You can use labels on the computer if you are more comfortable with that. Get the return address size if you want small ones.

I borrowed a friend's Brother P-Touch to label some canisters. This one's an 1880 though. Thought it was great. Didn't seem to waste paper and was easy to use. I barely can operate a cell phone to give you a barometer about ease of use. Battery thing is kind of a pain. Can't say about the difference between the 1880 and 1090, but I'd say go for it.

I have a P-Touch Home and Hobby III (it's a hand-held one). Got it a bunch of years ago (12?) at Staples. I don't know if I've even changed the batteries yet! I don't use it very often but I'm glad I have it for the times I do. After our kitchen reno, I made labels for some of the new Click-Clack canisters in the kitchen cabs (need to know which canister holds the regular coffee and which one holds decaf!). I also used it recently to make labels for the file boxes in our bookcase. I got beigey card stock and clear label tape so the card stock shows through. DH was going to print labels up on our printer but I figured this would be quicker and easier.

I have a P-Touch PT-65. It's easy to use and I've had it for ages. I've run through several tape cartridges, but have only replaced the batteries once.

I have a first generation P-touch from like 1990 or something. I have used it to label my different flour canisters, and originally got it for labelling file folders in my office at work. For a lot of things, however, I find it easier to make a label by hand. For canisters of things that might change (I don't always have red quinoa, or always buy the same amount), I'll cut the label from the package and tape it on. This is especially useful for something I don't use much of and need to be reminded of any directions on the label.

The model you're looking at looks like a nice combination between the P-Touch and a Dymo labeller. You can't beat the price, but remember, the tapes cost the real money. Same as when you buy a computer printer, the real money is in the ink. This model may eat batteries worse than the others, but with my old one, which from being old I'd assume to have lesser technology and waste more power, the important thing is to pay attention to the instructions. They said about mine to turn it off between uses to preserve the battery life. It will turn itself off after a minute or two, but turning it off immediately seems to save an awful lot of juice. That, and writing down all the labels for a project, and doing them at once. It's easier not to make a mistake if you can see them in front of you, and doing them all together conserves energy. They all "waste" some of the tape. Some people want more or less leader. The machine spits out a certain amount of excess to make sure you have enough of a margin to fit your space and that the words are well separated. Also, for that uniform Martha look, you might want all your labels to be the same size. Otherwise, you can trim off any excess.

Some general suggestions on the organizing: Using different colors helps a lot! Photos in green boxes, for instance, and keepsakes in white ones. Recipes in yellow binders, insurance forms in blue. If you'd prefer the Martha matchy version or can't find enough storage options with colors that go, you might want to invest in several colors of P-touch tapes. They're expensive, but they'll help you in your quest.

Also, regarding the freezer, have the P-touch handy. But also have a roll of masking tape and a marksalot in your kitchen tools drawer. If your batteries run out or whatever, you can still grab a piece of tape and slap a less than Martha-esque beautiful label on your container.

I reccommend you get the fanciest one you can afford. Shop around on both the internet and office supply stores. They are frequently on sale and you can save a lot. Buy your label tapes online; they are way cheaper that at Staples or office Depot.

Things to consider: connectability--some models can connect to your computer. This is useful if you have a lot of labels to make. Keyboard--if you are just making a few labels at a time and are not so organized that you do everything on the computer, you may want a keyboard and a Querty desktop model is probably better if you make several labels at a time. Size of tapes--some models can take up to 1 inch tapes or very narrow tapes for labeling the spine of a CD. I use 1 inch labels a lot. They are useful for labeling canisters, boxes, plants etc.

As far as battery life goes--in my older desktop model the batteries last a long time. As far as wasting tape goes--if you are making several labels, you can turn off the feed and cut. The labels will print out in a long strip with little waste. Also save money and buy online.

Here are some cool things--the labels can go through a dishwasher cycle! The labels are easy to peel off of hard surfaces. They leave little residue when peeled off and the residue can be cleaned off with alcohol. After about 5 years the labels become harder to remove but they are still easier to remove than most price stickers. The labels are weather resistant. They will stand up to rain, heat and cold and UV light. I use them to label outdoor stuff like plants and gardening stuff as well as kids toys.

Martha is right about this. Happy label making!

Another happy P-touch label user. I bought mine in 2000 at Fry's Electronics. I think it may have been a refurbished model. At the time I was working at a home office. When that company laid me off, they didn't want the "stuff" back. Not that I blame them, they'd laid off hundreds, where would they put it? Anyway, I still have it, and I still use it. And yes, everytime I whip it out for home organizing, I channel my inner Martha.

Just a note. Yes, the labels can be expensive. But they LAST! You can label sippy cups if you've got little ones or pot luck casserole dishes, throw them in the DW and they'll stay. No joke. I have a label on one of my corning ware dishes that has been there about 2 years. I have all my baking flours, cake, whole wheat, spelt, blah, blah, blah in glass jars, all labeled so I don't have to guess or grab the wrong kind when in a hurry.
Honestly, it's one of the best investments I've ever made. If it ever dies on me, I'll definitely buy another one. The basic model is fine. I mean, how many fonts do you really need?

The cheapest I've found the labels are at Target in the office supplies section.

Kathe

After my initial post, I dug out my trusty labeler. It's a P-touch Extra model PT-330 and yes, there's a sticker on the back that says Factory Refurbished. It takes 6 AA batteries, but does have the ability to take the Brother AC adaptor, which I don't think I have.

About 5 years ago, I bought a replacement cutting blade online. At the time I had been doing a lot of labeling for my church.

To save on tape, I'll usually type out a string of words separated by 4 or 5 spaces, so cinnamon + 5 spaces, cardamom, + 5 spaces, and so on until I'm at the end of the list. I'll then cut it off the machine and then cut my individual labels with sissors. The other thing I do to save tape is keep it away from my kids (the younger ones mostly). Seriously, those stinkers love to play with it.

Now the labels have a split back which makes a breeze to peel. In the old days, there was a little tool you used to separate the backs. It was a PITA. I lost mine of course.

Check out craigslist or ebay for a used one. I found several for around $20. One I saw even included the AC adaptor and 3 rolls of tape for $40. Business offices close all the time, so you just never know.

Kathe

I'm going to have to find mine (my DH puts it away where no one can find it). I have some labels that have faded or worn. I am curious about the laminated tape -- is that a sturdier tape than the standard? Is that onthe Ptouch only? I think ours is a Dymo.