.KEYWORD slp
.FLYINGHEAD PRODUCT REVIEW
.TITLE The Seiko Smart Label Printer
.OTHER
.SUMMARY If there’s one common characteristic of Palm device users, we’re all gadget lovers. While some of us like gadgets that are more arcane, all of us tend to go for the cool, well-designed, perfectly integrated slick devices. While the Seiko Smart Label Printer isn’t the coolest of the cool, it’s certainly a slick add-on to your computer’s hardware portfolio. In this clearly written review, contributing editor Claire Pieterek reviews the Smart Label Printer and gives you an overview of how it works. Can you say click and print?
.AUTHOR Claire Pieterek
Late last year, I wrote a PalmPower tutorial on printing labels from the Palm Desktop. Now there is a neat tool that makes label printing as easy as clicking a button: the Seiko Instruments Smart Label Printer 220 (SLP220), shown in Figure A.
.FIGPAIR A This is the Seiko Instruments Smart Label Printer 220 (SLP220).
The SLP220 is a small serial printer that packs a lot of features, including:
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Full, integrated database with enhanced import and export functions, also allows additional information and notes to be stored;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Automatic capture and place of address information in database fields (from Word processors and the like);
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Ability to mix font types and sizes on the same line;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET What Seiko calls an object oriented user interface; up to 10 separate objects can be included on a label;
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Barcode capabilities;
.END_LIST
Because PalmPower is devoted to all facets of Palm devices, I was more interested in exploring the capabilities of the Smart Label Printer in conjunction with the Palm Desktop. It was less important to me to explore all the features of the software that comes with the Smart Label Printer, most of which is designed for integration with desktop applications like word processors.
The SLP220 is very easy to set up. It comes with CD-ROM based Smart Capture software, a transformer (which is almost as big as the printer itself), and a double-headed serial cable with both a DB-25 and a DB-9 connector. The most difficult part of installing the SLP220 was adding a 2-port serial card to my jam-packed computer, so I’d have an available port for it. If your computer isn’t already at serial port capacity, you won’t have to go through this extra effort. I used a SIIG HighSpeed/Hi-IRQ I/O board. This low-tech board uses jumpers, but it is designed specifically to use interrupts above 9, which are often available. You could probably use a serial switchbox if you’re short of ports, but I prefer having the ports built into the machine.
I’d like to see some other connectivity options: a serial version with a pass-through similar to a Zip drive, a parallel version, or a USB version for people who aren’t able to upgrade their PCs themselves. The coolest wish-list item would be an IR port that would allow us to beam our addresses directly to the label printer from the Palm device.
.H1 Label printer labels
Even with just the serial port interface, both business and home users will find many benefits to using the SLP220. The SLP uses thermal labels, which you’ll need to buy from Seiko or your local office supply store. The advantages here include no ribbons, no ink cartridges, and no noise. The SLP220 prints type, barcodes, and graphics clearly and crisply. You can custom-print labels to meet just about any need.
Many different types of labels are available for the SLP220, including white, clear, and pastel address labels, file folder labels, diskette labels, name badges, 35mm slide labels, VHS spine and face labels, 8mm DAT tape labels, and chemical/tear-resistant "toughie" labels. Smart Label Printer labels are available at CompUSA and Office Max, and are priced comparably with regular labels.
.H1 The Smart Capture software
Installing the Smart Capture software places an icon in the Windows system tray. All you need to do to print a label from the Palm Desktop is to highlight the address in your Palm Desktop application and click on the Smart Capture icon, as shown in Figure B. That’s it!
.FIGPAIR B Here’s the Palm Desktop with a highlighted address. The Smart Capture icon features a green arrow pointing to a label. In this picture, it’s between the HotSync icon and the Dial Up Networking icon.
Clicking the Smart Capture icon brings up the screen shown in Figure C, which displays a mock-up of the address label you just created. You can modify the label, add graphics or barcodes, and change fonts within the Smart Label Printer’s software. Unfortunately, I tried choosing multiple address entries and clicking the Smart Capture icon, but to no avail. Apparently if you use the Smart Label Printer’s database, you can print multiple labels, but as far as I can tell, you can’t do it from the Palm Desktop.
.FIGPAIR C Here’s the label, ready to print.
The Seiko Instruments Smart Label Printer is a handy tool for any Palm device user that wants to easily and quickly print all types of labels.
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.H1 Product availability and resources
You can find out more about the Smart Label Printer 220 at http://www.seikosmart.com.
SIIG is located at http://www.siig.com.
.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO
.DISCUSS http://powerboards.zatz.com/cgi-bin/webx?13@@.ee6cbee
