Top 10 Scanners

Last month we reviewed for the first time a 2400-dpi flatbed scanner, the Canon CanoScan D2400UF. This month we review a second 2400-dpi model, the Hewlett-Packard Scanjet 7450c.

The CanoScan D2400UF and the Scanjet 7450c are aimed at corporate buyers and users who require the ability to scan transparent materials or detailed line art. However, unlike the USB-only CanoScan D2400UF, HP's Scanjet 7450c supports a faster SCSI connection as well as USB, and it includes a bevy of handy quick-start buttons.

Thanks to its versatility and scorching performance (due in part to its SCSI interface), the Scanjet 7450c makes a big splash on this month's corporate chart, landing in the top position. It's followed by two formidable models: the $1000 Microtek ScanMaker 8700 and the $500 Epson Perfection 1640SU Office, both of which offer useful features for business users and other demanding individuals.

Prices Reach New Highs and Lows

This month we also tested two scanners from Epson and Microtek that turned out to be polar opposites in terms of features and price. Neither model cracked the Top 10.

The Epson Expression 1680 Professional belongs to a family of new high-end scanners that supplants Epson's previous Expression 1600 series. All of the new Expression models feature 48-bit color depth and a hearty resolution of 1600 by 3200 dpi. Though priced at a premium $1149 (plus an additional $79 for a third-party SCSI card and cable, which we used for testing), the 1680 Professional features a dual USB/SCSI interface and comes bundled with a robust transparency adapter. Other members of this new 1680 family include a $1399 Pro FireWire model, which features an even-faster IEEE 1394 interface option, and the $899 USB/SCSI Artist model, which comes without the transparency adapter.

In contrast, Microtek's ScanMaker 3630 is an entry-level scanner with a bargain-basement price of $60. As you might expect, the ScanMaker achieves its low price by compromising on its feature set and scan quality.

Learn more about the three new scanners we tested this month as well as the other scanners on the Top 10 chart by using the drop-down menu at the top of each page to read the individual reviews.