I suggest you consider these factors. You will get your investment out of your labeller if it's simple and straightforward to use. 1) PC connectible. Essential. The user interface on the keyboard labelers is lousy to inexcusable. 2) Width of tape the unit accepts. A 1/2 inch tape is virtually useless for two lines of print because the print becomes microscopic. You didn't mention what you'll put these labels on. You may be thinking that you'll just run two tapes for two lines of print. You're better off buying a unit that accepts wider tape, as it will look neater and use less tape. Those tapes ain't cheap, at $12 each. 3) Buy an AC adapter. It avoids wasting money and resources on batteries. Brothers makes a PC-connectible labelers that are just the printer, none of the keyboard stuff. I think this is smart, as I find the keyboard useless if you don't use the machine every day. The 1230PC you mention is one of those models. My issue with this model is that it only runs tapes up to 1/2 inch wide, whereas the next model, Ptouch 2430PC, runs tapes up to 3/4 inch. I found that once I label a rose, I want more than one line of print. I list name and class and then hybridizer and date on the second line. That makes the print very very small on a 1/2 wide tape. The Ptouch 2430PC is what I'd buy if I were replacing mine. Count me among those very happy with the Ptouch label makers. My model 2600 is discontinued. The software interface works with my Mac, so I use my computer the set up and print the labels. This is very helpful, as the Brother's keyboard is too complicated and counter-intuitive to make any sense at all if you don't use it daily. OTOH, with the pc connection, I find I use the labeler much more. I use it to label files and to label those pesky little items that seem to disappear when you have big kids, like your cell phone chargers. I also use it to label adapters, as I find they become separated from their device and all look alike. That new unit, Ptouch 1880 looks comparable to mine, except it doesn't mention being able to connect to your computer. It's worth the money to have the computer interface. The Ptouch 2100 or 2110 seems like my unit: connect to the pc with USB cord, comes with a case and an AC adapter, and print on both sizes tape, 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch. HTH.

Get the Brother printer that sets on your desk and hooks to your computer. Then you can use the mouse to stretch or shrink the label size, the entire label appears on the monitor as it will be in the finished product. Then when you are ready to make a label you just hit print and like any printer it spits out the printed page, in this case a label. I use a refurbished (½ price, on the Brother refurbished website) P-Touch PRO DX 9200. It was quite a bit more but it precuts the tapes, makes duplicates easily and takes up to 1½ inch tapes. I bought it only for daylilies but have found many other uses for it. They don't make this model anymore but any of them that are only a printer without the keyboard or screen will be cheaper, easier to use, faster, and more accurate and less wasteful because you use the compter software, which by the way, can easily be updated free from the Brother website.

one note: I'm good on the advice to buy the cheapest one that does the job you want done... but make sure you don't go cheaper and lose something you want. For example, I want to be able to use the wide it's 1 inch, right?, laminated tape. I like how it looks on the metal plant marker. (Mine are from Eon...) As the price of the machine goes up, so does the size of tape it can handle. About the handheld ones and taking them into the garden... I like the idea but think this might encourage a costly bad habit. If you want the markers to last a really long time, there is a step you shouldn't skip. The manufacturing of metal often leaves some surface deposit - often a very little bit of oil. If you want the best adhearance, you should wipe the metal plate with alcohol to remove any residue before putting your label on. I have never had a label fall off... I think my oldest are probably 15 years or more old... unless it was bent or damaged. The sticky on the tape has never failed on its own... we attribute this to the clean surface. I think I'd do the same if the markers were plastic. I think color of print and tape is a personal taste issue. We started with black print on white background - it is, I think, the easiest to read. On the other hand, the white tags really stand out in the garden - for good and for ill. We have switched to black print on clear. It is still quite readable on the aluminum markers, but not quite as attention-getting as the white ones. the reason I bring this up is a person should think about the look they want before they buy a labeler and tape - so you can avoid our situation with two different types of labels in the same gardens. Somebody complained about losing the print off the tape - I assume they were using a tape that isn't laminated with the print literally on the inside. Not all p-touch tapes are created equal - you want the laminated tape. Mine is a computer printer. I like the aforementioned advantages - being able to chose any font on the computer, visualizing the print on the screen and optimizing the looks... but on the other hand, mine is set up for my old Mac II - a computer most of you are too young to remember much less own. Every year I set it up, hook up the printer, and spend one delightful evening printing labels. Then we put it away. Then we spend the rest of the summer making lists of all the plants we forgot to label. Then we lose the list during the winter. Then we start all over in the spring. Some folks use a 3/4" tape and find it sufficient

we all know they are H. ... so i leave that off.. thats 4 spaces ... including blanks on each side ... then i figured out.. that on my tags.. i can get 14 to 16 characters per line .... then i figured out.. that i can fit two rows of tape per tag ... then i figure out that i could get 3 rows.. if i cut the top and bottom ones at the top of the writing.. and the bottom ... and then i figured out... that if i used no spaces between different names ... i could run out a 12 to 15 inch tape of names and only waste the lead and follow on said tape ... and a small pair of very sharp scissors to cut in between names .. but i do use space inside names that will fit in one row the lakeside names are maddening.. when you add that.. and i use all caps ... to not waste tape on quote marks ... so my tape would look something like this: TOY SOLDIERABBYJUNELAKESIDESURF RIDERLIBERTYVICTORY ... etc until the machine tells me no more spaces available ... make any sense???? i then take the cut piece with the name ... with the backing still on... and center it ... and note which letter is under which hole... so that when i take the backing off.. i can line it up and get it basically centered ... i also polish the zinc tags with a dry wash cloth to insure there are no dust speck prior to sticking the tape on ... then just before i press down the last corner.. i take one last look.. to see just how crooked it is.. lol ... if you look real close at the tag.. you will see lines in the zinc .. part of the manufacturing process ... and those can be used to make the label basically straight ... ken below is a picture of a 15 year old tag .. note the A and D are basically right below the holes ps: if you audience doesnt know they are H. .. or hosta.. get some better friends.. lol .... though i do put full latin on everything else in the yard ....