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Recommend a Scanner to me

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by martinr121, 2004/12/19.

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  1. 2004/12/19
    martinr121 Lifetime Subscription

    martinr121 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi all: As usual I could use a little help. About two months ago I decided to do away with my paper records and scan the stuff, like bank statements, car payment records, Electric, water and gas bills, the stuff I get monthly into My Documents, (backed up on another drive of course.) and throw the paper away. Just so much paper accumulates here.

    I started off with all good intentions, but, the scanner I have is so slow, I have started to neglect doing the work. I mean, by the time I get it fired up, it sits there and warms up the lamp, then does the scan, then I have to choose what the final size is going to be and then where to send the scan, Adobe Active share always wants the scan & I have to change the destination, then the darn thing scans the document again, then I get a message and progress bar that says it is sending the scan, the whole process takes so long as to discourage me from keeping up my good intentions.

    What I don't know is if this is normal or there are scanners on the market that don't have to warm up, and will scan, size and send really quickly?

    You know, like, put the document in, push the button, take the document out, put the next one in, push the button............

    Am I dreaming?? Does anybody have a scanner that's fast and easy they would recommend?

    All replies will be appreciated.

    Martin
     
  2. 2004/12/19
    Welshjim

    Welshjim Inactive

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    martinr121--Yes, there are scanners that turn on when you boot. In fact I am surprised yours does not have that option. (Read the manual?)
    I have a Visioneer 9350, which I do not know how much I recommend it (it is weak on copying faint print), but it starts on boot (in fact, there is no way to prevent it) so warm up is minimal. Its Desktop is very easy to use, and it can be configured to send copy/OCR scans to whereever you want. Its OCR is passable. Should be around $100 now.
    I am sure other scanners can say the same.
    Lots of reviews
    http://search.pcworld.com/query.htm...a&si=0&dt=an&ht=0&la=en&fl0=&op0=&qt=scanners
     

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  4. 2004/12/19
    martinr121 Lifetime Subscription

    martinr121 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Jim: Thanks for the response, I checked out PC Mags reviews. This scanner would load on boot if I let it, but I don't like a lot of stuff loading itself at startup, kind of like to keep that minimal. Even so, if loaded on boot, it still heats up the lamp before a scan. Then there is all that rescanning to send it to a program. I'm too impatient to be waiting like that, I could file away the paper 50 times faster.

    I have checked out several other review sites on the web, but have little faith in reviews, having experienced purchasing items with rave reviews and finding in practice the item failed to live up to the ballyhoo.

    Which is why I posted the question here, got a lot more faith in the opinions/recommendations of the members of the board than a professional review that gets a % if the item sells from their online referral.

    Thanks again for the response, and have a happy and safe holiday.

    Martin
     
  5. 2004/12/19
    tcd2000

    tcd2000 Inactive

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    Good Scanners

    Martin,
    I've tried several brands throughout the years and found the most critical issue with scanners is time and clarity. Clarity is a must, but most all scanners will scan a decent document once you get it set up right. Now time, there's where the difference comes in. I remember having to scan about 400 pictures in on my old scanner. Each one took about 2-3 MINUTES at high quality (300-600 dpi). By the time I got done with that project I KNEW it was time to start shopping. Which brought me to an HP brand scanner. My scan times went from 2-3 minutes down to 10-15 seconds. The scanner has the option of saving energy so the lamp needs to warm up, or keeping the lamp warm so it's ready when you are. An Hp coupled with a program like Paperport or Omnipage REALLY seems to work. The only problem I have is that the scanner will drop out depending on how many things I'm trying to do at one time and on one USB run. I just turn it off, turn it back on and it works. I've heard Epsons are good, but I'm sticking with what works for me. I'd rather spend my time creating, than waiting for the scanner to get done 5 minutes later! Good Luck.
     
  6. 2004/12/20
    Rockster2U

    Rockster2U Geek Member

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    Martin:

    For the use you are describing, stop looking and go buy a Fujitsu Scan Snap. This will cost you $350 - $400 depending on where you shop. First saw this little jewel about a year and a half ago and had to have one - no regrets whatsoever. Does 15 pages a minute with auto feed and will do single sided or duplex - all saved as PDF files. Combine this with something like PaperPort and your transition to a paperless office is well on its way. I have several clients now using this also and without exception, all swear that its one of the best investments they've ever made.

    Runs flawlessly and once you finally decide (don't worry, you will - its only a question of time) to wipe Catastrophy and start with a clean install, you will be a very happy camper. My highest recommendation for this scanner based on your outlined use. Not a good purchase if you want to modify grandpa's old photos - this puppy does PDF's, including graphics but not something like bmp's or jpeg's.

    ;)
     
  7. 2004/12/20
    martinr121 Lifetime Subscription

    martinr121 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Yikes Rockster! Gonna have to rob a bank!!

    Martin :D
     
  8. 2004/12/20
    Rockster2U

    Rockster2U Geek Member

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    Hope you don't go that far but this puppy will not disappoint - and, you will consider it a bargain once you use it. Nothing else comes close.

    ;)
     
  9. 2004/12/21
    irdreed

    irdreed Inactive

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    martinr121,
    IMHO, for whatever it's worth, I've been using Microtek Scanners for a number of Years. One big reason is because of their versatile Scanwizard, which I think is rated tops in the industry.
    My first scanners were Microteks E-3 and then later E-6 SCSI Models, which were somewhat slow, but the software that came with them at that time was excellent.
    My current scanner is a USB2.0 Microtek Scanmaker 5900. I do a lot of Photo work and Document copying, & some personal creative work. The Software I use for my Photo work is JASC Paint Shop Pro, and for my Document work I use Xerox Textbridge Pro.
    Of course if need be PSP will also copy documents in some sort of Photo Format, jpeg, etc if desired.
    Then when I finish a project I burn a CD or DVD for permanent archiving purposes.
    Again I like the versatility of the Microtek scanners because of their impressive Scanwizard.

    Hope this helps.
     
  10. 2004/12/21
    Rockster2U

    Rockster2U Geek Member

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    irdreed:
    I also have a Microtek USB 1.1 SlimScanC6 which I really like but for what Martin describes, the Fujitsu has no peer in its price range.

    ;)

    Martin C6 can be had here cheap.
     
  11. 2004/12/21
    martinr121 Lifetime Subscription

    martinr121 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi all: Maybe the Visioneer described here would be a good compromise, found it following Rockster's link, thanks guy.

    I'd like to get that Fujitsu, but the Visioneer is somewhat closer to the budget and seems to have the features I want.

    Any rants or raves on this particular scanner?

    Martin
     
  12. 2004/12/22
    irdreed

    irdreed Inactive

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    martinr121,
    I visited the link and it looks good to me for what you want to do.

    I also visited the site Rockster2U suggested on the Fujitsu model, and it's very impressive also.

    I still like the Microtek models though as I stated in my previous post, because of the Scanwizard and all of its selections that I can preset. Of course I do not use it very often for document scanning, since I specialize somewhat in Photo restoration etc.

    BTW Hope fishings good there. We're pretty well shut down here on Lake Erie.

    Good luck in whatever you choose.
     
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