Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Pro USB Large Format Scanner Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are looking for a scanner that can scan a full page of comic art in one pass then look no further. No more scanning in pieces and cutting and pasting pages together. The scan area has enough room for a full sized 11" x 17" comic page with room to spare. The extra software isn't great or bad, if you are already scanning into your chosen software you probably won't use it. Plus it's about the hardware and I am so glad I got this scanner, it has made scanning pages a lot easier.

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ScanExpress A3 USB Digital Scanner Tabloid Sized Scanner with Powerful USB Connection

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HP LaserJet Pro P1102w Printer (CE657A#BGJ) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this printer through a local retailer and was debating between the HP and a similarly priced wireless printer from Brother. The replacement toner cartridges are a bit more for the HP, but then again, they come with the drum assembly built in. This greatly reduces maintenance and potential hardware failures.
Setup:
As for setup, under Windows it's a snap. Put the CD in and follow the directions.
Under Linux (I'm using Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx)) the install was easy. I visited [...] web site and downloaded the drivers. From there, I just followed the directions on the web page and it works like a charm.
I've not used it with a Mac, but I did note that OSX is listed on the box.
Printer quality:
As for the printer itself. It has a very small footprint on the desk when the paper trays are not extended, and a small one when they are. It has excellent monochrome print quality and is very fast. As with all laser printers, the ink is waterproof once it's on the paper. I'd recommend it any day of the week.
The printer's body feels solid when you handle it. The input trays are similarly solid. The output tray feels a bit light, but as long as you aren't abusing the tray, it'll be more than sufficient.
HP Experience:
For me, HP printers are generally very reliable and always has good driver support both under Windows and Linux.

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HP LaserJet Pro P1102w Printer

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Epson WorkForce Pro GT-S50 Document Imaging Scanner Review

