|  DYMO
has recently introduced three new industrial label makers designed to help installers
and end-users quickly and efficiently create labels for cables, panels and other
items that may not work well with conventional label makers. The RhinoPRO 5000
is their top-of-the-line industrial model that retails for $150. We covered the
RhinoPRO 3000 ($100) a few months back and the capabilities were impressive. The
RhinoPRO 5000 looks similar, but comes in a yellow case instead of the orange
one used on the 3000. In addition, the layout and functionality of the blue buttons
are slightly different. The removable impact-resistant rubber housing helps protect
it from potential falls. The unit is powered by six "AA" batteries (included),
and can also be used with the optional 9VDC/1.3A AC adapter (available for $24.99,
SKU #15519) if preferred. When we reviewed the 3000, it worked great using a set
of rechargeable NiMH batteries, so we used the same rechargeable batteries for
the 5000. The upper left corner of the LCD display provides the user with a battery
level indicator. The front panel of the 5000 has buttons logically placed with
each number and letter positioned sequentially instead of what would be found
on a typical keyboard. The blue buttons are used for label design and hot keys.
The gray buttons are used for printing, navigation and numeric entry. The LCD
display is easy to read and comes with a backlight that is essential when using
it in poorly lit areas. The upper right corner has a manual lever for cutting
the label once it is printed.
Features
The RhinoPRO 5000 supports five font sizes (Extra-Small, Small, Medium, Large
and Extra-Large). The unit can have as many as four lines of text depending on
the width of the tape being used. Font sizes changes automatically as the number
of lines are increased by the user. This ensures the text fits on the tape being
used. The unit supports 3/8" (9 mm), 1/2" (12 mm), or 3/4" (19
mm) tape sizes and includes a 1/2" (12mm) x 18 foot permanent polyester cartridge
(P/N 18483), a 1/2" (12mm) x 18 foot metallized polyester cartridge (P/N
18486), and a 3/4" (19mm) x 11.5 foot flexible nylon cartridge (P/N 18489).
Dedicated hot keys named WRAP (wrap around), FIXED (fixed), PPANEL
(patch panel), TBLOCK (terminal block), VERT (vertical) and BCODE
(bar-code) are available. Wrap around labels can be printed horizontally or vertically
and are repeated so the user can see the text regardless of the rotation of the
cable. Labels can even be serialized to make them each unique. Users can select
from a range of wire gauges and cable types when using the Wrap printing
mode. Performance
The RhinoPRO 5000 is a slightly larger unit than the RhinoPRO 3000 we previously
reviewed. The buttons are fractionally larger as well. The display has two 15-character
rows, a three step battery level meter, an indicator for the number of lines,
size of text and the print modes. The 5000 benefits from many of the same attributes
found in the RhinoPRO 3000. However, the 5000 has slightly different features
including more font sizes, Code-39 and Code-128 bar-codes and different symbols.
The non-slip rubber grip housing helps prevent the unit from slipping out of your
hands during use. Users can also register their product and receive a free carrying
case for their unit that protects it from the elements with a see-through area
on the face. The
buttons are slightly larger and the layout is logical and easy to follow. Some
keys have secondary functions which are enabled by holding down the Function
button. The hot-keys provide fast access to different modes and will save you
time in creating labels for specific applications (flagging, I/O panels, wire
wraps, etc.) once you understand how to use them. The memory function can store
or recall up to eight labels saving considerable time for frequently used names.
The light green LCD backlight works well even when decent lighting is available.
We found that in many cases indoor lighting was not good enough to see the LCD
display clearly and the backlight made it much easier to read. Conclusion
The RhinoPRO 5000 is designed for the installer and provides features that will
ultimately benefit the user. Making professional looking labels for clients improves
your image and shows the quality behind your work. The RhinoPRO 5000 is reasonably
priced and considering the timesaving features built into the product, it should
pay for itself in a short time. We especially liked the ability to create cable
and panel labels quickly. It does take some time to become efficient with the
unit to benefit from its capabilities. Our application was primarily geared for
home theater and the massive amount of cables associated with such systems. We
also have a rather large set of ethernet cables and the 5000 helped us manage
the existing mess. The ability to print both horizontally and vertically is a
great feature and proved to be essential for us. And once again, the DYMO labels
stay on the cables and don't fall off like many of the other labels we have used
from other manufacturers.
- Kevin Nakano |
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