» Epson Stylus Photo R340 Inkjet Printer

Epson Stylus Photo R340 Inkjet Printer Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: Best Printer I Have Ever had!!!!!
Comment: I have had inkjet printers since HP made their first one back in the 80's. I bought this Epson Photo R340 almost two years ago and it's still going like a warhorse. I recently switched from Windows to Mac and, when the new drivers were downloaded, it's looking as good as ever! Ink consumption is no worse than any other printer I've had (including HP) and with the six (6) separate cartridges you never feel as if you are "sacrificing" a cartridge because a certain shade of color is "out" (like with the old "tri-solor" cartridges and even the single Cyan and Magenta ones). I do graphic design, with photo and other artwork, and the quality is outstanding, especially is you use glossy photo paper (Epson is good but so is Kodak--it just smells a little funny!) I will admit I haven't used the "stright-on" printing of DVD/CD as I usually make my labels with Sure Thing software on Neato inkjet labels (running them through twice is absolutely no problem). I use images captured off of my DVD and it looks phenomenal. I have had raves about the work that has come off of this thing. I am in the market for another as I want to hook my Windows laptop up to one to continue the work that cannot be utilized on Mac software (I have had to learn to be "bi-lingual" in my work!) I tried to network the printers (Internet was a snap) but the new computers out now (and this goes for newer PC's as well as Mac) can't handle it. Not a problem--it's back to Epson for me and I know I won't be disapointed. (P.S. My brother has an Epson--different model--that uses the same cartridges as my R340 so buying ink in bulk makes perfect financial sense as well!)

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Customer Rating:
Summary: The most frustrating printer I've ever purchased
Comment: Sure, the quality of the prints are great and the ability to print onto CDs/DVDs is awesome - *IF* you can get the printer to feed the CD/DVD tray or good quality paper. I purchased this printer about 8 months ago and it started acting up after the first few months... now it's a giant, frustrating paperweight - Sitting on my desk, mocking me.

It's not like I don't feed it plenty (and I mean PLENTY) of ink whenever it's hungry.

Ungrateful little printer...

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Decent photo printer!
Comment: I have this printer for 5 months now and printed quite some photos as well as normal text prints. Overall I'm very satisfied with the print quality, especially photos. I've been printing on 8x10 inch premium glossy photo papers and the photos come out very nicely (even not with the highest quality setting). I prepare to frame some of them and hang on my walls.

Epson is a better printer maker than any other brands. During the 5 months I have printing problem for only once, when the photos came out with faint lines. The problem is easily identified after I read the manual, and fixed after I spent 5 minutes to clean the printhead.

One con is that sometimes the photos come out with slightly different colors than on the computer screen. But after I check the "auto color correction" in the printing option, this issue became minimum.

Another con, though I know it is probably the same with all printer brands, is that the ink (esp. black) runs out quickly with large photo prints. Never printed CD though.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: This printer sucks
Comment: I had the R220 and it was better then the 340. With the 340 the CD/DVD tray sticks. If I don't push it in myself it will get stuck and give me an error. Don't buy this printer.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Flawed, but now fixed...
Comment: In general, this is a GREAT printer. The picture printing is very impressive when using the right paper, and the text printing is laser quality.

Now, on to the best, yet most frustrating feature of this line of printers, direct CD/DVD printing.

I too have had my share of feed issues with the Epson CD tray on several different printers (R200, R220, R340), but I have just discovered and solved the most frustrating of them, the one T.J. Vondrell is evidently having. The tray was being drawn in too far at the beginning of a CD print job, causing the subsequent ejection cycle to push the tray out UNDER the drop-down tray platform. I found that the sideways-mounted roller on the right side of the platform was sticking. The associated microswitch at that roller is what stops the initial insertion, at which point indexing using an optical reader commences as the reader looks at the white marks on the tray. When the roller springs back out as the tray clears it on the initial insertion, the tray is stopped, and the indexing begins. If it sticks, the tray just keeps on going out the back of the printer, and the printer generates all those frustrating error messages, not to mention the grinding sound of the tray coming back out of place under the tray platform. A VERY brief shot of WD40 using the provided spray straw to the roller fixed ALL tray issues with my 2nd brand new R340. I will now apply the same lube job to my other Epson printers. I hope this tidbit relieves a lot of frustration from you other Epson users. This is an easy fix, and one that Tech Support at Epson should be well aware of, but apparently isn't, as I now have a new R340 sent as a replacement for my 1st one that was doing the same thing. I have emailed them, and I hope they post it on their FAQ page. This fix should apply to all Epson printers that have a similar drop-down CD tray platform.

P.S. As a rule now, I try to remember to give the tray a slight nudge as the CD print job begins. This should help extend the life of the somewhat weak roller system that pulls the tray in. I have a couple of well-used R-series printers that now require this assist, or the tray will not be drawn in.

Good luck all with this otherwise fantastic printer.

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