Like the DYMO LabelManager 420P ($110, 4 stars) that I recently reviewed, the Brother P-touch PT-2730 falls in one of the least common categories of label printers. It prints the sort of laminated labels you can use indoors or outdoors; on computer cables, so you know what plugs in where; or on your stapler, so you can retrieve it when someone borrows it from your desk. What makes it unusual is that, like the 420P, it can print labels either from a computer or as a self-contained system with its own keyboard. It also happens to be impressive enough to be an Editors' Choice.

Unlike the handheld 420P, the PT-2730 is a desktop unit, roughly the size and shape of a typical multi-line business phone, at 2.8 by 7 by 9.4 inches (HWD). It's reasonably portable, at 1.9 pounds, and can even run off of 6 AA batteries, but most people will probably take advantage of the power adaptor it comes with, and plug it into a power outlet.

Aside from putting in the batteries or plugging it in, setup consists simply of snapping in the tape cartridge. You can then create and print labels directly on the printer, or install the software and connect by USB cable so you can use the computer to create and print them. I tested the printer with a system running Windows Vista. It also works with Windows 7 and XP, and with Mac OS X 10.4.11 and above.

Creating and Printing Labels
Creating and printing labels is straightforward whether you use the printer itself or go through software. I found both approaches easy enough to let me use them immediately with essentially no learning curve. Either way, you simply define the label and give the print command. The printer includes a bright backlit 16 character by 3 line LCD so you can preview the label as you create it, and an automatic cutter to finish up the job after printing.

One particularly welcome touch is the QWERTY layout for the keyboard. If you're used to a standard keyboard, even as a two finger typist, this makes it a lot easier to use the PT-2730 than the 420P, which arranges the letters alphabetically, as with most other handhelds. Unfortunately the keys need a heavy push to register, which makes pressing them seem like work. But at least you don't have to hunt for the letter you're looking for.

Even more welcome is a library of just under 50 commonly used labels already defined and stored in the printer's memory. The labels are broken into several categories, including Files (Respond Immediately, Completed, and nine more), Office Signage (Outgoing, Keep Door Closed, and 11 more), Caution (Warning - Hot, Watch your step, and five more), Shipping (Do Not Drop, Do Not Bend, and two more), Eco (Cans Only, Recycle Bin, and five more), and Retail (Sample, Out of Stock, and four more).

Dividing the labels into categories makes it easy to find the one you want, select it, and print. The only shortcoming of the feature is that each label is defined for a specific width tape, so you can't use the definition if you want a different label width. However, You can also create your own library of up to 99 additional stored labels.

Speed and Other issues
Print time for label printers like the PT-2730 varies with the length of the label. In my tests, printing a 3.5-inch label with the text, PCMag: Printer Speed Test took 11.8 seconds. As a point of comparison, both the 420P and the Editors' Choice DYMO LabelManager PnP ($60, 4 stars), took only 6.5 seconds to print a 3.5 inch label. However, neither DYMO printer includes an automatic cutter, so you have to add extra time for manually cutting the label.

Brother offers a choice of 65 tape cartridges for the PT-2730 with an assortment of color combinations and types of tape, including standard laminated tape; flexible tape for cables and other curved surfaces; non-laminated iron-on fabric tape; acid free tape for pasting over photos and other sensitive materials without damaging them; and tape with extra strength adhesive for rough surfaces or harsh environments. The tapes are each 26.2 feet long and are available in widths ranging from 3.5mm to 24mm (just under one inch).

Quite simply, the PT-2730 is one of the most capable label printers we've ever tested, if not the most capable. It's ability to work as either a standalone printer or print from a PC, it's predefined labels for common needs, its ability to let you store more labels for your particular needs, and its long list of choices for tape cartridges all add up to make it a highly flexible tool. Plus it offers still more features as well, including, for example, the ability to print bar codes. I'd call it more than a little impressive, and certainly call it an Editors' Choice.

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Brother P-touch PT-2730 with several other printers side by side.

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