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(More customer reviews)For the last year and a half, I've been using a Fujitsu S510 SnapScan page scanner, which is a natural competitor to the Epson GT-S50. So, when I was offered the chance to review the Epson, it seemed like a natural fit - somebody looking to purchase one is likely to also look at the other. (Go to Fujitsu ScanSnap S510 Sheet-fed Scanner to read that review. It was fairly far down, on page 4, when I last looked.)
Let's look at the two scanners...
First of all, both scanners are top fed and scan both sides of a page in a single pass. They are infinitely faster than the scanners built into the "all-in one" printers and suitable for high volume scanning...the Epson is rated for 1200 pages per day.
The Epson GT-S50 comes with both TWAIN and ISIS drivers, giving it with a clear advantage in interfacing with software from other companies. Almost every program that can read from a scanner uses one or the other. The ScanSnap, on the other hand, uses its own proprietary driver, which only ties into their ScanSnap Organizer program...a program that displays small images of the scanned pages. Both scanners come with OCR programs, for converting scanned images to editable text, but, with the TWAIN driver, only the Epson directly interfaces with different programs - OmniPage Pro, Textbridge, or whatever else you prefer.
The Epson driver offers more choices in output resolution. Whereas the SnapScan has four levels - Normal (150dpi), Better (200dpi), Best (300dpi) and Excellent (600dpi) - the Epson has eight levels ranging from 75 dpi up through 600 dpi. For some strange reason, neither company's software allows you to name the output file before scanning. After scanning, you'll need to manually rename each file with something recognizable. (The default date/time stamp doesn't give you any useful information if you need to find a file a month later).
The Epson ships with software for both Macintosh and Windows systems. I've tested both versions in a mixed Windows/Mac network and they both work smoothly. The Fujitsu ScanSnap, on the other hand, comes in dedicated Mac (S510m)and Windows (S510) models. I've only used the Windows version.
Both scanners are similar in their physical shape, although the Epson looks quite a bit larger...it's about 1" longer, 2" taller and an inch or two deeper than the SnapScan. It holds 75 pages in the input slot, versus 50 in the SnapScan. The Epson has a two-line display on the front. The SnapScan only has "scan" and "power" buttons. Both units are solidly built and give the feeling that they'll last for a long time...I've used my SnapScan for 30K+ pages and it's still going strong. Both units have user replaceable pads and rollers to keep them running smoothly.
How do they operate in real life? To begin my testing, I fed the same 42 page document through each scanner. The document was complex as they come, with both text and color graphics on most pages. It was also laid out to be used in a vertical flip chart (letter-size, but bound on the short edge)...from the scanner's perspective, the back-side of each page was upside down. My theory was that a scanner that could make sense out of it could handle almost anything...
The Epson scanned my test document faster than the ScanSnap, but software processing of the scanned image took longer. The ScanSnap took 3min 10sec from the start of the scan to PDF file creation, without using text recognition; the Epson took 4min 6sec. The OCR software runs in the background on the SnapScan, but runs in the foreground on the Epson. Because of this, the SnapScan can be used to scan the next document while the text is being recognized, while the Epson remains busy until it's completely finished. My test document tied up the Epson for 12min 20sec from the time that I started the scan until the OCR finished and saved the file. My computer's no slouch, but a faster computer would obviously shorten that time. If you use an outside text recognition package, you can always run it at a later time and eliminate this time waster.
The ScanSnap features automatic rotation of upside down and landscape pages. (Everything is fed in vertically on both scanners.) The Epson doesn't...you get what you feed in. In my test document, the ScanSnap flipped the upside pages right-side up. The Epson left them upside down. Even with the upside down pages, the OCR worked fine.
The Epson can handle mixed page sizes in one scan. You can drop all your receipts in and have them scanned at once. The ScanSnap needs all the pages to be the same size in each scan...a longer page is assumed to be a misfeed and aborts the scan.
The Epson has a straight through paper path. It can handle credit card and ID Card scanning. The ScanSnap doesn't and can't. This makes the Epson perfect for a medical office where health insurance cards are always being copied.
The Epson can scan documents up to 36" long. The ScanSnap stops at legal size (14"). This is useful when you are scanning cash register receipts, but as a practical matter, I seldom run into anything else that's longer than 14"...at least not without also getting too wide for the scanner.
Using the default settings, the ScanSnap had a sharper output at 600dpi. Clicking the "unsharpen" box in the Epson software produced a scan that almost exactly matched the ScanSnap's output...why unsharpen actually sharpens is a mystery. In solid-color blocks, the Epson was clearly superior, producing a solid-color output. The ScanSnap had a lot of off-color noise that was clearly visible when enlarged.
The Epson also has the ability to drop out colors, which is useful when scanning something printed on colored paper. It would also be useful if you need to remove a red "confidential" or "top secret" stamp from a borrowed document. :)
Besides the drivers and other utility software, the Epson includes PaperPort 11 SE, which is a visual file organizer. It operates similarly to the ScanSnap Organizer. I didn't test it out...the last time I installed PaperPort 11 Pro (NOT the SE version), it messed up my computer so badly that I ended up reinstalling Windows to get rid of it. (If you have a minute to kill, go read the reviews on Amazon for PaperPort 11 Pro!) I assume that Epson's version is more reliable, but having been burned more than once, I'm not about to try any version of PaperPort ever again! Both scanners use the ABBYY FineReader software. It works nicely. The ScanSnap also includes a full version of Adobe Acrobat Standard...a $200 program if you were to go out and buy it separately.
So....which scanner would I buy? The short answer is that it depends on your application. If you're using both Macs and Windows machines, the choice is clear...the Epson works with both. Both scanners are built for years of use and each has unique features (e.g. card scanning) that point it in one direction or the other. The Fujitsu ScanSnap is designed to be a more "push the button and it goes" type of device. The Epson GT-S50 is more flexible. I like them both.
Update - August 3, 2009 - I've now had both machines running side-by-side for about five months. I now find myself almost always using the Epson instead of the ScanSnap. The reason is simple - the Epson NEVER double feeds. This may be a function of the newness of the Epson, but my Fujitsu isn't really that old, nor, at 19K pages has it seen much service. The double feeding has become a real problem...I have to carefully watch everything going through the SnapScan to make sure that it's not skipping a page. Not good.
Update #2 - November 14, 2009 - I upgraded one of my office computers to Windows 7 and the GT-S50 is working fine. There no drivers yet available for the ScanSnap S510...Fujitsu is estimating the end of December. Even their newer model, the S1500 won't have drivers for another couple of weeks.
I also need to add that I've have a less-than-satisfactory with Epson service. My GT-S50 keeps truckin' along, but another Epson scanner, a V500 Office started misfeeding after two weeks. Epson wouldn't ship me a replacement unit...their scanner service policy apparently requires that the scanner be delivered, at customer's expense, to a repair depot. That's not exactly the most customer-centric way of doing things...
Update #3 - January 27, 2010 - Fujitsu now has Windows 7 drivers available on their website. My s510 is now up and running.

