brother PT-1090BK Home & Family "Simply Stylish" Thermal Transfer Labeler Printer

Pros: Lot of styles and features, good and smooth keyboard

Cons: Leaves empty tails of 2.5-5.0" on every label - wastes about 50% of tape and it's not a settings problem. Even narrow labels with 1/6" margins have about an inch of blank space.

Other Thoughts: Multiply tape price by two and you have a real cost of labels.

Pros: Portability and size is perfect. The Deco mode gives you additional styles you'll use constantly.

Cons: Tape is expensive.

Other Thoughts: I got it at a great deal and couldn't pass it by. Newegg is the only place i shop. I love you Newegg!

Pros: Easy to use
Easy to change cartridges
Functions Wheel

Cons: Prefer Brother Typewrite Style layout
Wastes a lot of unnecessary label tape on the ends (just like ALL brother label printers.
This particular model - has a poorer layout, but is designed to carry in one hand for labeling.

NOTE: If you needed a one handed model, don't bother, you still have to snip the printed label, take a pair of scissors and trim off the excess wasted tape, then peel off the back and carefully place your label wherever you want it. Then you have to pick up the backing and excess you cut off and throw it out. All of which is a two handed job and you will have to set the label printer down to do it properly. May as well get the typewriter style layout - as there seems no benefit to have the single handed on-the-go layout. It takes two hands and a pair of scissors for every label you print out.

Other Thoughts: I ALREADY HAD THE BROTHER P-TOUCH 1280 - IT WAS CRAZY, BUT ON SALE, IT WAS CHEAPER TO BUY THIS BRAND NEW UNIT WHICH COMES WITH ONE TAPE CARTRIDGE THAN BUY JUST A NEEDED NEW TAPE CARTRIDGE FOR MY FULLY FUNCTIONING BROTHER P-TOUCH.

It is an Environmental Nightmare for pricing like this. Brother makes great products that use ONLY brother tape cartridges.

To get you hooked on Brother Labelers they often sell the unit a great bargains, then you have to buy very expensive replacement cartridges.

I am on a tight budget and am disgusted that I bought a new unit (which I did not need), just for the tape cartridge with all the environmental waste associated with the manufacture an shipping of a unit that was not needed and will end up in a landfill someday.