| Scanners Reviews : Flatbed |
 | Epson Perfection 4490 Photo Scanner
upgraded from epson 4180 to 4990 -- 2010-02-26
We have had an Epson scanner since 2006, recently it just didn't perform like it should, so we bought the equivalent Epson 4990. The scanner is great, but the software that came with it is much to be desired.
It has Presto bizcard which we cannot use on ANY of our computers. We have a Windows 7 PC and 3 Mac's(bizcard only works with windows, only not 7). Also it came with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2, which there is a current version 8.
This is truly an insult. Just beware if you just want to use the scanner it's a great tool, otherwise the software is antiquated.
Perfection realized-4490 Photo -- 2010-02-25
It took less then 10 minutes to get set up with Windows Vista and test this out. My number one reason for buying was for the 35 MM slide archive I have and want to convert my favorites to digital images. I had heard stories about scanners trying to capture the 35MM slide image and my dad who is a photo buff had an HP sometime back and got so dissatisfied he went to an outfit to get slides converted for more then I paid for the EPSON. The result, it blew away all expectations. I was able to digitize easily at 8Meg and pop it onto my plasma 50" screen with amazing results of the Virgin Islands taken 25 years ago. (I actually had to throttle back from 1200 DPI because it produced an 18Meg file.) Colors were rich and detail was crisp. I haven't had a chance to test it with old photos yet but for converting the slides it was worth every dime and more.
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 | HP ScanJet 5590 Digital FlatBed Scanner
All You Need To Know: Search Google For "Paper Jam + ScanJet 5590" -- 2010-03-06
I can't believe HP made this pathetic product. Every 5th paper jams with the automatic document feeder. I should have done my homework on Google, which has plenty of nightmare stories about this product. I returned this product and bought a printer/scanner combo with an auto document feeder. It works great and cost about 60% less. Ironically, it is also an HP product.
Great HP name, poor execution -- 2010-01-19
This is really not a horrible product. HP claims on its site that this scanner is compatible with Mac OSX 10.6 Not until after I got the scanner and tried to download the software that I discovered HP did not plan to release 10.6 software til the coming spring. Besides that i'm sure it works great with other computers...The duplex is really truly slow... unlike other duplex scanners that scan both sides of the page at the same time, this scanner scans one side, then flips the page around, scans the other side, flips it around AGAIN to spit it back out the other end....quality was decent, scans were typically straight, and clear...file sizes were larger than normal, but that was HP's software... Instead I decided to use my brother All in one laser copy fax to scan everything in using the Automatic Document Feeder....It was only $99 compared to HP's $259, its faster, and produces smaller PDF sizes....PLUS...works PERFECTLY with Mac OSX 10.6-
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 | Mustek ScanExpress A3 USB 1200 Pro - Flatbed scanner - A3 - 1200 dpi x 1200 dpi - USB
Best Value For The Bucks!! -- 2010-03-08
I signed on to find a large format scanner and was surprised to find that I already have the best deal going. I am on the second Mustek scanner after I broke the first (this was due to my negligence). I scan items to post on a website for sale, so they do not have to be perfect, but clear enough to see details,etc. I initially purchased 2 of these because they were such a good price, and I certainly don't regret that decision; this scanner is worth the money and more. Looking at prices for large format scanners, you will not find a better deal, and this scanner does hold up as I have had mine for some time now. I scan fashion-related items- large magazines,etc.- and have used it to scan various sized objects and it has handled them all. After reading the other reviews, I won't be looking again until something happens to this scanner, at which time, I will just buy another Mustek (for that matter, I may buy another now to have as a backup; at this price, you can afford it).
Yes! My tiling days are over! (mostly) -- 2010-02-18
A friend just put out a question about scanners, which prompted me to remember to review this one. I was recommended to this little guy by a friend who purchased one and recommended it then to me. I appreciate personal recommendations, so I went with the Mustek.
In a nutshell, it's great. The entire base is not-much-larger than the 11x17 scanning area, so it doesn't take up much more desk space than that. The scans are good, the warmup time and response are fast, and it's compatible with my MacBookPro (I'm running Leopard OSX 10.5.4 though, not Snow Leopard, so I can't testify to it's functioning with any other OS). It has no preset buttons on the scanner itself, but I never really used them, so that didn't bother me.
My only complaint - and it's not even a complaint, because, hey, it works great now - was the less-than-ideal scanning interface. I still haven't necessarily figured out the BEST way to scan, but the dance I ended up doing was this:
Open the Application "Image Capture" > Devices > Browse Devices... > hit the "Use TWAIN UI" button next to the scanner, and you're up. You can, from there, automate your scans to open in Photoshop, etc. easily. I guess my only real complaint was that I had to figure that out by myself, because the included-instructions are rather limited.
Seriously though: where else are you going to find an 11 x 17 flatbed for this price? It's an issue for artists with limited wallets (read: most artists). This little workhorse gives me good quality scans quickly, and I paid less than $200 for an 11 x 17" scanner. Sweet. I love not having to tile most of my work in Photoshop anymore. Thanks, Mustek.
