Label once, twice, three times



Author: Jim Toms

Date: September, 1993

Keywords: review floppy disk labeler labels once

Text:
Label Once is a product that should answer the prayers of
''computerists'' who repeatedly change the contents of their floppies
and find themselves constantly scratching out the old title on their
disk labels or applying a new label over the old until the labels
almost equal the thickness of the disk itself. 
Multicomp has come up with a labeling system which should eliminate the
shortcomings of current disk labeling systems by permitting one to
erase the label information and rewrite the new disk info. on the same
label. The heart of the Label Once system is a disk label made of a
very thin, extremely smooth, adhesive backed plastic. The label is
slightly smaller than standard paper labels, lacking the color bar that
folds over the end of a disk. The other components of the starter kit
consists color disk which are applied in the upper right corner of the
label for cataloging disks by color, a fine tip Sanford Sharpie
permanent marker and a white plastic EF (Eberhard Faber?) Jet Eraser.
The pen and eraser allow one to write the disk contents on the label
with indelible ink and at the same time make changes or correct errors
by erasing the label with the plastic eraser and rewriting on the same
label over and over. 
This sounds like the solution to a major shortcoming of the standard
paper label systems most of us use. The pen and eraser combo do, in
fact, work quite well with a few exceptions. The permanent ink will
start to come off by rubbing the label with your fingers or by holding
a disk between your fingers for several minutes. Those who prefer
typing on their labels may find the label surface too slick to hold the
ribbon ink permanently. With either writing or typing on the labels one
must be watchful in the way the disks are held. It is also very
important to make sure all eraser particles have been wiped from the
disk before inserting it in the disk drive! It would probably pay to do
your erasing and relabeling chores far away from your computer
equipment. One last concern that may be groundless, is there  a
possibility of data damaging static charges being generated by the
erasing action between the plastic label material and the plastic
eraser? I don't have the answer.
With those concerns aside, I think The Label Once product is worth a
try and would recommend it to others as a possible solution to their
disk labeling nightmares.
Kits and refills are $8.95 and come in labeling formats for 3.5 & 5.25
disks, VHS & DAT tapes, Syquest disks and something called DC 2000. 
Permanent markers and the white plastic erasers, are available in
stationary and art supply stores.
Label Once, Erasable Labels are available from:
     Multicomp
     P.O. Box 2761
     Abilene, TX   79604           
 (915) 676-0844

Copyright © september, 1993 by Jim Toms