Fellowes CD Label Kit (99940)

I used the NEATO applicator and matte labels (2up template) to make labels for my DVD+Rs. I was more than satisfied at first - I made about 25 labels, and had a blast giving my once-blank discs a facelift. It wasn't until I actually went to watch the DVDs that I had any trouble. About 70% through the movie, the image and audio would begin to seriously mess up, until it would just stop playing. This happened not only in my standalone DVD player, but also in my DVD-ROM. I thought that the discs themselves were bad, or my drive had burnt them improperly, or my burning software was corrupt. Nope - it was the labels all along. Old movies that played fine without a label wouldn't play properly after having a label put on them. Not only that, but my new movies that wouldn't play right would played just fine after I peeled the label off the disc. I don't know why this happens, and I don't know if it applies to labels other than the matte ones, but it's a serious issue and nowhere in the labels' documentation does it give any warning of such problems.

In summary, don't use these labels for your DVDs. They'll compromise your discs' ability to play properly, turning your good movies into coasters. Now, I've got to peel these damn things off of twenty-something discs. Save yourselves the trouble and stick to the tried-and-true black Sharpie when it comes to labeling your discs.

* / *****


Umm...yeah   July 9, 2000
Christopher Smith (College Station, TX United States)
34 out of 38 found this review helpful

While I'm glad that other people have had wonderful experiences with this kit, I can't say the same for myself. I purchased it with the usual expectations: "Cool! Now I can make my CD-Rs look awesome with custom labels." They weren't met.

The labels themselves, while of decent quality, are a tiny bit small for a CD's label surface--on my Memorex media, I get a small gold ring on the inside and outside. They're also *very* serious when they give anti-curling instructions.

The install CD includes many interesting high-quality background images. My only complaint is that the "Compact Disc Digital Audio" is black on white and isn't transparent--it erases any background you try to use it over.

The software, however, has been a complete headache. Unlike every other package I have ever heard of, this package requires you to "calibrate" by printing a test pattern on an actual label page (which does not ruin the labels themselves). You're then supposed to enter the printing offset in .04mm increments. Then you hope that the thing doesn't independently alter those by 12mm (1/2") or more, completely ruining a label. In addition, despite the label sheet's having its own layout descriptor file, the top label and bottom label on one sheet are never aligned at the same time. You have to print each separately and then change the vertical offset in between. And make sure not to put any text within about 1/4" of the edge; even calibrated, you never know what's going to get cut off. It also can't use GIF files "because of legal restrictions" (which only apply to software that *creates* GIF files, not uses them, and which expire in 2000 anyway).

Overall recommendation: Blah. If you're *really* set on having CD-R labels, get a CD-labeling kit, but be prepared to deal with some headaches.


great!   January 11, 2000
regis jacqueminette
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

This product is great and dead easy too use. I have tried the product from memorex, but the Fellowes one is ten times better.


Been using it for 3 years....   January 20, 2004
Karen Stone (Charlotte, NC)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

and I'm still happy! We initially had to get used to the software and the printer setup and yes, you do need some patience during the learning curve of this creative process - it's not the normal daily routine of most people. We never encountered any errors when creating the actual labels or printing them. We also have not had any problems upon using the labelled CDs or DVDs. We're happy with the product.