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Review by J. Salzenstein "Style Editor" : LOVE this label maker

I love labeling and I'm an organizational addict (a function of the ADD/OCD, but bonus for for those around me...mostly). I've owned four label makers in the last few years, and while all but the "turn-the-dial-to-pick-the-letter-then-squeeze" model were good, this is the first one that I actually love.Using the machine is easy (and similar to most other electronic label makers) because the keyboard functions much like any computer keyboard, as far as caps (hold Shift), symbols (hold Alt), etc. What I like about this model is that it not only gives you more options (up to 4 lines of text depending on tape size), it also clearly shows what options you've selected - as well as other customized settings - on the display screen.The other bonus with the EPSON - one that I've unfortunately not been able to play around with as much - is that it's got more than 300 built-in icons, and can do a few other cool things, like print a border/frame around a label. If you're working with a small space for a label and can't fit a word, you can simply print an icon instead; for larger spaces I've just added icons for fun, or to differentiate between similar things. Icons range from oranges to files, and everything in between- computer monitors, cameras, etc, etc, etc.It has built-in memory that can store up to 50 files, so you don't have to re-enter labels you commonly use. It also prints barcodes (great for small or home-businesses), prints VERTICALLY (great feature for binders and the like), and prints on more of the label than any other label maker I've seen- saving labels and maximizing space. It also saves labels in the cutting process; other machines leave an inch or more of empty space on either side of labels; this model cuts very close. (And cuts easily and cleanly.)Finally, I love the variety of label tape that's available- including iron-on, extra strong glue, matte silver and glow in the dark! I've definitely gone a bit label crazy since getting this, but at least everything looks neat ans is easy to find!

Review by S Walker "S. Walker" : OK

Well it worked well but was not intuitive and I could not get the font as large as I wanted it. The tape is a nice size but using 1 line (goes up to 4, but that makes the print really small!)I could not get the font large enough to really stand out. I liked the variety of fonts and the smooth print.

Review by Kristi Swede : Lots of features, Still not a P-Touch

As a long-time GTD-er, and Brother P-Touch label user, I was delighted to have the opportunity to give the new Epson Labelworks LW-400 a spin (and perhaps permanent desk space). My Brother P-Touch is circa 2004, and a lot has changed with Epson's new labeler - backlit display, easy to read directions on the back of the machine, multiple type-faces, bigger memory, easier memory use. Epson makes all sorts of label tape including - be still my heart - glow in the dark! If you are a label nut, you understand.Label cassettes drop in relatively easily. Labels come out of the top of the machine, and you need to cut each one. There are pluses and minuses to a manual cutter, but I prefer automatic. It's a real mess if you accidentally cut as the machine is printing; I needed tweezers to clean out the tape. Label backs peel off fine, but no particular advances in the actual tape technology that I can see.Though my Brother's display is pixelated, the labels aren't; the Epson's display is crisp, but a close look at the labels shows fine pixelation. The Epson has a multitude of settings, but loses them when you power down; my old P-Touch powers right up with 18 BOLD FONT #1 until I change my settings. Epson has a smaller form factor, and can be worn around the neck clipped to a lanyard (not included); I think the P-Touch is slightly more ergonomic with its rectangular keyboard layout, but you can't really wear it around your neck.I was all set to give this new fella with the glow-in-the-dark tape desk space, and possibly retire my old labeler. But it turns out those old features are still the ones I count on - powering on with a dependably clear printed font (even if the screen display isn't that great), easy tape cartridge loading, automatic cutting, easy peeling. After weighing all of the features, I found the machine's forgetfulness too annoying to cope with (what font, what size?). I'll use this as a backup labeler, and continue with my old reliable on the desk for the time being.