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Epson WorkForce Pro GT-S50 Document Image Scanner B11B194011 1051

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Epson Expression 10000XL Large-Format Flatbed Photo Scanner Review

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(More customer reviews)This scanner is wonderful. The image quality is excellent. I had friends wondering if I should spend so much on a scanner, then when they saw the images of plants I made, they said "How does it make that look so much better than life?"!
Be careful when scanning non-paper items such as plants or ceramics, the glass can be scratched (on this or any scanner). I buy clear acetate or plexiglass to put on top of the glass in such cases.
As a botanical illustrator, I find this scanner to be a great timesaver. I can scan and enlarge the parts of a plant I need to illustrate, seeing detail much better than through a microscope.

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The 10000XL photo edition is a large-format flatbed scanner designed for graphic artists and other high-end users. With its high 2,400 dpi scanning resolution, 48-bit internal color depth, and 3.8 optical density, images are crisp and accurate, while the six-line alternated color CCD and auto focus optics system help to ensure that you get the best scans possible.
Scan speeds are as high as 2.7 ms/line at 1,200 dpi, while an optional automatic document feeder allows you to scan multiple pages at a time. An included transparency adapter lets you scan positive and negative 35mm and medium format transparencies and film up to 5" x 4", making it easy to get great scans every time. You can also zoom in 1% increments anywhere from 50% to 200%.
The 10000XL connects to your computer via its standard USB and Firewire ports, while an optional network adapter lets you use the scanner as a network resource. The AC 100-120V power supply consumes less than 55 watts during normal operation and about 6 watts while in sleep mode. The software includes EPSON Scan 2.2, MonacoEZcolor with reflective IT8 Target, Photoshop Elements 2, ABBYY FineReader Sprint OCR, and LaserSoft Imaging SilverFast SE 6. Compatible with both PC and Mac operating platforms, the 10000XL comes backed with a one-year limited warranty.
What's in the Box Scanner, CD-ROM with software and drivers, power cable, user's manual and documentation, USB cable, transparency adapter

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Pentax DSmobile 600 Scanner Review

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(More customer reviews)We use this scanner to digitally file our statements and bills. It scans quickly and quietly, without the need for an adapter and without taking much space on one's desk. It partners well with Adobe Acrobat -- we have Acrobat Professional which allows us to crop document edges if the original is less than 8.5 x 11 -- and I've seen no software compatability issues with Windows XP Home or XP Professional. It also allows you to continuously scan multiple page documents (as opposed to scanning each page as its own PDF file).
The one criticism that I have has to do with the software that accompanies the scanner. It does not apparently remember the last settings (e.g., resolution, color vs B&W, and destination directory) so you have to re-enter all of these each time you sit down to scan.
We haven't tried using it for any graphics purpose, but from what I can tell, it's not likely to perform like a flatbed scanner for this purpose, at least for serious graphics work. For a casual scan of a photo for a document or a webpage, it would probably work just fine.
Absolutely satisfied!

