Scanners should I just buy a cheap one

[mikesbytes]

My HP 2400C scanner which must be something like 8 years old has died. I mainly used it as a photo copier and the occasional photo scan.

I was thinking that I should just get a cheapie, perhaps a HP G2410 scanner or perhaps one of the bottom end scanners.

Is there enough difference between the cheap ones and the not so cheap ones to make it worth while doing a bucket of research? Opinions please.

[Epicurus8a]

The cheapest ones available today are likely to be as good (or better) than your old one.

In May of 2007, a leading Consumer Reporting agency* recommended these scanners in the $100 - $180 price range. (USD)

Canon CanoScan 8600F
Canon CanoScan 4400
HP G4010
HP Scanjet G3010



*you know the one.

[thecoalman]

For the basic needs like you have described? Get the cheapest one you can, I had a scanner from that time frame of about 8-9 years ago and picked up a fairly cheap HP about 3-4 years back and even then it was worlds apart from the older one. You only want to look at good ones if you're looking to do a lot of image scanning for large projects.

[DarrellS]

When I bought my Visioneer USB 7100 over 9 years ago, I paid $49 for it and got $100 worth of software with it.

The power supply went out on it a couple of years ago and I needed a scanner that day and didn't have time to order the power supply so I bought an HP Scanjet 4370 for a little over $100. It came with a 35m film and slide adaptor. I couldn't find anything under $100 at the time.

The HP Scanjet G3010 looks just like mine for $99.

[redwudz]

I paid about $45US for my Memorex USB scanner at Staples when it was discounted a couple of years ago. It worked better and faster than my old SCSI scanner I bought for $500 about 8 years ago. It's also powered off the USB port of the computer, so only one USB cable to connect it. So, yes, I would buy a cheap one.

If you wanted transparency scanning or sheet fed document options, then you might go for a higher priced unit.

[mikesbytes]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll check out the local prices on those models.

I noticed that Canon is still selling scanners that don't use a power supply, ie they get their power from the USB. I remember the reviews of the early ones that said that quality was reduced as the light wasn't bright enough. Is this still the case?

[mikesbytes]

redwudz, we posted at the same time, so your saying that the USB only ones are OK? or just that particular model?

Scanners with sheet feeding options were priced off the planet, but oddly enough the multifunction ones weren't, so I suppose you could use just the scanner and ignore the printer. We all know about those ink prices...

[redwudz]

I can't attest to all USB powered ones, but the one I have works fine off USB power. If you have a laptop, you likely need a power source. It does have a socket for a power supply, but that wasn't included with the unit. The ones with a power supply may be able to scan a bit faster. I used our $30,000US office copier/scanner to scan about 2500 pages through the sheet feeder and it is fast, about 1/2 second per page. It's leased, BTW.

I also have a office all in one at home that has a scanner. The only problem I found with my USB scanner is if the USB was unplugged, I would have to reinstall the scanner driver software. I finally just copied the driver to my hard drive and re-installed it that way. Mine also came with a decent OCR program, Omnipage. Saves a lot of typing. But it doesn't do so well with forms with boxes.

I used it a lot as a scanner for sending faxes. I used a dial-up modem for that from my fax program. Handy capability to have at times.

[Cobra]

I have a Canon LiDE35 which is a USB-powered scanner. It's a few years old now (four, to be exact) and has been an outstanding scanner.

I can scan a test page for you if you'd like.

[mikesbytes]

A USB only (no power lead) one would be a tad more convenient, as there are multiple computers in the house and it gets move from computer to computer. Pity you can't get cheap network ones.

[dfisher052]

Or you might want to consider a scanner/printer combo. When my scanner went last year I started looking for a new one to replace it. I found I could get a combo unit for the same price of just the scanner alone, and it saved me space.

[Tundra Trout]

It's hard to get a better cheapo scanner than a hewlett packard.They last forever.

[mikesbytes]

I'm a heavy printer, so ink costs are important.

There is one thing I disliked about my old scanner which was the time it took to warm up, wouldn't mind faster warmup

[redwudz]

I haven't noticed any 'warm up' problems. My old SCSI scanner used a florescent bulb and that involved warm up. Now they use LEDs, so outside of the couple of seconds the scanner mechanism takes getting synced up, they seem fairly fast to start.

You may be able to make the scanner shared in your network, the same as a shared printer. My all-in-one is a network type, so it is shared over my LAN. In your setup, the computer it's shared from would need to be on for sharing to work, but that may not be a problem. Certainly easier than moving it all the time.

Another option might be a router with a printer server or just a stand along printer server. They aren't usually cheap, but it's an option to look into. Again, I don't know how scanners would work shared, hopefully the same as a printer.

[mikesbytes]

OK, so avoid buying one with a florescent bulb, I think my existing one uses one.

What's the difference between LED and LIED (aka Canon) ?

[redwudz]

LED=Light Emitting Diode, the light source, as opposed to a florescent light or cold cathode light used for scanning. LiDE, a trade name for Canon scanners. I'm not sure if it means anything else. Canon does show their light source as red,green,blue LEDs, so that may be the origin of the LiDE.

Other scanners seem to be using cold cathode tubes for light. Not that familiar with that technology, but it seems to have faster startup and lower power requirements than florescent. I don't know what my newer USB scanner uses. I thought it was LEDs, but after some research, I suspect it's a cold cathode light. No easy way to tell without taking it apart. If you raise the lid while scanning, it shuts down and hides the scan unit at the back of the scanner. Kind of like seeing if the refrigerator light really goes off when you close the door.

Myself, I like the idea of using a LED array instead of a cold cathode or a florescent light for scanning. It should be more efficient and longer lasting.

I found this on a search for scanner info. Making your scanner play music : http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2006/11/8184/ Sorry, it's OT, but funny.

[mikesbytes]

The HP G2410 doesn't state how it sensors and there is no info on warm-up time. A bit of a minus on whether to select that model.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/au/en/ho/WF06a/1090037-1090177-1090485-1090485-80566297-80566298.html

[Semaphoric]

It's hard to get a better cheapo scanner than a hewlett packard.They last forever.

That can have a downside. My ancient HP Scanjet refused to die - I finally had to resort to euthanasia (took it to the recycling center), to make room for my Microtek ArtixScan. Should have done it a lot sooner.

[lordhutt]

I have over 1000 photos to scan.

Is something like the Epson Perfection V750-M PRO worth the money at about $700?
Will I see the difference between this and a scanner at half the price or less?

[mikesbytes]

Thanks your help guys, in the end I got a Canon LIDE 90. Cost was AU$130, which was $42 more than the cheapest one available.

http://www.canon.com.au/products/visual/scanners/scanners_low_medium_volume/lide90_specs.aspx

[lordsmurf]

I paid about $45US for my Memorex USB scanner at Staples when it was discounted a couple of years ago. It worked better and faster than my old SCSI scanner I bought for $500 about 8 years ago. It's also powered off the USB port of the computer, so only one USB cable to connect it. So, yes, I would buy a cheap one.

If you wanted transparency scanning or sheet fed document options, then you might go for a higher priced unit.

My Memorex (I forget what it's a rebadge of) works better than most new scanners, I'm coming to find out. The quality and speed (even on USB1) is far superior to a lot of the easy-to-buy scanners at office stores or Best Buy.

I recently had a "dead scanner" scare, but it was only the AC adapter that barfed, which was an easy replacement.