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Umax Astra 3400

An easy-to-use scanner capable of delivering fine-quality images.

  

WHAT'S HOT: Umax's inexpensive Astra 3400 includes four buttons on its case: Scan, Copy, Custom (for tasks such as scanning to e-mail), and Power Saving (which allows the scanner to idle in a standby mode). The 3400's admirable scan quality--it produces rich, saturated colors with strong contrast--makes the $99 price a great value. No slowpoke, the Astra 3400 offers overall performance that ranks second only to the top-ranked Epson Perfection 1200S; for example, the Umax unit took just 30 seconds to scan a full-size, black-and-white page at 300 dpi.

WHAT'S NOT: You can't get a transparency adapter or automatic document feeder for this model. For $30 more, you can get the Astra 3450, a different version of the scanner that comes bundled with a transparency lid (capable of handling materials up to 4 by 5 inches) but has no optional automatic document feeder.

WHAT ELSE: The Astra 3400 captures 42-bit color images by using hardware rather than software. Unlike the Acer 640U and the Umax Astra 4000U, which each use a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter, the 3400 comes equipped with a 14-bit A/D converter.

BEST USE: Consider the bargain-priced Umax Astra 3400 a double treat for casual home and office users who want an easy-to-use scanner capable of delivering fine-quality images.


SUMMARY
Umax Astra 3400


USB, 600 by 1200 dpi, 11.6 by 18.1 by 3.2 inches (width by depth by height), 5.7 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area, no optional transparency adapter or automatic document feeder. One-year warranty; free, unlimited 14-hour weekday and 9-hour weekend technical support.

$99
800/562-0311
www.umax.com

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