How to Buy a Scanner

Introduction

Once the domain of imaging and publishing professionals, scanners are now a common PC peripheral for home users. If you want to e-mail your friends a photo you took with a film camera, use a scanner. Need to convert a hard-copy document into digital form so that you can edit it? A scanner can do that, too. But as with any PC-related purchase, it pays to know what you need before you dish out any cash. Whether this is your first scanner purchase or you want to upgrade to a better-quality device, this guide will provide the information you need.

The Big Picture
Learn about different types of scanners and what they can do for you at home and at work. Whether you want to scan photos, negatives, long book passages, or just snippets of text, there's a scanner for the job. more

The Specs Explained
Which resolution numbers should you pay attention to? What's color depth got to do with this, anyway? What's the right price range for you? Find answers to these questions and more. more

Scanner Shopping Tips
Read our advice to find the best scanner for your needs. more