Following the release earlier this year of a Mac-compatible Software Developers Kit (SDK) and Mac drivers, Seiko Instruments USA has announced the release of three new Smart Label Printers — devices that print one label at a time for envelopes, files, storage boxes, disks, video cassettes, barcodes and other purposes. And unlike past Seiko offerings, each of these SLP models ships out of the box with Mac support.
All the printers use direct thermal technology to output images and text onto labels which are dispensed on a roll. Thermal printing means users don’t have to change ink or toner cartridges — you just load in new labels as you need them. Included with the printer is Seiko’s Smart Label Software, cable, adapter, label roll and documentation.
The Smart Label Printers communicate with a Mac using USB (serial ports are included for legacy use with PCs). System requirements call for Mac OS X v10.2 or higher, a G3 or faster with 128MB RAM, 30MB hard disk space and available USB port. The SLP 410, 420 and 430 models all feature 203 dot per inch (DPI) resolution and measure 6.22 x 4.61 x 6.34 inches.
The base-model SLP 410 unit retails for US$99.99 and can output one-inch labels — its speed is rated at 8 seconds per standard label. The SLP 420 model costs $119.99 and has identical performance, but can output both one- and two-inch labels. The SLP 430, for $189.99, is the high-performance model — label output is cut from eight to three seconds.
What’s more, the company plans to show them off at next month’s Macworld Conference & Expo in Boston, Mass, at booth 221.
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