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Need a recomendation for a FAST flat bed scanner!

mcveigh

mcveigh

Diamond Member
I don't know much about scanners but I need a reccomendation for one thats USB and works with Win XP Pro. I'm trying to find some thing to replace and old slow visioneer we have. Mainly we scann legal docs, no photos


Thanks!!
 
Every time I use the Epson 636u it always amazes me. The 636u is not a current model so maybe you can find one on eBay or something. Or go for one of Epson's newer 1250 scanners...I would think they would make new models at least as fast if not a tad bit faster...
 
I just bought the neew Hercules Scan@Home 48bit Scanner and it's very good. Fast and inexpensive (70$ CAN).
I recommend this one !
 
the reviews I've been reading at zdnet and cnet all show the HP's as being faster. anyone know some good reviews.

I'm kinda biased againt HP b/c otf their tech support
 
Unfortunately, I find the scan speed of USB to be less than acceptable. You'll want to look in to a SCSI unit if scan speed is a necessity. You'll spend more, yes, but it will be worth it ... 😀
 
What about fire-wire, would I see a big speed increase if I hooked it to a firewire port or even USB2.0 (if I find a scanner that supports it)

thanks folks!!
 


<< Unfortunately, I find the scan speed of USB to be less than acceptable. You'll want to look in to a SCSI unit if scan speed is a necessity. You'll spend more, yes, but it will be worth it ... 😀 >>



I agree. I haven't been able to find any modern SCSI scanners though. 🙁
 


<< Unfortunately, I find the scan speed of USB to be less than acceptable. You'll want to look in to a SCSI unit if scan speed is a necessity. You'll spend more, yes, but it will be worth it ... 😀 >>



i too am looking for a SCSI scanner as i find this scanner i have to be very slow



Jen
 
Epson, mostly because of the speed. Image quality is among the best, but quality varies much less than speed. Speed doesn't depend that much on the interface, and an old CNet review showed some parallel port scanners running faster than average while some SCSIs were among the slowest.
 
SCSI scanners slower than parallel port? LOL. I think you misread.

Parallel port scanners are the slowest. USB isn't much better.

SCSI scanners are not only the top performers, but have higher reliability and longevity. Much like other SCSI devices.

Also, since people are having trouble finding some SCSI scanners ... I'm using a Hewlett-Packard 7400C.
 
Epson is the way to go. For the price of an Epson Perfection 1250, you get really blazing speeds for a scanner and very good quality. Please try it for yourself if possible. I've seen people spend twice as much for HPs and damn they're slow and then there's even slower HPs. I know you may have brand loyaly, but Epson is the way to go. I've used them from the 636 scsi model and now own the 1240u and 1250.

I work in the IT field and have seen plenty of HP printers. None of theirs compare for this price.
 
Yeah, all the SCSI Hp's I have seen have seemed as slow as parallel scanners to me. It could be the software though.

I guess I haven't seen any really fast SCSI scanners myself. The fastest scanners I have seen are USB. But I personally hate scanners because it means scanning and playing with pictures and I got over that when the 5C was first out. I use mine because I have to, not because I want to. But my wife wants to start scanning her family pictures and so I am looking to invest (not much money because I would rather get a better processor or motherboard first......🙂) in a fast troublefree scanner. I will definately look into the Epson's because honestly I don't think I have ever seen one run. I really don't like HP's software so I would never consider one again unless that changed radically.

I did set up a Visioneer 8700 that was kinda nice (the autoscan feature in the software didn't work worth crap, but the programable buttons would be ideal for my wife). It was as fast as any SCSI scanner I have ever worked with, without the need for that one extra IRQ. I guess ACPI solved that little issue as long as it works for your setup.
 


<< What about fire-wire, would I see a big speed increase if I hooked it to a firewire port or even USB2.0 (if I find a scanner that supports it)

thanks folks!! >>



Epson Perfection 2450 supports both Firewire and USB 2.0. It scans 48-bit images at 4800x2400 resolution (twice that of Epson Perfection 1250). Also, if you want a SCSI scanner, Epson Perfection 1640 is your friend (do not confuse it with 1650!). Though it may have been discontinued recently (in favor of 1650 and 2450), you might still be able to find it selling somewhere.

Here is an awesome review of Epson Perfection 2450, written by a professional photographer. Very in-depth, even including some interested facts, for example that a color negative may be better scanned by being scanned in slide mode and then color-reversed in Photoshop, resulting in a sharper scan.

http://www.virtualtraveller.org/epson2450.htm

And you're welcome. 🙂

Leo
 
I have an Epson 1250 and, while I'm delighted with its amazingly accurate output, especially in such a bargain-priced machine, it is a slo-0-0-0-w device to operate. I would think its snail-like performance would rule it out as a candidate for office use. I understand the 1650 model is supposed to be faster, tho more pricey.
 


<< SCSI scanners slower than parallel port? LOL. I think you misread. >>


UMAX managed to make a SCSI that was slower than some parallel port scanners, and the type of interface doesn't affect scan speed because scanners transmit data slower than any interface can handle. And USB1 is slightly slower than the maximum speed of a ECP printer port.


<< SCSI scanners are not only the top performers, but have higher reliability and longevity. >>


How does SCSI improve the reliability of the fluorescent lamp's power supply, the CCD, or the scan motor?
 
My Umax 2200U scans pages/pics faster through the SCSI connection, but when you take into account everything else done in a project, the time spent scanning is only a small part. My next scanner will be firewire(that 2450 looks nice🙂) for the speed, low CPU usage, hot swapping and the thin cable.
 
Nice call, Leokor.

I have both the Epson 1640Photo (work) and the Epson 2450 (home). They both do a great job and are very fast. I had used a Microtek E6 for *years* and had wanted to stick with SCSI for the speed factor (and CPU utilization) at work.

The new 2450 is, frankly, mind-blowing, both with regards to scanning quality and speed. DieHardware is right, with regards to total scanning workflow, the time scanning is only a small part, it's usually the transfer time into PS that has me tapping my foot. I have even used the 2450 for 35mm slides in a pinch, it's clearly not a dedicated slide scanner, but depending on your final output size it does a darn good job. As always, when choosing a scanner, you have to keep the final output in mind. Where are the images going to be viewed? Obviously the web requires much less scanning "power" than print. If you are going to print the images (even as small as 6 x 4), going cheap is a false economy because you will spend far more time making them look good from a so-so scan. This is somewhat analogous to the issues that people face when choosing a digital camera.

If speed is the issue, in my experience, SCSI or Firewire is the way to go. And franky, given my recent experience with the 2450....now my SCSI scanner seems slow 😉.

If you can afford it, go for the Epson 2450. It will serve you well on all accounts and comes with an *excellent* software bundle.

Good luck,

fraz
 
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