The new Zebra ZSB series thermal label printers are wirelessly connected and easy to use, thanks to… [+] Sustainable label cartridges that can be composted once all labels are used up.
As more and more people open online stores on Amazon, Etsy, and eBay, especially during the pandemic, there has been a small boom in the label printer market for small businesses that can easily make address and shipping labels. The sticky label on the roll is much easier than printing the address on A4 paper, which must then be trimmed with tape and affixed to the package.
Until recently, brands such as Dymo, Brother, and Seiko had almost monopolized most of the consumer market for label printers—if Zebra succeeded, it might not last long. Zebra manufactures a large number of commercial label printers for large industrial users such as airlines, manufacturing, and express delivery. Now, Zebra has set its sights on the booming consumer market, launching two new wireless label printers for consumers and small businesses.
The new Zebra ZSB series includes two models of label printers that can print black on white thermal labels. The first model can print labels up to two inches wide, while the second model can handle labels up to four inches in width. The Zebra ZSB printer uses an ingenious label cartridge system, just plug it into the printer and there will be almost no paper jams. The labels come in a variety of sizes and are designed for a variety of applications, including shipping, barcodes, name tags, and envelopes.
The new Zebra ZSB label printer is connected via WiFi and can be used with iOS and Android devices and computers running Windows, macOS or Linux. The setup requires a smartphone, which establishes a connection with the printer to access the local WiFI network. The printer does not have a wired connection, and wireless means that labels can be printed from a smartphone using the Zebra ZSB application.
Even the larger 4-inch Zebra ZSB label printer can be placed comfortably on the desktop. It is perfect for… [+] Printing anything from shipping labels to barcodes, and has web-based design tools.
Unlike most label printers on the market, the Zebra ZSB system has a web portal for designing, managing and printing labels instead of a software package. Thanks to the downloadable printer driver, the printer can also print from third-party software such as Microsoft Word. Labels can also be printed from the websites of popular courier companies such as UPS, DHL, Hermes or Royal Mail. Some couriers actually require the use of Zebra printers because the larger 6×4 inch shipping label fits perfectly with the wider ZSB model.
Before accessing the Zebra printer tools and web portal, users must first set up a Zebra account and register the printer online. Once completed, you can access the ZSB portal where all design tools are located. There are a variety of popular label templates to choose from, which can be accessed online or even downloaded for offline use. Users can create their own label templates, which are stored in the cloud and can be used by anyone sharing the printer. It is also possible to share designs more widely with other Zebra users. This is a flexible labeling system that can use custom designs from third parties and companies. The Zebra portal also provides a convenient way to order additional labels when needed.
ZSB printers can only accept Zebra labels, and they are packaged in special cartridges made of biodegradable potato starch. The ink cartridge looks a bit like an egg carton, which can be recycled or composted after completion. There is a small chip at the bottom of the ink cartridge, and the printer reads this chip to find the type of label ink cartridge installed. The chip also tracks the number of labels used and displays the number of labels remaining.
The ink cartridge system can easily load labels and greatly reduce the possibility of printer jams. The chip on the cartridge also prevents users from loading third-party labels. If the chip is missing, the cartridge will be unusable. The chip of one of the cartridges I was sent to test was missing, but I contacted Zebra’s support service through the online chat function of the portal and received a new set of labels the next day. I would say this is excellent customer service.
The web portal used to create labels for printing on Zebra ZSB label printers can also process… [+] data files so that labels can be printed for use in newsletters or magazine mailing runs.
Once the printer driver is installed on the user’s computer, you can use almost any software to print to Zebra ZSB, although you may need to adjust it slightly to get the correct size setting. As a Mac user, I think it can be said that the integration with Windows is more advanced than macOS.
The Zebra Design Portal provides a range of popular label templates and the option to create custom labels using design tools that can add text boxes, shapes, lines, and barcodes. The system provides compatibility with various barcodes and QR codes. Bar codes can be added to the label design along with other fields such as time and date stamps.
Like most label printers, ZSB uses a thermal printer system, so there is no need to buy any ink. The label cost for each ink cartridge is approximately $25, and each ink cartridge may contain 200 to 1,000 labels. Each label is separated by a perforation, eliminating the need for an electric guillotine or manual cutting machine; all the user needs to do is tear off the label when it is removed from the printer.
For users who use label printers for mass mailing, the Zebra Label Design Portal has a section that can handle data files. This makes it possible to print multiple labels from the database at a speed of up to 79 labels per minute. I want to see tighter integration with the macOS Contacts application because I can’t find a way to click on an existing contact and automatically fill in the address template. Maybe this feature will appear in the future.
Most of Zebra’s printers are designed for industry and commerce, but the new Zebra ZSB label… [+] The printers are aimed at small businesses and consumers who might use eBay, Etsy, or Amazon for mail order business.
These ZSB printers are very convenient for anyone who performs bulk shipments and has an account with major shippers such as DHL or Royal Mail. It is very easy to print a label with address, barcode, date stamp and sender details directly from the shipper’s website. The print quality is clear, and the darkness can be adjusted according to the amount of jitter used to render the graphics.
To check the printer driver, I tested ZSB using Belight Software’s Swift Publisher 5, which runs on macOS and includes a comprehensive label design tool. I heard that Belight will include the ZSB series of templates in the next update of Swift Publisher 5. Another label application that is considering supporting the new ZSB printer is Address, Label and Envelope from Hamiltons Apps.
Some fonts are installed in the printer, but other fonts used in the label designer will be printed as bitmaps, which may slow down slightly. To give you an idea of the print quality, just look at the shipping label on the Amazon or UPS package; this is the same resolution and quality.
Conclusion: The new Zebra ZSB wireless label printer uses label cartridges made of fully recyclable potato starch, which is beautifully structured and ecological. When a roll of labels is completed, the user can simply throw the label tube into the compost bin and let nature take its course. No plastic is used in the cartridges. This is a sustainable solution that will appeal to anyone trying to reduce plastic waste. I would like to see tighter integration with macOS, but once the workflow is established, it is an easy-to-use printing system. For anyone who occasionally prints small addresses with their favorite label application, it is best to choose one of the smaller models such as Brother or Dymo. However, for anyone using express delivery from large shippers who create their own labels, I think the Zebra ZSB printer may be the best choice and can speed up the entire shipping process considerably. Respected.
Pricing and Availability: The ZSB series of wireless label printers are now available in the United States through selected retail e-commerce platforms, office product suppliers, and consumer electronics stores. The two-inch model starts at $129.99/£99.99, and the ZSB four-inch model starts at $229.99/£199.99.
For more than 30 years, I have been writing articles about Apple Macs, software, audio, and digital cameras. I like products that make people’s lives more creative, efficient and efficient
For more than 30 years, I have been writing articles about Apple Macs, software, audio, and digital cameras. I like products that make people’s lives more creative, productive and interesting. I look for and test excellent products and technologies so that you know what to buy.
Post time: Jun-28-2021