X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

The Brother P-Touch personal label printer is a steal at $9.99

It normally sells for $30, so grab one before supplies run out. Plus: a big sale on Alien and Star Trek movies!

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
3 min read
brother-p-touch-pt-m95
Brother

Cheeps, I'm feeling a little gun-shy about today's deal, because it's sure to be hugely popular and Staples has a reputation for short-lived printer promotions.

That said, here it is: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Staples has the Brother P-Touch PT-M95 personal label printer for $9.99, with free in-store pickup or free shipping via ShopRunner.

If Staples runs out, B&H also has it for $9.99, but shipping will run you about $5 -- still a solid deal given that the P-Touch normally sells for $30.

This is something everyone needs to own, am I right? (Aside: I can't look at a label-maker without thinking of the eponymous Seinfeld episode. The question is, if you give someone one of these as a gift, will it get regifted?)

They're useful for labeling personal stuff, file folders, cabinet doors and drawers, storage bins... you name it.

To create a label, you just type on the QWERTY keyboard. The LCD is large and easy to read, but narrow, showing only about 12 characters at a time. (A similar Dymo model shows only 10, though. Twelve is better.)

The Brother offers nine font styles, 10 framing options and over 200 symbols. It runs off four AAA batteries (not included), and that's your only power option; this model doesn't offer an AC adapter. It also lacks a memory, which is a bummer if you routinely print the same labels. If you want that feature, Staples also has the Brother PT-D210 on sale for $19.99 -- 50 percent off the regular price.

As with any printer, you should always look at the cost of consumables -- in this case tape cartridges. Good news: You can get Brother-branded cartridges for around $6 from Amazon, and there are plenty of inexpensive third-party options as well.

The PT-M95 earned a 4.5-star average rating from some 60 Staples buyers. At $10, how can you go wrong?

alien-movie-original

In space, no one can hear you make pointless, derivative sequels.

20th Century Fox

Bonus deal: So I guess tomorrow is Alien Day or something? All I know is, Apple and Amazon currently have all six Alien movies on sale for $4.99 apiece -- everything from the original on up through Alien: Covenant.

Of course, as with the Terminator movies, only the first two are worth a damn. The rest are pointless and range from mediocre to terrible. But those first two? Absolutely worth owning if you're a fan of sci-fi or horror -- especially when they're priced about the same as a rental.

Here's the Amazon page where you can find all the flicks. Hit up the iTunes store and search accordingly if you want to buy them there. While you're at it, you might like the Star Trek three-movie collection, which iTunes has on sale for $14.99. You get all three of the reboot movies -- the first two of which were awesome, I thought. The third: meh.


CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones , gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter!