|
Controls/Buttons/Dials (8)
This Epson printer has large, easily understood buttons that are all protected beneath a lid on the top of the printer. The control panel is uncluttered and buttons are very easy to find. The most notable buttons are the perhaps the ones used most often or at least the ones needed to be accessed most quickly—the big, bright green Print button, labeled with a printer icon, and the red Cancel button. The slim, dark gray Open button is simply a switch release that opens the output tray door. The rest of the buttons on the top are the same glittery light gray color as the printer body, so they don’t stand out as much. They are all clearly labeled except for two small circular buttons directly below the LCD monitor. These multifunction buttons allow the user to select options in some menus. All of the buttons are comfortable and feel sturdy, and most of them are concave in the center to cradle fingers and prevent slippage. Overall, the Epson PictureMate Snap's control panel won’t win any design awards, but it is certainly is functional and user-friendly.

Menus (8)
The Snap PM240’s Menu design is very stripped down, with simple gray background, black text, and blue icons, with no stylistic flourishes. The main menu contains seven options. Overall, this is a useful, plain menu that gets the job done.


|
Select
|
Select All, Select by Date, Select Range, Slideshow
|
|
Layout
|
Borderless, Borders, Wallet, Mini-Wallet, ID, US Passport, 10 per page, Half Page, 2x2 in Photo, 3x3 in Photo, Proof Sheet, CD Index, Digital Size
|
|
Edit
|
Crop, Crop, Color Effect, Fix Photos (Auto Correct, Brightness, Saturation, and Sharpness with 5 settings, from -2 to +2 for each), Red-Eye Reduction, Decorate Photo (which adds small color illustrations to the photo), and Rotate.
|
|
Frame
|
Add Frame to Photo, Remove Frame from Photo, Update Frames. (Adds various themed frames, including Disney characters, sports, Christmas, and other cheesy selections.)
|
|
Save
|
Allows for saving photos to an external back-up device.
|
|
Maintenance
|
Nozzle Check, Auto Cleaning, Head Alignment, and Check Print Pack Status.
|
|
Setup
|
Date Stamp, Borderless Expansion, Bluetooth, DPOF Print Settings, After Printing (select to prompt, save settings, or clear settings), Language, Personal Settings (allows users to select specific settings as defaults), Photo View (choose how many photos to view at once), Reset Defaults, Operation Sounds, and Help.
|
Size / Portability (6.26)
The PictureMate Snap, at 6 x 5.7 x 8.5-inches, is about the size of a small car battery. It’s large, hinged handle snaps in place on the top, but it can be easily swung out of the way to the back. A flat rubber grip surrounds the central part of the handle, which makes it easy to carry even with sweaty hands. A more ergonomic handle would have been a nice touch, though. Still, the length of the handle will keep knuckles from scraping the top for sure. The printer weighs 5.3 pounds and is designed to be taken anywhere—even places without power outlets because of its optional battery. Epson also sells a carrying case, but the PM240 seems quite sturdy and portable on its own.
|