Which scanner to get?

Rayder · Jun 22, 2003, 03:33 AM

Recently, our Umax 1220U scanner started messing up (nasty yellow color bars in the scans that vary from scan to scan). We need to get a new scanner, but UMAX is NO LONGER a consideration because of the fact that they want to charge for updated drivers.

We have one Microtech 4900, but they seems to have problems initialising with system bootup. I know other people that have had the same problem with a 4800. Plus the fact that there was no way to shut off the lamp without unplugging the unit. So Microtech is out.

HP is not a consideration either. They install invasive software in startup so forget them.

We generally use Paint Shop Pro for scan imports. What is a GOOD brand to go to with for quality and dependability and bang-for-the-buck? 1200x2400 is our target resolution.

Suggestions?

Dom · Jun 22, 2003, 03:35 AM

Canon.

Rayder · Jun 22, 2003, 05:28 AM

Thanks Dom. I'll let my brother know.

So, the Canon scanners work pretty well, eh?

dipstick · Jun 22, 2003, 02:25 PM

If I'm not mistaken Epson scanners are the ones to get. Every review I have read has been extremely positive.

Zardon · Jun 22, 2003, 02:57 PM

Epson scanners are great yes.

In saying that with Canon you can pick up a nice bargain over here.

toddsmack2k · Jun 22, 2003, 05:59 PM

Epson and Canon are excellent, You wouldnt go wrong with either IMO. I know what ya mean about the Hp's but i killed the BS they have and to be honest I like my 3500 so far. It does very good for what i want.

Zardon · Jun 22, 2003, 06:02 PM

funny I must be one of the only people alive who likes Hewlett Packard... I have a laserjet printer from them, and its fantastic ...... and I used to have a nice scanner as well, which I damaged moving house.......

**Roadee** · Jun 22, 2003, 06:11 PM

I'm with you Zardon........I love my HP Scanjet 4470c w/film adapter......takes excellent scans of my 35mm negatives.....just wish I would've waited a few more month's and got a USB 2.0 or 1394 interface!!! I have used the Microtek, Mustek, Umax, and Epson scanner's........I like my HP. Really from what I have seen and with everything pretty much the same from one manufacturer to the other you really can't go wrong with the HP, Epson, or Canon.......just make sure that you get either the USB 2.0 or Firewire interface......makes things alot easier when you are doing several scans or in a hurry.

toddsmack2k · Jun 22, 2003, 06:11 PM

Now dont get me wrong as far as the actual machines themselves I have no gripes. I have a HP 920 printer and HP scanner. Both have done great for the money but I think their software for the scanner is kinda buggy at times. They have a fix out that installed that helped to alleve the problem but it just still seems not very smooth. Performance wise they are pretty dang good but I think the software they have could use some tuning up.

tek · Jun 22, 2003, 06:26 PM

I have a HP PhotoSmart 1115 (bought it for $24.99 at compusa -- LMAO they had some kind of celebration so they had huge discounts and they had like 10 of these refurbished so I decided to get it since my epson wasn't doing the job...)

Amazing printer, I love it... and for $24.99? WHO wouldn't buy it? It has a digital display on it, support for 3 digital photo cards (which I dont use -- waste of space on the printer if you ask me).

But I also have had a HP ScanJet 4200C it WAS good back then (like 2-3 years ago) but now it just sux, its all dirty and I've tried everything to remove the dirt and its just impossible!!!! And I dont even install the drivers for it, I just let it use the WinXP drivers and then I edit/scan with Adobe Photoshop 7. I'm also looking for a scanner right now, so I'll take up your advice on the Canon and Epson.

By the way, my first comp ever (in 1998 I think...) was a HP Intel Celeron 500MHz / 64MB RAM / 15" Monitor / Intel built-in 3mb graphics

And let me tell you... I loved that thing, yeah thats about it... have a nice day

Dyre Straits · Jun 23, 2003, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rayder
Recently, our Umax 1220U scanner started messing up (nasty yellow color bars in the scans that vary from scan to scan). We need to get a new scanner, but UMAX is NO LONGER a consideration because of the fact that they want to charge for updated drivers.

We have one Microtech 4900, but they seems to have problems initialising with system bootup. I know other people that have had the same problem with a 4800. Plus the fact that there was no way to shut off the lamp without unplugging the unit. So Microtech is out.

HP is not a consideration either. They install invasive software in startup so forget them.

We generally use Paint Shop Pro for scan imports. What is a GOOD brand to go to with for quality and dependability and bang-for-the-buck? 1200x2400 is our target resolution.

Suggestions?

I know how you feel about UMAX. HOwever, I found an online download site for all the software and still have most of it.

About a year or so ago I got a UMAX Astra 4000U off a Clearance table at MicroCenter. It had either been previously opened or had a USB cable missing. I got the entire scanner for $42 plus tax. And I had to buy a USB cable for it for about $7.
I'm still using it now.

I also have the UMAX 1220S sitting up behind me on a shelf. I have all the parts for it, too. One reason, however, for me getting the USB version is due to the newer motherboard not having an ISA slot for the SCSI card. The cost of a PCI SCSI card would have been about $20 more than I paid for the entire package for the 4000U.

For my own purposes, I HAVE TO HAVE A LEGAL size scanner. Letter size just won't cut it.

