Brother PT-1280 P-touch Electronic Labeling System

Manufacturer: Brother Printer
Customer Rating:

, based on 37 reviews

Lowest Price: $15.50
By Supplier: seven_sea

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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Editorial Review:

Electronic label system prints laminated labels up to 1/2 inch wide
Easy-to-read 15-character display
6 auto formats, 5 framing options, and 9 type styles
Comes with one .5-inch x 16 feet black on white starter tape
Dimensions: 6.28 x 5.94 x 2.36 in. (WxHxD); weighs 1.04 pounds; 1-year limited warranty

The PT-1280 is an affordable, feature-packed home & office labeler that can print laminated labels up to 1/2 inch wide. This unit features an easy-view 15 character display and can print up to 2 lines. This unit has 6 auto formats, 5 framing options and 9 type styles. Also, 3 type sizes, which automatically adjusts the text size according to the tape width. This unit features 3 Favorite Keys which allow you to save and print your favorite labels in seconds. The PT-1280 also uses the new super narrow (3.5mm) black on white non-laminated tape for labeling CD spines. 6 Auto Formats and 5 Framing Options 3 Type Sizes - Automatically adjusts the text size according to tape width Operates on 6 AAA batteries or AC adapter (not included) Housing Color - Light Blue Metallic / Dark Blue Key Board - QWERTY Cutter - Manual Tape Technology - Thermal Transfer Tape Material - Laminated Tape Family - TZ Tape Sizes - 9/64 inch, 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch, 1/2 inch Tape Length - 26.2' Print Resolution - 180 dpi Print Speed - 10 mm / sec Font Styles - Helsinki Types of Styles - Normal, Bold, Outline, Shadow, Italic, Italic Bold, Italic Outline, Italic Shadow, Vertical Built-in Symbols - 63 Max. Print Height - 9.0 mm Point Sizes - Small, Medium, Large Label Length Setting - Auto / 1.2 inch - 12.0 inch 2 Maximum Print Lines 3 Favorite Keys Memory Text Framing Multi-copy Print - Up to 9 copies L Horizontal Alignment Mirror Printing Text Insert Vertical Printing Auto Incrementation - Alpha / numeric Auto Templates Dimensions - 6.28 x 5.94 x 2.36 inches Weight - 1.04 pounds Manufacturer's One year limited warranty

Customer Reviews:

Terrible Product

This all started when I wanted to get a labeler to get more organized. I started with the Brother P-Touch PT-80 which worked as advertised, but ate batteries so fast that I couldn't keep up with it. I eventually had a friend take it apart and solder a plug so that it runs from the wall power (used a plug that you can change the voltage on it, like you find at Radio Shack).

When the time came to get another labeler for my office, I decided to try this model (PT-1280) since it came with the option for a wall plug.

This product is so terrible that I would rather buy another PT-80 and take that one apart to make it run off a wall plug. That is how bad this product is - I'd rather void the warranty of another device than use this out-of-the-box junk.

The main issue is that by default this device does not print labels correctly within the margins. All research seems to point that you need to reset your margins and text size every time you want to print. When a device can't seem to do even its basic function correctly, it's time to look for another device.

Brother should be embarrassed that this product is still being sold with their name on it. I've started using some tape and a marker instead of picking up this labeler.

If you are looking for an easy solution, this is not the product for you. Pick another company or at least a different Brother product.

2008-11-19

Do Not Waste Your Money!

If I could give this labeler negative stars, I would. It is a money waster. Every time you print a label, it wastes 2 inches of label tape on either side and you have to end up cutting the excess off. The label tape is very expensive and the labeler continously wastes it! Please consider another labeler because you will hate making labels with this one!

2008-11-05

Not bad for a labeler under $30.

Slightly annoyed by the amount of tape that it wastes but for under $30, not a bad purchase for someone who needs a labeler on occasion. If you are a bit OCD or like to label everything, perhaps you may want to look elsewhere?

2008-10-15

PT-1280 is a cheap machine to buy, expensive to keep in labels!

Agree with ALL of the reviews about the PT-1280 wasting label ribbon. I bought this machine about 4 months ago at a Staples while I was in store to fill an immediate need. Sadly, I didn't do my normal research & check how much it was on Amazon or, more importantly, read any reviews. The cost of the machine itself is cheap, but the label ribbons are so pricey you think twice about labelling. In addition to the narrow margin & chain print functions (which you have to set EVERY time), another way I've managed to get more out of the label ribbon is by using the carriage return/ENTER key. I stack titles on top of one another to make the ribbon last longer. But again, you have to use scissors to trim the 2 separate lines in 1/2 - which defeats the purpose of having a label maker... I wouldn't buy this again ever. But since I have it I buy labels from ptouchdirect to make the best of a bad situation.

2008-10-03

wasted tape = swindle

Bought, tried, returned. (Should've read online reviews first and skipped all three steps!) Simply put, the replacement tape is expensive, and this machine is designed to waste as much of it as possible. Using the "narrow margin" setting only slightly reduces the waste on one side; on the other side it spits out all the same waste and then tells you to cut it off by hand.

I went and got a cheap Dymo labeler instead. Its features and interface are much worse than the Brother's, but it's not designed to perpetrate a transparent swindle like this thing is.

2008-09-14

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