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Weighing in at less than 12 ounces and measuring just 11 inches wide, the Pentax DSmobile lets you carry around all you need to scan everything from a business card to an 8.5 by 14 inch document. The scanner draws power from its USB interface so no clunky AC adapter is needed. Bring it along with you and you can instantly transmit a printed page via email, fax, or the web. The scanner has a hardware optical resolution of 300 dpi and the included OCR software automatically converts the document to editable text.
The scanner uses a Contact Image Sensor (CIS) to achieve its smaller volume and lighter weight, and also requires less power consumption and lower maintenance than a traditional CCD. The DSmobile has few moving parts, which promotes high reliability and nearly maintenance-free operation. It consumes only 0.2 watt of power in standby mode and a maximum of 2.2 watts of power when scanning. The Pentax DSmobile 600 Scanner is compatible with Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. It is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box DSmobile 600 scanner, leather case, 35-inch USB cable, user's manual, instllation guide, software CD, calibration card, and two 5x7-inch photo-scan sleeves.

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HP SJ8300 Professional Image Scanner (Silver/Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I spent three hours with HP technical support trying to make this thing work. The things they had me try were basic, like removing and then reinstalling cables, cycling power, and like. Gee why didn't I think of that?
They blamed everything else but the scanner. When I refused to reinstall the hardware yet again, HPs solution was to request I buy a more expensive HP product.
I remember when HP produced quality products. Not anymore!

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The HP Scanjet 8300 Professional Image Scanner offers professional image quality for every scanning need. With its simple, fast, and reliable operation, you can scan, edit, and restore your images in seconds. It's designed for optimum productivity while saving you time. Plus, the Scanjet 8300 also offers a copy option that lets you immediately send your scan to the printer.Special Features The Scanjet 8300 lets you create high-resolution professional scans for graphics, photos and documents. With the touch of one button, you can scan original documents into several different formats. It's also a snap to adjust resolution to fit any job and you can scan up to 4800 x 4800 dpi for high-quality, custom images. The Scanjet 8300 also has a 48-bit depth and can scan images and documents up to 8.5 x 14 inches. Perhaps the most important feature, however, is this scanner's speed. The Scanjet 8300 works incredibly fast, leaving you plenty of time for other things. For example, it can scan a 4 x 6-inch photo into Microsoft Word in less than 24 seconds; it can also scan an email photo in less than 25 seconds. To ensure color accuracy, and to edit and restore your images, you can rely on the included Adobe Photoshop Elements software.Productivity and Performance One of the most convenient and efficient features of the Scanjet 8300 is the one-touch button that sends a scan directly to your default printer. This lets you see your results immediately, without having to go back and forth between machines. In fact, all the common tasks you'll need to perform with the Scanjet 8300, including creating PDFs and other popular file formats, require only one touch of a button. This scanner also can help you maintain a high level of productivity by offering file management solutions. Simply utilizing the included software package to help you organize your digital files and documents.Versatile Photo and Document Scanning The Scanjet 8300 offers enhanced photo capabilities plus versatile document scanning in one sleek unit. You can scan up to eight slides, and using the integrated adapter, 18 negatives or medium and large-format film. A legal-size, landscape-oriented scanning bed accommodates a variety of paper sizes, and you can fit books, 3-D objects, and other large, bulky items under the adjustable lid.Included Software The Scanjet 8300 comes with a variety of software, including: HP Photosmart Essential Software for Microsoft Windows, HP Photosmart Premier software for Windows, HP Photosmart Studio software for Macintosh, ScanSoft PaperPort (Deluxe for TKC, Windows only), NewSoft Presto! PageManager (Macintosh only), Adobe Photoshop Elements (v 2.0.2 for TKC: Windows 2000, XP Home, XP Professional, Macintosh only), and I.R.I.S. Readiris Pro OCR.What's in the Box HP Scanjet 8300 scanner, built-in 4x9-inch transparent media adapter and film templates for scanning slides and negatives negatives, Hi-Speed USB cable, power code, setup and support guide, customizable button labels, and software CD-ROMs.