If you have a PCI SCSI card and are interested in putting my 1220S into a new home, PM me. I have UMAX softward from Versions 3.51, 3.51-3.52, and 3.70.

Otherwise, good luck on your new scanner.

Necrosis · Jun 25, 2003, 02:21 AM

I've always liked Visioneer.

~~Sourcer_2002~~ · Jun 25, 2003, 03:35 AM

Epson all the way

Jun 22, 2003, 03:33 AM	#1
Rayder Mostly lurking lately.... Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 2,161 Rep Power: 73	Which scanner to get? Recently, our Umax 1220U scanner started messing up (nasty yellow color bars in the scans that vary from scan to scan). We need to get a new scanner, but UMAX is NO LONGER a consideration because of the fact that they want to charge for updated drivers. We have one Microtech 4900, but they seems to have problems initialising with system bootup. I know other people that have had the same problem with a 4800. Plus the fact that there was no way to shut off the lamp without unplugging the unit. So Microtech is out. HP is not a consideration either. They install invasive software in startup so forget them. We generally use Paint Shop Pro for scan imports. What is a GOOD brand to go to with for quality and dependability and bang-for-the-buck? 1200x2400 is our target resolution. Suggestions?

Jun 22, 2003, 05:59 PM	#6
toddsmack2k It Never..... Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,173 Rep Power: 0	Epson and Canon are excellent, You wouldnt go wrong with either IMO. I know what ya mean about the Hp's but i killed the BS they have and to be honest I like my 3500 so far. It does very good for what i want. __________________ [color=blue]*Bleeding From the Inside Pouring Out, The* *DriverHeaven* Spiral, We Shall Never Let Go Of.[/color]

Jun 22, 2003, 06:11 PM	#8
Roadee Never forgotten Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Rest In peace, Joe. Posts: 2,198 Rep Power: 69	I'm with you Zardon........I love my HP Scanjet 4470c w/film adapter......takes excellent scans of my 35mm negatives.....just wish I would've waited a few more month's and got a USB 2.0 or 1394 interface!!! I have used the Microtek, Mustek, Umax, and Epson scanner's........I like my HP. Really from what I have seen and with everything pretty much the same from one manufacturer to the other you really can't go wrong with the HP, Epson, or Canon.......just make sure that you get either the USB 2.0 or Firewire interface......makes things alot easier when you are doing several scans or in a hurry. __________________ We are born naked, wet, and hungry. Then things get worse.

Jun 22, 2003, 06:11 PM	#9
toddsmack2k It Never..... Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,173 Rep Power: 0	Now dont get me wrong as far as the actual machines themselves I have no gripes. I have a HP 920 printer and HP scanner. Both have done great for the money but I think their software for the scanner is kinda buggy at times. They have a fix out that installed that helped to alleve the problem but it just still seems not very smooth. Performance wise they are pretty dang good but I think the software they have could use some tuning up. __________________ [color=blue]*Bleeding From the Inside Pouring Out, The* *DriverHeaven* Spiral, We Shall Never Let Go Of.[/color]

Jun 22, 2003, 06:26 PM	#10
tek DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, US Posts: 2,103 Rep Power: 0	I have a HP PhotoSmart 1115 (bought it for $24.99 at compusa -- LMAO they had some kind of celebration so they had huge discounts and they had like 10 of these refurbished so I decided to get it since my epson wasn't doing the job...) Amazing printer, I love it... and for $24.99? WHO wouldn't buy it? It has a digital display on it, support for 3 digital photo cards (which I dont use -- waste of space on the printer if you ask me). But I also have had a HP ScanJet 4200C it WAS good back then (like 2-3 years ago) but now it just sux, its all dirty and I've tried everything to remove the dirt and its just impossible!!!! And I dont even install the drivers for it, I just let it use the WinXP drivers and then I edit/scan with Adobe Photoshop 7. I'm also looking for a scanner right now, so I'll take up your advice on the Canon and Epson. By the way, my first comp ever (in 1998 I think...) was a HP Intel Celeron 500MHz / 64MB RAM / 15" Monitor / Intel built-in 3mb graphics And let me tell you... I loved that thing, yeah thats about it... have a nice day __________________ [COLOR=White][/COLOR]

Jun 22, 2003, 03:35 AM	#2
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Canon.

Jun 22, 2003, 05:28 AM	Thread Starter #3
Rayder Mostly lurking lately.... Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 2,161 Rep Power: 73	Thanks Dom. I'll let my brother know. So, the Canon scanners work pretty well, eh?

Jun 22, 2003, 02:25 PM	#4
dipstick HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: USA Posts: 3,609 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	If I'm not mistaken Epson scanners are the ones to get. Every review I have read has been extremely positive.

Jun 22, 2003, 02:57 PM	#5
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Epson scanners are great yes. In saying that with Canon you can pick up a nice bargain over here.

Jun 22, 2003, 06:02 PM	#7
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	funny I must be one of the only people alive who likes Hewlett Packard... I have a laserjet printer from them, and its fantastic ...... and I used to have a nice scanner as well, which I damaged moving house.......

Jun 25, 2003, 02:21 AM	#12
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	I've always liked Visioneer.

Jun 25, 2003, 03:35 AM	#13
~~Sourcer_2002~~ BANNED Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Indiana , USA Posts: 2,677 Rep Power: 0	Epson all the way