Review by Jen : Impressive gadget

The Epson LabelWorks LW-400 is an impressive little gadget that does its job well. The variety of label tapes will likely fit almost any occasion or need, from simple labels for organization to decorative labels for holidays, and almost everything in between. There are 23 different categories of symbols, 14 of which are various icons including safety, shipping, electrical, and others (many of them "fun" icons). There are 14 fonts available to choose from, four font sizes (depending on your label), and 10 styles (Normal, Italic, Bold, Outline, Shadow, Shadow + Outline, Bold + Italic, Outline + Italic, Shadow + Italic, and Shadow + Outline + Italic). In addition to the various icons and symbols available, the LW-400 has a frame feature that will frame your text with one of 89 different frames. These also vary and range from a plain box to holidays, sports, and a few kid-type frames. Text can be horizontal or vertical and there are options available for spacing between characters and the width of the font.The label tapes come in several different colors and textures with different color inks. For example, there is a black tape that prints gold, another tape that prints black ink on a glow-in-the-dark label, and a list of many other various colors (red on white, blue on white, white on black, black on clear, etc) and types of tape (standard, metallic, iron-on, glow-in-the-dark, pearlized, and pattern). The tapes are fairly simple to switch between as they are cartridges that snap into place. There is no need to feed the tape through anything, it just has to stick out a little into the groove and the printer will grab it when it's time to print. The tape backing paper is split in the center for easy peeling, though some types of tape are easier than others.The LW-400 can print several types of labels. Eight types of barcodes can be printed (CODE39, CODE128, ITF, CODABAR, UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, and EAN-13) in different sizes (small, medium, and large). Index tabs can be printed for files, but only seem very useful if printed on one of the thicker tapes (3/4 inch instead of 1/2 inch). One of the main reasons I wanted the LW-400 was for labeling cords, of which I have a lot. There is the option of flags or wraps, but I was disappointed by the flag labels. While they do the job, I would prefer applying flag labels that have the printing at the ends and can simply be wrapped around a cord, attaching the ends together as the "flag" part with the text. The LW-400 prints with the text in the center so the label must be folded and the ends wrapped around the cord. It still works, but is not as easy as I would have liked. The "wrap" label option is much simpler: the text is printed in the middle and the ends are wrapped around the cord. The only downside of these is the text is limited by the label width, and so far I have not seen a way to increase the width allowed (or height for normal labels) when using a wider tape. Perhaps there is a way, but I have yet to find it. Labels can also be printed in a sequential order (Text-1, Text-2, Text-3, etc) if you have need of that feature. Up to 50 labels can be stored in memory, making it easy to reprint commonly used labels.My only issue with the LW-400 (so far at least) is with the batteries. The unit takes six AA batteries and both the safety guidelines and the User's Guide say rechargeable batteries cannot be used, only alkaline (neither said anything about lithium batteries either). I'm not sure why that is and I have sent an email to Epson asking about the use of alkaline only, but have not yet recieved a reply. I am unsure how long it will take the unit to drain the alkaline batteries, so perhaps batteries won't be as much of an issue as I initially thought. Almost every battery operated item I use either had a rechargeable battery originally or I swapped disposable batteries for NiMH to save money. I knocked a star off my review because of the "alkaline only" restriction. According to the User's Guide an AC adapter is available for the LW-400 (AC adapter APT0615Z1-1 only), so heavy users may want to consider that option. Overall, I definitely recommend the LW-400 because it is a very useful gadget with many capabilities.

Review by S. Brown "Mac User" : Very Good Labeler, but a little slow

This is a comparison review of the Epson LW-300 and LW-400 labelers that I received from Amazon Vine to review, and the Brother P-touch 1880 that I bought from Costco. All three are in the same approximate price range, although the Brother was significantly cheaper than SRP at Costco. I'll hit upon the key differences that I noted but will not discuss the PC linking available to the P-touch 1880 since it doesn't work with a Mac. The Epson 400 screen is a two-line display comprised of illuminated blue letters on a white background, making it MUCH easier to read than the 300 or the Brother. In addition, the size and shape make the 400 more conducive to handheld portable labeling use. The 300 is smaller and somewhat lighter, and would work well for the same purpose, but the shape is not as efficient for secure, handheld use. The 400 also includes a lanyard attachment point making it even better for secure portability and ease of use. The Brother is designed for desktop use, but is light enough to be portable and it runs on 6 batteries like the Epson units (Epson 400 and Brother use AA; Epson 300 uses AAA). All three units are cartridge systems. The Epson labeling tape cartridge is removed or inserted by easily removing the back. The batteries are in the same area so they are replaced the same way. The Brother's batteries are in back also, but the cartridge is inserted by lifting an access flap on top. Brother's method is easier, and doesn't require setting down the back piece while inserting the cartridge, nor would you need to lay the display face down in the process, thus eliminating the chance of scratching the bezel in the process. However, with care, the Epson method should present no issues to the user, but would take a few seconds longer to accomplish. I printed a sample from each machine and tried to include pictures of those samples but it is not yet allowed by Amazon. The resolution of the Brother is somewhat superior to both of the two Epson units, the outputs of which appear identical to me. It is important to note, however, that the Epson units provide quite acceptable results for most applications. But if clarity is of primary importance to you, then the Brother appears to be the more capable unit for large, standard-sized text. The small text is crisp and clear on the all machines. The easy to remove split-back tape is universal between all the machines. Brother claims to make hardier tapes, but I did not have the facilities to test longevity on either brand. Tactilely, the Brother tapes feels stiffer and stronger to me, but not by much. Some Epson tapes can be ironed on, but I do not know if Brother has entered this realm. Another area where the Brother excels is in print speed. The two Epson units printed the 52 letters in my test about 33% slower than the Brother. (Brother 29.2 seconds; both Epson units took 40.1 sec).But where the Epson units excel compared to Brother is in the lack of product waste through lead in and lead out. The short, 10mm lead-in and lead-out are appropriate to prevent jamming in the printer and better tape adhesion, plus they require no manual trimming unless used in a tight spot. (At the time of this review, the Epson tapes were not available for sale so I could not provide a comparison price, but the tapes issued with the labelers are longer than Brother's at 9 meters long, and appear on the Epson site at the same length). The Brother tapes are NOT cheap. The 12mm tapes are 26 feet long and currently cost ~$12-14, or roughly 50