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iVina BulletScan M80 Mobile Color Duplex Scanner (M802080) Review

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(More customer reviews)This scanner is not very big, very conveinient to use and manage files, fast scanning process
and usefull tool to have. it comes with twain software and other helpful pdf tools from adobe.
I travel alot so its great to take it with me everywhere I go. scans in color and in black and white, multiple pages in less than a minute.
This is a Social writeup

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Canon PIXMA iP100 Mobile Photo Printer Review

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(More customer reviews)We bought this little gem to take to Europe. First impressions are very favorable. It's small, reliable, and prints beautifully. At just over four pounds, it's perfect for travel.
The little Bluetooth adaptor also works very well. Reading the manual (!), I discovered it is possible to mount the adapter permanently inside the printer so that it's not exposed and doesn't need attachment every time it is used. This is a simple procedure, and enhances the usefulness of the Bluetooth capability that is all but de rigueur when traveling. The installation / setup information is also in the electronic manual that comes on the CD.
But as good as the printer is, it does not come with (nor does Canon offer) a case of any kind. I found the perfect solution - from Case-Mate: go to http://www.case-[...] and buy the 'Glovez 15"' sleeve (like a large envelope with a velcro closure / flap). It comes in an assortment of colors and is a skin-tight (but very workable) fit in the 'length' direction. When inserted, the printer doesn't take up every bit of the case in the 'width' direction, meaning there is just enough room to also accommodate the cord and AC brick. Throw these in, close the flap, and you're always ready to roll.
Best part: this 'Glovez' sleeve is only $9.99 + $3.99 S/H, and gets to you in a few days. It's not bulky - just what one wants to protect the printer but not take up room. (As an aside, the Case-Mate Glovez 13" [for the MacBook 13" and Air] fits the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 perfectly).
March 8, 2011: Came back (for the first time) to look over some of my reviews, and thought I would update this one. We took the printer to Europe for a month in the summer of 2008 (and, as noted by one of the commenters, it does indeed have a built-in usable voltage range of 100 - 240V, 50 - 60 Hz, so one needs only an adapter for local outlets, and not a transformer of any kind). It performed flawlessly then, and continues to do so today.
We take it everywhere. It goes in the bag wherever we go on vacation, or on business, and has never missed a beat. It sets up in an instant as soon as you get to your hotel room - so easy to use. As stated before, I highly recommend the internally-mounting bluetooth adapter; it's never in the way, impossible to lose, and reliable. OK: Canon gets a small demerit for not building it in in the first place, but... With today's wireless-built-in portable PCs and other devices, it's a snap to hook up to the Internet within moments of arriving at your hotel, then send maps, proposals, anything else, etc. to the printer with no cables whatever. Especially good when both of us have our laptops out at a hotel room: we can both send jobs to the printer across the room without getting in each other's way. It's quick, reliable, durable, with various 'quality levels' available - and I highly recommend it for mobile use.
I know Canon also makes a battery that 'bolts-on' to the back of this printer. For my application, the additional $100 wasn't worth the extra bulk - to achieve a freedom from the electric grid that I didn't need. But if you conduct business in your pickup, or out in the field, it would certainly make sense: put the printer on the passenger seat and produce a customer invoice, etc. on the spot.
I seldom wax so enthusiastic over a product, and have been known to be excoriatingly critical of poor designs / execution. But Canon hit the nail dead center with this product: if you're in the market for a genuinely useful, rugged, portable printer - get it. You will not regret the decision.

