SMALL LABEL PRINTER GETS ANOTHER BOOST

It seems like a number of my recent columns have been about new and improved computer products. That really shouldn't come as a surprise given that most computer consumer products these days are well into their multiple iterations and that goes for hardware as well as software.

Take the label printer for example. Having a small printer that's dedicated to printing only labels can really be convenient, even if you only have the need to print them occasionally. There are a number of these palm-sized printers available but I'd like to focus on the newest ones from Dymo.

Dymo has been making label printers since 1990 and they've just come up with the next model to replace their speedy little 330 Turbo model. The new 400 line includes the faster LabelWriter 400 Turbo ($139.99) which now prints at a blazing 55 labels per minute. Dymo is calling it the fastest label printer in its class.

The LabelWriter Duo ($209.99) offers all the speed and label features of the 400 Turbo but it adds a lower vertical slot out of which a durable plastic label can be printed. In fact you can print die-cut paper, permanent plastic, polyester and nylon colored labels in seconds from the Duo's built-in plastic label printer.

And to top it all off, Dymo is just now introducing their LabelWriter Twin Turbo model (Price has not yet been set.) For those of you who find themselves constantly changing label types, now you can load two different spools of labels at once. Each label type can be selected via the included 7.0 LabelWriter software that automatically senses the model LabelWriter you have connected. Basically it has the speed and all of the features of two LabelWriter 400 Turbo printers but both are built into one unit.

All of the 400 models use a thermal transfer process so there's no ink to buy. All connect via any USB connection and they all work with both Windows and Macintosh OS X. Once you get one of these new 400 models, you'll wonder how you got along without it.

www.dymo.com

Fix that annoying PC

So what do you find annoying about your computer? Instead of throwing it out the window, maybe you should consult someone who has found the same annoyances as you, but knows how to make them better. The book is "PC Annoyances, Second Edition" and its author Steve Bass is, well, annoyed about the whole thing. What else would you expect from a guy whose favorite hobby is testing small explosives on his computer?

It's obvious his annoyance with computers knows no bounds as his second edition now contains over 150 new computer tips and features over 150 utility downloads that will help make things that happen to your computer, well, less annoying. Among the topics are how to deal with Windows Service packs, keep your WiFi network running smoothly and workarounds for applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Steve has been dealing with annoying computers as well as their owners by writing for PC World magazine in his "Home Office" column as well as contributing numerous how-to features.

The 218 page book is the culmination of Bass' nearly 20 years of frustration sitting in front of a computer. I think that it makes a lot of sense that you benefit from all his suffering by buying his book. Letting go of all that computer angst will prove to be a good thing and your computer will run a lot better than it does now. In fact, just knowing he's out there feeling annoyed makes me feel a lot better about my computer. Read his book and you will too.


PC Annoyances, Second Edition is published by O'Reilly at www.oreilly.com and sells for $19.95.