Printer parts

The Epson R1900 has been built to a higher standard than both the R2400 and R1800. This printer feels solid, the construction is rugged and you feel that Epson have put a lot of though into the construction of this printer. I like the design, which has been taken from the Pro3800, it works on all levels, it is compact, it doesn't take up a lot of room on my desk and it is well sealed against dust and foreign objects (I would have liked a coffee mug holder though)

The Epson R1900 closed up, excellent dust protection in all areas
Front paper catcher	Triple rear paper support
A soft pad on the support prevents paper slipping	Easy to move, yet positive paper guide
CD tray folds out	Insert a CD/DVD in the holder and slide it in
The rear speciality media holder	Roll media holders in position, a weak point
Twin USB ports, for a small network	Sprung lid will prevent lid from crashing down
I know, it's not the most exciting shot, but shows a clutter free back on the R1900

The front paper tray is a lot sturdier than on previous Epson printers, it doesn't feel flimsy. This is a three section telescopic unit which folds up to form the front cover when closed. The rear paper support is also a three section unit, which also has two small rubber pads to prevent paper slipping. The movable paper guide is well constructed, it is easy to move and locks firmly into place when released.

A flip down cover, located behind the front paper catcher, is where you will find the the CD/DVD printing tray. I am not sure if this is included on US models, previous Epson printers have all omitted this feature for the US. A CD/DVD holder tray is included with the printer and fits in the tray. I will look at this in greater detail later in the review.

You also have the option to fit a rear sheet "speciality media" guide. This is for single sheets of Fine Art media such as Velvet, Watercolour etc. The R1900 doesn't have a straight paper path feed, which may limit photographers who want to print on card or thicker media. The R1900 also offers the facility to print on Roll media, just attach the roll holders to the rear of the printer (with media loaded). The actual clips are not that secure and didn't inspire confidence. I would have liked a more positive click to reassure me they were fitted correctly. From my past experience with using small roll media, the curl of the paper towards the end of the roll is near impossible to straighten out. This set of rollers do not look man enough to hold Epson's 32.9cm x 10m roll - I can't test this as I do not have this size media.

There are two USB ports at the rear of the printer, this will allow you to connect two PCs at the same time, I guess this is a half way house to networking. Having said that, the On-Line User guide does provide detailed instructions on how to share a printer with other users on an existing Network.

Next page - First Prints