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Amazon.com Product DescriptionCanon's stylish iP100 Mobile Printer travels with you, delivering outstanding photo print quality wherever you are. Thanks to a blazing sprint speed, you can have a beautiful 4 x 6 inch print in less than a minute. The iP100 is perfect for traveling photographers, vacationers making their own post cards, businessmen who need to make the perfect color presentation on the road, and anyone else who wants a high-quality print anywhere.
Outstanding Prints from a Tiny Device At a compact 12.7 x 2.4 x 7.2 inches (WxHxD) and weighing in at a scant 4.4 pounds, the iP100 is a rugged, attractive device that is easy to slip into your briefcase or traveling bag. You can further increase the portability by adding the optional car adapter or battery kit.
Don't mistake compact for low-quality. The iP100 produces spectacular photos at 9600 x 2400 dpi. Canon's patented print head with 1,856 precision nozzles ejects ink at droplets as small as 1 picoliter for incredible photo realism and accuracy. Together with the 5-color ink system, you are ensured the highest quality output. All without a long waiting: a photo lab-quality 4 x 6 inch borderless print takes about 55 seconds. For printing documents, the iP100 can print black-and-white documents at up to 20 ppm and color documents at up to 14 ppm.
Print from Macs and PCs and Directly from Cameras The Canon PIXMA iP100 is compatible with Windows Vista/XP/2000 and Mac OS X v 10.2.8 to 10.5.x, connecting via a USB interface. Additionally, it also has a built-in IrDA interface and an optional Bluetooth interface, letting you print wirelessly from a PC, PDA or camera phone. The printer also supports the PictBridge interface for connecting compatible digital cameras and printing photos directly -- without a PC.
There is no need to worry that you weren't first able to touch up a photo when printing directly from the camera; Canon's Auto Image Fix lets you automatically correct for exposure, color, brightness, and contrast.
The Canon PIXMA iP100 photo printer is backed by toll-free technical support and a 1-year limited warranty with InstantExchange program.
What's in the Box iP100 mobile printer, document kit (quick start guide, leopard information sheet, easy setup instructions, setup software & user's guide CD-ROM, user guide), ink cartridges (one black, one color), AC adapter, power cord, print head, bundled media MP-101, sample media PP-201.

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Wolverine Data F2DS03-MAG Magnetic Slide Tray Review

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(More customer reviews)If you have someone to help you scan your slides, having a couple of extra trays makes things go much faster. The Wolverine scanner we bought only came with one slide tray. With more than one available, someone can load and unload trays while you scan the images, making the process go about twice as fast.
If you are scanning more than a few slides, extra trays are a must in my opinion.

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Brother MFC5895CW Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner, Copier and Fax Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this to scan and make the occasional copy. I have another printer I make color copies on. It is perfect for what I bought it for. It was easy to set up and comes with software to scan with. I think Amazon has a better price than where I bought it from. I have it plugged into my home network but it has wireless if I ever need it. I am happy with the purchase!

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HP® Scanjet G4050 High-Speed USB Photo Scanner, 4800 x 9600dpi Review

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(More customer reviews)I have almost 2000 mounted slides from the 60-70's and wanted a fast scanner to download them into my laptop. I can do 16 slides per scan which takes about 5 minutes to finalize. It is the fastest one I found after research for the price (just under $200). quality of the images is very good.

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Innovative Technology The Ultimate Film and Negative Scanner (ITNS-500) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this product and needed to get some assistance with saving the converted images from negatives. I emailed their "support" address at support@ithomeproducts.com three times in a week for help. After a week and not receiving an email back, I decided to call their help line to try and get the issue resolved. Once on the phone with a rep, he was very short and completely oblivious towards the situation and lack of response via email. He didn't apologize at all for the inconvenience but ask for the model number twice (apparently he wasn't listening the first time) and needed my full name, email address and additional information before he was able to answer my question. I ended the conversation more aggravated than before the call. I thought my question was fairly simply and the problem easily solved, but this company isn't concerned about customer satisfaction. As far as the actual product goes, it is a fairly inexpensive model and so you get what you pay for. If you need to convert negatives to .jpg format to reprint, the quality isn't that great. In all honesty, maybe the photos would print clearer if the pic was saved, but I wouldn't know. Good luck if you purchase this, hopefully you won't need company support. I returned the item and will not purchase from this company in the future.

