Audrey,
Hello.
Mike brings up a good point about others being able to input the data. If this is not a security issue and more of an ease of use (less errors, etc), then don't worry about the security issue of course. If it is a security issue then when you laminate the cards, you could use an overlay that hides the barcode but can be read by an infrared scanner. However that puts limits on the type of scanners you can use.
As far as picking the right scanner, I try and sway people from using wands. They are good for some applications, but really a pain where ease of use is concerned. There are some handheld scanners you can get. As Mike mentioned, Welch Allyn makes a nice unit. They have the IT3800 handheld scanner with keyboard (or USB, RS232, etc) interface. You should be able to pick up a complete kit of the IT3800LR-12CMBKIT for about $249 at the most. If someone wants to charge you more, then you are paying too much.
On the printer, there a few out there. Zebra has a good line. If you want a low cost printer that is good quality they have the Zebra Stripe Series S600. list price is $1395 but you should be able to pick a new one up fr about $950. Any more and you are paying too much. You can get cheaper ones too. If you want more ideas, let me know. Remember when picking a printer if your label is going to be used in a situation like yours I would recommend getting a thermal transfer printer (not direct thermal). Most come with a dual mode, but the cheaper ones you have to select one version or the other. Thermal transfer is more durable and lasts. Direct thermal is like the old fax paper that came on a roll. It turns yellow after time, black in the sun...etc. Great for short term applications, but long term it isn't a good idea. The advantage of direct thermal is you don't have to use ribbon when printing. However, I often thought it almost a wash because the price on direct thermal labels is more than the paper labels used with the ribbon. Go figure!
Instead of laminating, you could buy cards and get a printer that can print on cards. You may have seen these before, it is like what you get for a membership card. If you have a Costco store around you, you may of seen their membership cards. You wouldn't have to laminate those. Just an idea.
Oh, and about whether or not to get a keyboard wedge unit or not...it really depends on what you need. If you will have a keyboard there anyway with the number present on the card (aside from the barcode), then no matter what the interface people can type in the data. However, perhaps there could be a way that you can program the field that accepts the member I.D. to only accept data with a preamble of a certain character or digit that only you would know. You can program the scanner to automatically put the digit (or whatever you want, Full ASCII) when it scans and then it will automatically send that data with the modification to that field. No one could replicate that unless they knew your code.
Hope that helps.
AJ