Review by Lonnie E. Holder "The Review's the Thing" : Does Most Things Well; A Couple of Things, Not so Well

Since I bought my first Brother label maker many years ago, I have been a big fan of label makers. They make organizing paper at home and at the office quick and convenient. I also used a label maker to label the drawers on my toolbox. You may use a label maker to label light switches and other miscellaneous controls and devices. I have even used a label maker to label boxes. Yes, I still have a Brother label maker and I still use it. I was glad to have the opportunity to review a different brand for comparison and to see how much label makers have evolved since I bought my last one, half a decade ago.The Good Stuff:This label maker has many interesting features. It has an array of symbols and frames (boxes and borders) that is beyond stunning. If there are labels you use often, you can save up to fifty of them. You may change the space between letters, go vertical, and even print them with a mirror image.This label maker also prints bar codes. While you may think bar codes are only for work, inexpensive bar code readers can help you with a home inventory, or categorizing collections. This device will print index label tabs for files, which I plan to use, cable labels or flags, as some people call them, and wrapped labels. The array of features seems to be phenomenal and well beyond the features I have had available in the past.Epson provided samples of some of the many tapes they plan to offer. Be advised that the label maker only comes with one sample tape, 12 mm black on white. Epson will also be offering colored tape, tape in different widths, glow-in-the-dark tape, and even iron-on tape that you might use for uniform nametags.One of the big selling points with this label maker is that it uses relatively small margins on either end, meaning waste is relatively minimal. I consider this feature a big plus because the tape is expensive.The display is cool. It has a backlight that a user may switch on or off. The backlight contrast is adjustable as well.The label maker has options for multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, European Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, and German.The back of the label maker has a location for a loop you may use to attach the label maker to your belt or place it around your neck. Epson is supposed to be offering an AC adapter if you want to avoid the expense of the six AA batteries it takes to power the label maker.The Down Sides:This label maker has all sorts of cool features that give it advantages over the three Brother label makers I have used. Unfortunately, there are a couple of few downsides as well.The biggest downside is choosing the font size. On the Brother label makers, choosing the font is as easy as pushing a couple of buttons on the front panel and selecting until you have the size you want. The Epson requires you to hit a button and choose number of lines. Once you choose number of lines, then you need to choose a font size. I experimented a little to figure out how to do a couple of things. For example, you can print a small or large font on the top or bottom of a label, but you need to make the other line blank. I kept printing labels while trying various combinations to figure out how to accomplish that format. Therefore, if you want a small label near the top of a label, select two lines, hit enter, then select that you want a small font as the first line and hit enter again. When you enter the label, hit enter to create the second line and print. If you forget the second line, you get large font in the middle of the label.I was surprised that this label maker does not seem to have a feature to let you position lines left, right or middle. The fancier Brother label makers let you do all three, and I tend to use the centering feature with multiple lines. While unnecessary, I think it looks better.I tried looking for tape cartridge refills on Epson's web site and on Amazon, without success. Epson needs to make the refills widely available. The tape does seem to be available in Europe. The current price seems somewhat comparable to Brother label maker tape. With the smaller borders, that should mean less waste, making the Epson tape effectively cheaper.What do you buy?This label maker offers many features over comparable Brother label makers. While getting the font size correct required a bit of playing around, I think I have that down. I like less waste, and the smaller margin does that. If I need wider margins, either I can set label length through the tools button or I can add spaces. The only problem I have right now is getting my hands on more tape cartridges.I think the Epson LW-400 is a winner and offers enough features over comparable Brother label makers that this label maker is going to be my new default label maker from now on.Enjoy!