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NEW 3-in-1 Digital Photo/Negative Films/Slides Scanner with built-in 2.4" LCD Screen with FREE 32GB SD Memory Card (SVP PS9700-32GB) Review

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(More customer reviews)I hesitated to purchase this product but now I am so glad I did. It is so easy to to do - read the instructions - it's most important to do that. I lost a picture inside the machine because I rushed through the directions. It did come out with a bit of coaxing and shaking of the machine. It takes about 3 seconds to slide the picture in and push the buttons and it's done. As much as it "hurts" to toss old pictures the fact that this is done now is great and I did not have to tie up my computer during the process. Using your pc is such a slow slow process compared to this. Excellent product - and it came with a 32G card makes an even better deal.

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Epson Expression 10000XL- Graphic Arts Scanner Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this recently because I wanted to upgrade from my old scanner, the Microtek 9800XL large format scanner.
I create highly detailed scratchboard line art and wanted a scanner that could capture the best possible scans of my work, which I can color digitally and send out to clients in electronic form. (I wasn't confident that my old scanner was doing the job as well as I hoped for.) Both the new and the old scanner are large format but the Epson 10000Xl is more than twice the cost of the Microtek 9800XL. Do I think the upgrade is worth it? Without a doubt.
Here is a list of cons associated with the Microtek that made me take the risk to upgrading:
1. Quirky driver. Sometimes the software could not find the installed driver and I had to restart the computer several times before it would work.
2. Microtek support is practically useless.
3. Very noisy operation
4. Scans required a lot of post production to arrive at the best capture of detail between dark and light tones. I had to scan in grayscale @ 1200dpi, make adjustment with Photoshop before converting to bitmap. With this scanner, the B&W bitmap scanning option was not capturing all the details.
The Epson, in comparison, has been a joy to own. Not only are the results much better, but the unit scans straight to B&W bitmap flawlessly, saving me time in post processing. I do need to clean the scan from unwanted specs but that is still a 50% reduction of time spent getting it optimized. The unit is also much quieter, has a slightly larger scan area, and built with superior design and parts. The lid stays open when raised at an angle whereas the Microtek was a slave to gravity.
After owning it about a month, there have been no problems to report. Since my livelihood relies on the quality of the images I produce, its a good investment and well worth the cost.

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The Epson Expression 10000XL graphic arts edition is a large-format flatbed scanner designed for graphic artists and other high-end users. With its high 2,400 dpi scanning resolution, 48-bit internal color depth, and 3.8 optical density, images are crisp and accurate. The six-line alternated color CCD and auto focus optics system help to ensure that you get the best scans possible. Scan speeds are as high as 2.7 ms/line (at 1,200 dpi), while an optional automatic document feeder allows you to scan multiple sheets at a time. You can zoom in 1% increments anywhere from 50% to 200%.
The software bundle includes a variety of applications to help you easily achieve the best scan results possible. Titles include EPSON Scan 2.2, MonacoEZcolor with reflective IT8 Target, Photoshop Elements 2, and ABBYY FineReader Sprint OCR. The 10000XL connects to your computer via its standard USB and Firewire ports, and an optional network adapter lets you use the scanner as a network device. The AC 100-120V power supply consumes less than 55 watts during normal operation and about 6 watts while in sleep mode. Compatible with both PC and Mac operating platforms, the 10000XL comes backed with a one-year limited warranty.
What's in the BoxScanner, CD-ROM with software and drivers, power cable, user's manual and setup documentation, USB cable