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 | Epson Expression 10000XL Large-Format Flatbed Photo Scanner
AWESOME!!! -- 2008-11-25
This is a awesome scanner. We are using it in our photo lab as a replacement to an old agfa duoscan. WOW...I love that several photos can be placed on the bed and scanned in two clicks!! Great color & well worth every penny!!
Go with this scanner! -- 2008-10-27
This scanner is wonderful! I work for my local historical society and this is the scanner that we use to do all of our digital preservation. We use it to scan large format negatives and it works like a dream.
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 | Canon CanoScan LiDE 30 Scanner
Solid scanner, awful OSX drivers -- 2009-03-13
The CanoScan Lide 30 is a solid, inexpensive flatbed scanner. It works well with Windows, but don't consider buying it if you're looking for a solid, inexpensive flatbed scanner to be used with under OSX.
The drivers provisioned by Canon are an insult to everything ever created by man, and are the digital equivalent of a broken sewage pipe leaking into your living room.
Okay, so this is hyperbole, yes. Let me try again.
The newest drivers are from 2008, are basically the same than the previous version from 2007, and even back then they were already outdated. The main desktop interface is an application called "CanoScan Toolbox X" which successfully manages to throw away years and years of UI design and even logic. It looks awful, it's unbelievably clunky, and most importantly, it barely works. After a lenghtly and confusing installation of both this "tool" and the actual drivers (which are even older than the tool) you'll basically have to jump through hoops if you want to scan anything. For example, if you want to use the scanner using Photoshop, you'll have to run PS in compatibility/Rosetta mode.
Oh yeah.
So, to sum up: it's a neat piece of hardware, but for your own sake, stay away from it if you're a Mac user.
Still a good scanner, 4 years later -- 2008-09-24
I bought this scanner back in 2004. I do a lot of digital art and at the time I needed a scanner that will scan in very high resolution. Resolution can get up to 1200 x 2400 dpi. Usually I only need 600, but it's great having the option. 4 years later I'm still using it, and it still works perfectly. The only problem is it's slow, and a little loud when it's scanning. This is worse depending on how high you have the resolution set. But I wont be replacing it any time soon because for now it completely meets my needs.
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 | Xerox DocuMate 510
Great scanner, in spite of what you may read elsewhere -- 2009-09-18
I purchased this scanner for home use after using an identical one at the office for several months. The main thing that I intend to use it for is document scanning-I don't really need to digitize photos or anything like that.
I work in a field that tends to create LOTS of paper-it's a government job, and I think that's "nuff said." I've been working toward making my team's paper output significantly less. We've been trying to create as little paper up front as possible, and making everything else that we can later on into PDF files. The paperwork that we produce initially in the field is what we've been using this scanner for, and it works beautifully. I can take a pile of paperwork and reduce it to electronic files in a matter of minutes, and then go on with making the rest of the file electronic.
I really like the automatic document feeder. I read in some reviews that it had a tendency to jam, but in my experience, the jams are few and far between, and easy to fix when they happen. I think that the jamming problem probably comes from overloading the ADF in most cases. I've also had issues with sheets that were stapled together, but if you completely separate them and rub the staple piercings down before feeding them into the scanner, the problem is usually alleviated.
The unit I purchased included the software drivers on CD. However, they were not compatible with Windows Vista, which is what I have on my home computer. However, the manufacturer's website has Vista-compatible drivers available for download, and I had the scanner up and running literally minutes after unpacking it from the box.
I like the software interface (OneTouch) that allows me to put a document in the feeder, click on one button, and immediately have a PDF document (or whatever other format I want) stored on my desktop. The scanner takes several seconds (10-15 in my experience so far) to warm up after it hasn't been used for a while, but I'm not so impatient that I'm going to gripe about that. It's plenty fast for me, and if I really need to, I can do something else while I'm waiting-the scan starts as soon as the scanner's ready, without me baby-sitting it.
All in all, I think this is a great scanner, especially for the price I paid. I'm grateful that I was able to use several different scanners at work, and thereby determine that this was the one I wanted to buy. It beats having to purchase each one and decide you don't like it!
Second 510 purchased in two years; both are excellent -- 2009-09-13
I bought my first Xerox DocuMate 510 in mid-2008. It works so well that when I wanted to replace an aging scanner for another office machine, I simply bought it again. I am running Win XP (paid extra not to get VISTA when I bought new machines) and find this scanner, combined with PaperPort 11, works beautifully. I do not use the "single touch" software that comes with it, having long since learned to use PaperPort for all scanning, so I cannot comment on its functionality. The machine itself does everything it saws, without error.
