Suggestions on a new scanner

[darkcyber]

Ok, my Mustek 1200 UB Plus scanner finally has bit the dust on me. So, I'm in the market for a new scanner. I thought I would just get a simple all-in-one printer, scanner and copier. So, I purchased the Lexmark X3350 at my local WalMart. Hey, it's got 48 bit color scanning...must do pretty good...WRONG! That thing sucks big time...scanning is horrible. So, it's going back.

Now, to my question. Are there any of these all-in-one printer, scanner and copiers that have really good scanning? I really don't care about the printer quaility. I would mainly just use the printer part as a backup anyways. I want excellent scanning though...like my Mustek gave me. If I scanned a picture with it...then the scan looked exactly like the original...not like crap that the Lexmark did.

So, please...if you own one of these all-in-one deals and are getting excellent scan quality...please post and let me know.

I know prices vary...but I would like to stay around $100.00 or less. I know I can get a killer scanner for that...so if I can't get an all-in-one for around that price...I will just another scanner.

Thanks!

 

[Zepper]

I prefer separates. Epson is the brand I look at first. BestBuy is having a sale on all scanners now. Also check the Epson Clearance store on their web site - usually has 8 or more models available for decent prices and free ship too. And eBay has great bargains too. I bought my Epson there for $45. shipped and it was NIB. A lot of the big-box package deal scanners and AIOs end up on eBay NIB...

.bh.

 

[theslickvik]

Yea. Epsons are pretty good themselves. The one i have is a 3 in 1(CX4600) which has its pros and cons. The scanner works like a beauty but the printer bugs. The ink, especially the color, goes out real fast. And it has 4 cartridges which cost about 11 bucks each except the black which costs about 24. The ink refill kits dont work because it is hard to gauge how much ink to put in. Consequently this results in overfilling which culminates in purchasing new cartridges. Nonetheless, if your looking for a scanner go for an epson, and avoid Hp's at all costs. Trust me on this one

 

[Zepper]

Oh, and I don't recommend Epson for printers either stand-alone or AIO - expecially if they are to get infrequent use. Epsons clog too easily.

.bh.

 

[myrcgarage]

I am in the market for a scanner too. I prefer separate as well. However, I heard that Espon scanner software(at least the one I want to buy) wouldn't let you choose which drive to install the software into. It just installs onto the C drive. Is it true?

 

[Zepper]

The one I have is that way (1260 PHOTO). Epson's support is pretty quick so you can email them and ask and actually expect a reasonably quick answer. If you find that your's is that way, please follow up and ask if there are any plans to remedy this serious shortcoming and what is the timetable. Thanks.
. If you frame your question as a pre-purchase inquiry (I'm thinking of purchasing a (insert model no. here) scanner and I've heard...), they are even faster.

.bh.

 

[darkcyber]

Well, I got my Mustek 1200 UB scanner working again. This is an excellent scanner and glad I got it up.

I currently have a Canon S900 that we print alot of our digital photos on. It's old now...but still does outstanding quality. On my pc I have an old HP Deskjet 930c just to print text stuff with...so thus the reason I was going to look at one of those all-in-one deals. Thought even one of those would have better print quality than my old 930c. But got that scanner fixed and not in the market anymore right now.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Lemon law]

The only all in one printer that I can think of that comes bundled with a better than low quality scanner is the Canon MP760--at least its good enough to be half way decent with 35mm film.---not sure about the new chipped Canon's as I am boycotting those.

But do agree---you are better off with seperate scanner that meets your needs.