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Ion 35mm Photo Negative and Slide Converter to PC (SLIDES2PC) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have a large amount of my dad's 35mm slides, mainly from the 50's and 60's. I wanted to digitize them for him for a Christmas gift. I checked into services that do this professionally and found them to be out of my price range as I literally have around 700-900 that I want digitized. Next step was to look for a scanner to do it myself.
The best (Nikon w/Digital ICE) also out of my price range. So I landed on the Ion Slide2PC. I figured, this would at least get them into 'viewing' quality. At 5megapixels in a decently high res right?
I also got a rocket blaster and a static master to clean the slides before hand and cleaned each before starting with a puff of air and a brush of the static master.
I put the slide2pc the on it's highest setting and went to work. While they aren't Nikon quality, I must say that I'm impressed with the output. I wish that I could tweak the lighting a little so the under and over exposed would come out a little better but with a little photo shop magic, I'm even able to fix those up.
Most are print quality - not perfection as the lines aren't as sharp as perhaps they would be with a more expensive scanner, but many look excellent.
Really I was patient. I gave it the requisite 5 seconds for the white balance between snapshot and transfer. and I did all in .tiff so I could edit each if necessary.
I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to save money as it's quick and effective at digitizing your slides. I have not tested it on film negatives.

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Canon CanoScan LiDE 30 Scanner Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this scanner specifically for the task of digitizing a box of old, disintergrating/fading old family photos, almost all being Black&White. I tried a few photos at a local copy place, but the $18 per hour (plus $10 CD burning fee) quickly convinced me that I could purchase a scanner for a lot less than what it would cost to scan the photos on an hourly fee basis.
With a few dozen exceptions, this scanner was able to satisfactorily scan my old photos. Even though this scanner has a number of limitations, I gave the scanner the top rating because it did perform as described/intended and is a good value for the dollar. I would buy this unit again. The ease of hardware and software installation was a pleasant surprise, and are easy to use. Even the included OCR software suprised me with the quality and accuracy of the resulting Word or PDF documents; it even could, with a little tweaking, scan and convert tabular information. (This is an added, unexpected benefit, as I have a 200+ page document, mostly tables, that I have always intended to convert to PDF format but postponed the task due to the emense retyping involved.)
I have always disliked the "Stars" and "Best Buy" rating systems as I have been 'bitten' several times when I bought some highly rated products. No product is perfect; all have things that it can do well, and some things it can't do well (or at all). If you are unfortunate enough to buy a top rated product that can't do the one thing that you need it to do, top rated or not, you have wasted your money. [It is interesting to note that many 'impartial reviews' tend to rave about a product's good points and 'gloss over' deficiencies.]
So, you should be aware of what this scanner could NOT do for me:
.It does not scan transparencies (I had one 4 X 6)
.It has a VERY limited depth of focus: things not in intimate contact with the scan plate WILL be out of focus (a dozen or so photos mounted on stiff, warped backings could not be satisfactorily scanned, even with a phone book on the scanner cover)
.The scan plate is recessed making scans of oversized items impossible: the item is not in contact with the glass and thus out of focus (I had a couple of oversized photos and a few 8 X 10 photos permanently mounted on an oversized backing/frame that could not be scanned satisfactorily)
Also, the unit is a bit 'flimsy' (dropped my mechanical pencil on the cover and it left a 'door dingy') and the cover not heavy enough to flatten the folds even in standard paper to maintain full scan plate contact without assistance (phonebook).

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Canon Lide30 Flat Bed Scanner

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iVina BulletScan M40 Mobile Color Photo Scanner (M401040) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this scanner for copying ID's for loan closings and things of that nature.

Unfortunately ID's are very nearly too thick to scan. If you use either of the included sleeves, a sleeve is used to pull the photo, receipt, etc through the scanner in an even manner, then the ID will be too thick and it will jam. Okay, so don't use the sleeve you say. Here's the problem with that. There appears to be only one drive wheel to pull the item to be scanned through the scanner and it's flush to the left. No matter in which orientation you try to scan the ID it will at best just skew, significantly enough that the auto-deskew can't correct it. However, it's more typical that it more than just skews the ID as it usually jogs around and may jam as well. In my experience, scanning ID's a no go.
As for photos, receipts, etc they seem to work fine when using the sleeve(s). Hence the three stars.


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