The
P50 is extremely easy to use, all you need to do is insert between 1-4
pages into the punching slot and slide the handle across. Although the
P50 is rated for up to 6 sheets of paper I found that it was difficult
to punch more than about 4 at a time.The P50 is capable
of handling both letter size sheets and oversize covers. You just have
to line up the edge of your paper with the correct guide on the machine
and then proceed with punching.
Overview:
Small portable desktop
punch for the GBC Proclick Binding System. Proclick is a revolutionary
system that allows users to open and edit documents in the field using
a small and simple zipper tool that easily fits in your pocket.
Strengths / Features:
The
P50 is extremely easy to use, all you need to do is insert between 1-4
pages into the punching slot and slide the handle across. Although the
P50 is rated for up to 6 sheets of paper I found that it was difficult
to punch more than about 4 at a time. However, if was also difficult to
punch a single sheet of regular paper at a time since it wasn't very
rigid. Punching 3-4 sheets at a time or 1 cover should be ideal. I also
found that it was easiest to use the P50 on a hard flat surface where
the machine won't move during punching. However, you can use it in a
car or in a mobile situation if need be.
The P50 is capable
of handling both letter size sheets and oversize covers. You just have
to line up the edge of your paper with the correct guide on the machine
and then proceed with punching.
The P50 is both lightweight
(only a few pounds) and portable making it the perfect solution for
companies with sales representatives. I know a number of organizations
who give the P50 to their salespeople in the field and have a larger
volume machine in the office for the production of the original
documents. This provides the ability to quickly and easily insert
literature or sales sheets into a presentation or report on a moment's
notice.
The P50 is also a popular choice for home users and
extremely small offices that are looking to try out color coil binding.
It can be used along with 3:1 pitch spiral coil to produce the least
expensive coil binding option available on the market. However, for
this application a pair of oversize oval coil crimping pliers are
recommended to assist in cutting off the excess coil and bending over
the ends so the coil doesn't spin back off the book.
Weaknesses / Limitations:
The
punching capacity of the P50 is extremely limited. This makes it an
ideal choice for personal use, small offices and for representatives in
the field. However, the four sheet limitation can make binding more
than one or two 50 to 100 page proposals almost unbearable. For most
offices, the savings in time by purchasing a larger machine will more
than make up for the difference in the cost.
The P50 is
just a punch, it does not offer any assistance in finishing the
documents with Proclick. Every box of Proclick spines comes with a
special zipper tool that will assist you in closing the spines.
However, you may find that it is faster to just snap the rings together
by hand.
The P50 can punch documents with an 11" binding
edge or oversized covers that are 11.25" x 8.75". However, punching
other sizes of documents with the P50 can be very difficult. The closed
throat design does not lend itself to punching longer documents.
Additionally, the absence of disengageable die pins makes it difficult
to punch shorter documents since a partial hole will be left on the
edge of the document.
Recommendations:
The Proclick P50 is ideal for personal use, home offices and for mobile sales representatives.
It
offers a convenient, portable and flexible binding system that you can
take with you. It also give you the ability to edit documents on the
fly.
It is not meant for volume applications and most likely
will not withstand heavy use. Organizations requiring a system to bind
more than a few presentations per week or month should probably
consider a different system.
This review was written by Jeff McRitchie who is the director of marketing for Mybinding.com.
Jeff has written more than three hundred articles and more than two
hundred reviews on Binding Machines, Binding Supplies, Report Covers,
3-Ring Binders, Index Tabs, Laminators, Laminating Supplies, Paper
Shredders and Paper Handling Equipment.
