Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The software install was very fast and went without a hitch. Loaded the batteries, installed the print cartridge, and connected to the computer with the included USB cable. Turning the printer on then prompts Windows XP to recognize the new hardware and load the drivers which you previously installed from the CD-ROM. This took 30 seconds.
Once that was done, I opened up the software and after clicking around a bit to see some of the formatting options, it took me less than ten minutes to put together a label for tomorrow night's MONK second season finale episode which I will burn onto DVD-R, with MONK at the top print area, and the episode name and original air date on the bottom print area. I used TDK brand DVD-R media which has a nice, large, smooth printable surface at the top and bottom.
Then I used the sample CD-R which comes with the machine, to burn a copy of a music CD. My results and observations of the machine's performance:
1. The software is pretty slick, and so far it works flawlessly. Depending on the type of disc you are printing (e.g. music, data, photos, etc.), it presents you with a variety of formatting options for the two print areas. With all formatting options, you can change the font name and size to whatever you have installed on your computer. All text formatting changes are immediately shown in the on-screen depiction of your label, so you can see right away if your text will fit into the print area the way you want it to appear. If you are printing in both print areas of the disc, the software prompts you to first align the disc in the tray for the top portion of the label...click print and it goes to it. Then the tray opens again, and the software prompts you to turn the disk so that it can print the lower print area.
2. I have not yet used the printer as a stand-alone...I will eventually try it out, but why bother with all those buttons and keys when I can easily get what I want much more easily on the computer?
3. The print quality is Pretty Darn Good. Larger, bolder and straighter fonts come out better than smaller, thin and curvy fonts, but in all cases you'll notice a slight "pixelization", or slightly rough edges. To my eye, it's only obvious if I hold the thing right up to my face. You can change the print density but I haven't played with that option yet, to see if it makes a difference. Overall, I'm happy with the print quality.
4. I'll be interested in seeing how the printing on the CD holds up from use in my car. The instructions say that use in such players causes wear on the print surface from the CD player's rollers that load the CD, which could cause the printing to eventually get worn off. Also says not to keep printed CDs where they'll get very hot, and not to store them in plastic-sleeve storage devices...I guess the ink can come off on the vinyl if it's in contact with it for very long.
5. Cost per print raised by others...bah! Definitely no comparison to the almost-zero cost of just writing on a disc with a marker, but my handwriting and printing looks like crap. Labels and ink jet ink aren't free, but probably cheaper than using this...but so what? And I'm starting to see some of the labels I've been using (Stomper and Avery) come up a little around the edges over time.
6. Power options: the battery power is great for me, because I don't have to find an empty outlet in my gaggle of power strips, and I can just pick the thing up and put it in a drawer when I'm done. On the other hand, I think Casio could have sprung for a measly A/C adapter instead of making it an option.
7. The CW-75 is not built like a tank. The drawer has a flimsy feel and does not close as precisely as it should. The unit is lightweight and...well, just think of your last Casio calculator or adding machine to get an idea of its general construction, fit, and finish.
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CW-75 Disc Title Printer with QWERTY keyboard
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