally prefer it. It also has a clipart library and barcode ability.
If you can live with that, you get plenty with this package. For just a little more than you'd have to pay for an inexpensive handheld printer, the 1500PC lets you print just about anything that fits on tapes 1/4" to 1" wide.
The basic hardware appears to be the same as in the similarly priced handhelds (except you can print up to 1"). Its plastic construction feels a little cheap, and the print head works at only 180dpi, giving visibly jagged diagonals and curves. Yet the produced tapes themselves are of high, durable quality.
Speaking of which, the "TZ" tapes used here appear to be the (Brother's) choice these days. Unlaminated tapes ("TM") for a cheaper printer (pt-65) also exist, plus apparently an older system, but there are good deals on the web for TZ tapes now, making it the most sensible choice.
I am using the printer with Windows, so if you have a Mac, the following not necessarily applies (Kudos to Brother for supplying Mac software though!):
Foremost, don't use the CD, get the newest version off Brother's web site. You will install a printer driver, and two more programs for creating labels.
That is a nice and convenient suite. The labeling software appears to be the same for all Brother label printers, increasing your chance to obtain an updated copy in, say, two years from now.
One tool, the Quick Editor, installs itself into the Windows taskbar. Right-click on it & select display, you get a simple window where you can type text, select the font and one of three sizes. This software actually already goes beyond the capability of the inexpensive label printers, letting you type any number of lines, insert symbols and center the text (!). As a nice feature, you'll also see how long the label will become. I found the software to be without surprises, just like it should be.
The other package is a full-blown label editor that lets you design labels down to the last dot in a "desktop publishing" manner. Only with this program you can use different font (sizes) in the same label, or actually save your work. It's still very intuitive to use, so I personally prefer it. It also has a clipart library and barcode ability.
