Quantcast

Top Flatbed Scanners

This month's chart focuses on flatbed scanners, both for home offices and for corporate users.

Eric Butterfield

Compare ProductsCheck boxes to
Perfection 2480 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: July 26, 2004

1. Epson America Perfection 2480

2400 by 4800 dpi, 8.5 by 11.7 scan area, USB 2.0 port, ArcSoft PhotoImpression and Abbyy FineReader Sprint OCR software, Transparency adapter, Street price when ranked: $99

Bottom Line: This model turns out fast, good-looking scans and includes features for cleaning up defects such as dust or scratches.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
Microtek Scanmaker i320 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: April 07, 2004

2. Microtek Microtek Scanmaker i320

3200 by 6400 dpi, 8.5 by 11.7 scan area, USB 2.0 port, Adobe Photoshop Elements and Abbyy FineReader Sprint OCR software, Transparency adapter, Street price when ranked: $150

Bottom Line: Produces nice color and has Digital ICE technology for fixing surface defects, but its transparency adapter holds only one 35mm slide at a time.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
VISIONEER ONETOUCH 7300 USB 48-BIT USB BUS POWERED 5 BUTTONS PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: March 30, 2004

3. Visioneer VISIONEER ONETOUCH 7300 USB 48-BIT USB BUS POWERED 5 BUTTONS

1200 by 1200 dpi, 8.5 by 11.7 scan area, USB 2.0 port, ArcSoft PhotoImpression and ScanSoft Texbridge OCR engine software, No transparency adapter, Street price when ranked: $80

Bottom Line: A lightweight, portable model powered via a USB cable, this unit is sluggish at color scans, but its image quality is worth the wait.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
SCANMAKER 6800 4800X2400 DPI 48BIT USB 2.0 WINDOWS/MAC (MicroTek-110803510181) PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: March 27, 2003

4. Microtek SCANMAKER 6800 4800X2400 DPI 48BIT USB 2.0 WINDOWS/MAC (MicroTek-110803510181)

2400 by 4800 dpi, 8.5 by 11.7 scan area, USB 2.0, FireWire ports, Adobe Photoshop Elements and Abbyy FineReader Sprint OCR software, Transparency adapter, Street price when ranked: $300

Bottom Line: Price drop puts this model within reach of a small office; includes Digital ICE technology for repairing surface defects, and a light box in the lid for previewing film.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
Scanjet 5590 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: July 26, 2004

5. HP Scanjet 5590

2400 by 2400 dpi, 8.5 by 11 scan area, USB 2.0 port, HP Photo and Imaging, and IRIS ReadIRIS Pro software, Transparency adapter, Street price when ranked: $399

Bottom Line: Best suited for heavy office use, the 5590 has a 50-page automatic document feeder that enables two-sided scanning. This is the fastest model here at scanning monochrome documents.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
HP ScanJet 8200 (C9931AA2L) PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: August 27, 2003

6. HP HP ScanJet 8200 (C9931AA2L)

4800 by 4800 dpi, 8.5 by 14 scan area, USB 2.0 port, Adobe Photoshop Elements, HP Photo and Imaging, and IRIS ReadIRIS Pro software, Transparency adapter, Street price when ranked: $500

Bottom Line: Speediest scanner of monochrome images on the chart has six buttons, and more software than HP's consumer units do.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
Perfection 4870 Flatbed Scanner PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: March 30, 2004

7. Epson America Perfection 4870 Flatbed Scanner

4800 by 9600 dpi, 8.5 by 11.7 scan area, USB 2.0, Firewire ports, Adobe Photoshop Elements and Abbyy FineReader Sprint OCR software, Transparency adapter, Street price when ranked: $449

Bottom Line: High-resolution scanner gets good marks for its color accuracy and ability to capture fine details; includes Digital ICE technology.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
ScanMaker i900 Flatbed Scanner PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: July 26, 2004

8. Microtek ScanMaker i900 Flatbed Scanner

3200 by 6400 dpi, 8.5 by 14 scan area, USB 2.0 port, Adobe Photoshop Elements and Abbyy FineReader Sprint OCR software, Transparency adapter, Street price when ranked: $600

Bottom Line: High image quality scores and extensive software controls, though slower than most other models. An internal drawer enables high-volume transparency scanning (12 slides at a time) without using the glass flatbed; includes Digital ICE technology for print scans.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
  • Recommend this story?
  • 0 Yes
    0 No

Today's Special Offers