[VENiM]

Ok, i've finally decided to get a scanner but i have no clue where to start looking. Could anyone give me a few websites with scanner reviews or something to help me make my decision? Also, if there's a particularily good scanner out there, plz tell me about it. I want a fairly good one, in terms of quality, with a decent price tag attached to it. thx.

[Pat]

I've owned many scanners for many different platforms. I'm particulary fond of mid-range to high-end AGFA scanners. Excellent color range and feature-packed, non-crashing software.

-Pat

[ToastyKen]

Try http://www.epinions.com/ . I recently got myself a Canon N650U for under a hundred bucks.. pretty good consumer scanner.

[zero21]

Basically you need to look at the dpi/resolution that the scanner has verus the reliability/price/how often you will use it. Latest release of mid-range scanners is probably the area you will be looking at.

Best advice is to goto the store and look at some models, then when you see a couple in your price range ring the HELP DESK for the brand/models your keen on. (DON'T ring SALES, ring the guys who KNOW what they're talking about and not just reading numbers off a spec's sheet)
The help desk will be able to tell you which models they have the least calls on (the least problems), more importantly they will give you the CORRECT info on compatibility issues. (If I had a dollar for every person who rang telling me that the "guy in the store told me it would work on my computer" , . . . . well you get the idea)

Lastly if you can (you may not be able to depending on the store) ask them to try the scanner your purchasing in the store before you take it home. (NEVER BUY THE DEMO/FLOOR MODEL). Flatbeds have moving parts and are not bullet proof!!! They get shipped and you can guarantee at least one or two somewhere will arrive at the store damaged. Or have been dropped at some stage of the journey by a dockyard worker or storeperson. Save yourself a trip/aggrivation if you can.

I know it sounds like a mission but you wanna cover yourself and save un-nessassary agro/time where ever you can.

take a look at the 2200 and 4300 models both pretty reliable.
www.hp.com

[ July 15, 2001: Message edited by: zero21 ]

[cybertoker2001]

Great reply zero21 !

Sorry. I just thought that was a very informative reply.

[Shirotsugh]

I've got an HP ScanJet 3400, and it's great. The quality is excellent, it has both parallel and USB connections, and it only costs (or did cost) $130 Canadian.

[cybertoker2001]

Well, I use a Hewlett Packard series 700 Office-jet printer. Which is an "all in one", meaning that it's a scanner,printer, copier and fax all in one. Now, the only problem with mine is that it's a "roll-through" scanner, so it doesn't fit anything bigger than 8.5"x11", but it makes a really clean scan. My mother uses an Epson scanner/printer and it's got a huge flat-bed scanner on it. The Epson's scan quality is unbelievably nice, but it's really expensive, like around $1200. My HP all in one only cost me around $350. But if you've got the money to spend you should go with an Epson.
That's my two cents.
Take it easy,
CT2001