Great labeler - lousy label tape
We purchased the 5200 labeler hard case kit a couple weeks ago. I spent most of last week labeling cables in our datacenter. I'm an IT professional and work for an ISP level network service provider. So our datacenter is big and there are a million cables. Without labels it is next to impossible to figure out what is what. This is where the 5200 series labeler really shines. It has preconfigured label layouts for dozens of things. I almost always used the Cat X format, which is a simple label that wraps around a cable with your text repeated several times, so it is viewable from all angles. For labeling cables, I recommend the 3/4" label tape. Anything smaller, and you won't be able to read the labels nor fit on the label what it needs to say. In fact, if they made a 1" or larger label tape, I would use that instead. The wider the better. For the front panels of equipment (servers and routers and such) I recommend the 3/8" label tape. It is large enough to read (when you only use single lines of text) yet narrow enough to find places on the fronts of servers that are covered in ventilation holes and grilles. There are a couple different kinds of label tape. The first cartridge that I used was a laminated plastic, black print on white shiny tape. This make really great labels, which were easy to read, and the print did not rub off on my fingers while applying the label. However, I noticed that after a day or two of being stuck to a cable hanging behind a server blowing hot air on it 24/7, the labels would start to unwrap and peel off. That's no good! The second label tape type that I tried was more like a fabric material. I was a little bit stretchy and seems to stick to the cables better. BUT the printing on the fabric is much lighter and harder to read, and the print would rub off on my fingers while I applied the label, further reducing the readability. That's no good either! One good thing about the label tape is that the backing is split in two down the center. This makes getting the backing off the label quick and easy - even if it is a two-handed job. Other labelers that I've used had one piece backing and it was a nightmare to get it off. All in all, I have to give the labeler 4.5 stars and the label tape 2 stars. The label tape is really the weak point here. I don't know what case the other reviewer got, but the case that I got as part of the kit can hold about 8 label tape cartridges, and has a special spot for the charger and the quick reference guide. I didn't see a spot for a full blown 8.5" by 11" printed manual, but then again, I didn't need one. Suggestions for DYMO to improve: Include in the quick reference guide a picture of a sample of each of the various label formats. I wasted a lot of label tape trying different formats to find what I wanted. Include a lanyard or belt hook. It is very hard to use a labeler and apply the labels when you have nowhere to sit the labeler (like behind a rack of equipment that is in use).
