WHAT'S HOT: The Astra 4450 features robust 48-bit color, 1200-by-2400-dpi resolution, easy USB connectivity, and four push buttons that automate scanning, copying, e-mailing or faxing, and customized tasks. The 4450 is bundled with a transparency cover, which has a 4-by-5-inch transparency scanning area and can be used with multiple or large-format slides and photos. The 4450's $100 price tag makes it one of the least-expensive scanners in its class, and the least-expensive unit we've tested that includes a transparency adapter.

WHAT'S NOT: The Astra 4450 is slower than the top-ranked small-office scanners. At its maximum resolution of 1200 dpi, for example, the Astra 4450's throughput rate of 149KB per second fell behind other USB models, including Microtek's ScanMaker 4900 (432 KBps) and Canon's CanoScan D2400UF (371 KBps). The 4450's scan quality also leaves something to be desired: Color photos looked dark and lacked detail. (As with other 48-bit models, using the Astra 4450 to scan in 48-bit color takes longer and requires more disk space than scanning in standard 24-bit color.) No automatic document feeder is available 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 Sprint), but lacks a document management program. Using the batch-scanning feature of the scanner software (VistaScan), you can automatically scan up to four 35mm slides at once. If you don't need to scan transparencies, you can save $30 by choosing the Astra 4400 model, which provides all the features of the Astra 4450 except the transparency cover.

UPSHOT: The low price and large-format transparency adapter are appealing, but the Astra 4450 is a subpar performer.

SUMMARY

Umax Astra 4450 USB 1.1, 1200 by 2400 dpi, 11.7 by 18.2 by 3.5 inches (width by depth by height), 9 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area; includes transparency adapter; no automatic document feeder option. One-year warranty; toll-call technical support (8 hours) on weekdays only (calls are not toll-free). $100 510/651-4000 www.umax.com