WHAT'S HOT: The inexpensive $99 Umax Astra 4400 is the company's first scanner that uses a 16-bit analog-to-digital hardware converter to produce 48-bit color images, unlike earlier Astra models, which used inferior software interpolation to produce such high-bit color. This lightweight, 5.5-pound unit also features 1200-by-2400-dpi resolution, easy USB connectivity, and four task buttons. Three of the buttons activate specific jobs (Scan, Copy, and Email or Fax), while a fourth (Custom) button can automate any job you want, such as scanning a text document for optical character recognition.

WHAT'S NOT: The Astra 4400 is slow compared to other SOHO chart scanners. In our maximum resolution test (1200 dpi for the Astra 4400), the Astra 4400's throughput rate of 402 kilobytes per second qualifies as plodding compared to the slowest model on the chart, Canon's CanoScan N1240U, which registered a 488-KBps throughput. Using the Astra 4400's default settings produced mediocre scan quality. In our on-screen and print tests, colors were a little dull. In some areas of our test shots, details in shadows and highlights lacked sharpness. Although the 4400's images are improved by adjusting various scan controls, it takes time to learn how to do so. You can't get live technical support on weekends, and Umax doesn't offer an automatic document feeder for this model.

WHAT ELSE: The software bundle includes an image editor (MGI PhotoSuite III SE) and a fine optical character recognition application (ABBYY FineReader 4.0 Sprint), but lacks any type of document management software. An optional transparency adapter with a 4-by-5-inch maximum scanning area costs $50 extra.

UPSHOT: If you need a low-cost 1200-dpi scanner that's easy to operate, the Umax Astra 4400 may fit the bill. But for the same price, you'll get better image quality with the Microtek ScanMaker 3800 (although it's a lower-resolution, 600-dpi unit).

SUMMARY

Umax Astra 4400 USB, 1200 by 2400 dpi, 11.7 by 18.2 by 3.2 inches (width by depth by height), 5.5 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area; optional transparency adapter, no optional automatic document feeder. One-year warranty; toll-call technical support (8 hours) on weekdays only. $99 800-562-0311 www.umax.com