Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved programmable marking device in two preferred embodiments thereof. In a first embodiment, the device includes a keyboard-display portion into which is mounted a removable portable marking device with the marking device having circuitry therein which is electrically connected with the computer in the keyboard-display portion when the removable portable marking device is inserted into a specially designed receptacle in the keyboard-display portion. In the operation of the first embodiment, the keyboard is used to type the message which is desired to be printed by the marking device and the desired message is displayed on the display and corrected as desired while the marking device is plugged into the receptacle. That which is displayed in the display has also been transmitted electrically to a memory device contained within the removable portable marking device.