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 | Epson GT 2500 Document Imaging Color Scanner (B11B181011)
Take Work Home User -- 2008-05-24
Unfortunately I carry work home. As a business owner with a steady influx of information, I have tried to stay as electronic as possible with the storage of this information. I have two document scanners in my office that get used reguarly and wanted to upgrade at home from the flatbed scanners I have used for years. I researched options and truthfully, the Epson GT2500 was the least expensive one with good reviews. This scanner has been in service in my home for two years and there have been no equipment issues. I am able to create electronic documents of my typical 5 to 15 sheets in very reasonable time. Double sided scans are a little slow, but there has been only one jam in the 2 years, created by me not separating a previously stapled document, so three sheets went through the scanner. This scanner does exacly what I need when I work at home. I recommend this machine for users that need more than a flatbed for documents scanning. I would not use this machine in an office with more than 3 to 4 people; a little too slow.
a workhorse -- 2008-05-21
I bought this puppy when I discovered the TWAIN driver for my EPSON perfection scanner was not compatible with omnipage 16. After using the gt 2500 several hours a day for a month, we have experienced no problems so far. Seems to be fast and efficient and I would recommend it with omnipage 16 if you want to create a paperless office and turn documents into searchable PDF Files.
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 | Visioneer 9450 Color Flatbed Scanner with ADF and LaserFiche Intuition Software
FALSE ADVERTISING -- 2009-11-29
Amazon.com "falsely advertises" that the LaserFiche Intution software comes with the scanner. And after calling Amazon.com customer service I got the feeling that they don't care.
Give credit to Visioneer for providing an excellent scanner and a concerned customer service department.
Satisfied....for now -- 2009-04-21
I bought this scanner after reading a lot of poorly written negative reviews and a few very well written positive ones. I also used one of Visioneers similar scanners at work and was impressed by that one. So far I am very satisfied. There were some problems with the software and I had to download new drivers from Visioneer, but after that it was smooth sailing. I think the software problems has to do more with Microsoft Vista and not Visioneer. The scanner works very quickly and as advertised. The scan soft software is easy to use. I would recommend this product to anyone.
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 | HP SCANJETN6310 Document Flatbed Scanner 15 PPM,2400+ Dpi,adf/flatbed, Versatile
Avoid it at all costs !!!! -- 2009-06-30
Unless you want to waste days trying to get a defective product to work avoid this scanner. I was on the phone with HP's Costa Rican customer support (abuse) department. After 3 days of dialing into my computer their incompetent Costa Rican based support staff informed me that they could not get the software to work. This even involved editing my registry. It was clearly defective which he admitted. He said a case manager would then call me. 7 days and 5 e-mails later a case manager called me to let me know that I could purchase a more expensive scanner for a whopping $50 discount ($100 more than Amazon's price). He then told me that the original tech support person should have let me know they could not do anything for me and that was that senor.
HP's tech support has slowly deteriorated through the years but the outsourced Costa Rican based business division, which covers this scanner is a totally unprofessional operation. Not only is the software defective (version 1) but you cannot communicate with them or get them to understand the meaning of customer service. Even if I wanted to I don't have the time to deal with HP's continuing deterioration of product and software quality. I have owned many HP products in the past and they are more and more problematic. If you want a company to stand behind a product it is not HP. Save your time and money and buy another brand. I have had 2 weeks of my time wasted by HP.
Bad Experience -- 2009-03-30
I purchased one of these from Amazon and it didn't function correctly. Amazon replaced it and the second one also had functional problems. So I returned the second unit also and then bought one directly from HP which worked fine. It is a super scanner when it works. My view - if you want this scanner, buy it from HP since the price is about the same.
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 | Epson Expression 10000XL- Graphic Arts Scanner
Excellent large flatbed scanner -- 2009-12-30
We have used Epson scanners for a long time in production, so I thought I knew what to expect (only larger). I wasn't dissapointed. This is an excellent scanner. Installation and setup were fast and easy. Scanning, likewise, is easy and fast, and the quality is excellent.
very satisfied with my Epson Expression 10000XL Graphic Arts Scanner -- 2009-11-07
I bought the Epson Expression 10000XL Graphic Arts Scanner to archive my large format photographs from my long ago modeling years and to use it for future graphic arts projects. I have a G4 Mac with no USB port and I need to be able to use it on Photoshop 6 on an even older G4 Mac. I was concerned that this model did not have Silverfast 2 software because I read it was invaluable especially for dust removal. Well,I can report that the dust removal,sharpening,light,color adjustments and auto focus that come with the Graphic Arts model work great for my purposes and are extremely easy to use. No need to go to "scanner school" beforehand. I do the detail work later in Photoshop 6. The installation was a bit tricky because of my older Mac. It took 2 phone calls to Epson technical support (located in the Philippines). They were very friendly and patient and sent me the right installation software for my older Mac. The 300 dpi large b/w and color photos scan pretty fast, maybe two minutes for b/w, 5 min for color. The 1200 dpi color zoomed in detail scans take a long time without USB and the G4, maybe 15-20 minutes,every now and then they don't get done: It indicates: just one more minute,with my processor working at 90%, but that minute goes on forever. The quality of the scans look fine to me, 16 bit b/w and 48 bit color channels are too advanced for Photoshop 6 and I have to size them down to 8 channel b/w and color to be able to work on them. I haven't done any color graphic arts projects yet,so I can't report on that. Overall so far so good. Hopefully I'll be able to use the scanner with future Mac models in order to justify the hefty price tag.
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