The $595 (as of 2/6/07) Xerox DocuMate 152 costs more than the other scanners that made our recent chart, but it also comes with a bit more software than most of the others do. First and foremost is a full-featured version of OmniPage Pro 12, an optical character recognition (OCR) package that provides sophisticated tools for converting documents into editable text files; the software also has an impressive ability to retain the original formatting of complex layouts. Used in tandem, this talented OCR tool and the DocuMate 152 did an excellent job in converting a variety of documents into digital files in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and other file formats.

Other goodies in the DocuMate 152's software bundle include applications for document management (PaperPort 10), file indexing and retrieval (X1), and business card recognition (BizCard 5), as well as a graphics suite (Arcsoft Scrapbook Suite) that provides minor image editing and collage creation tools. A TWAIN/WIA-compliant scanner driver, a useful scanner configuration utility (OneTouch Panel), and Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 complete the deal. In short, there's a software application for just about every type of job you might want to perform with your scanned images.

The 6.4-pound DocuMate 152 is a 600-dpi USB sheet-fed scanner that measures 13.6 by 5.9 by 6.5 inches (width by depth by height). Its built-in automatic document feeder can manage 50 sheets at a time, and we experienced no paper jams or misfeeds in using it. Assembly of the input and output trays is required, but installation and use of the scanner are easy thanks to the on-screen illustrations and comprehensive 122-page user guide (both printed and online versions are supplied).

Two buttons on the top of the upright scanner launch either simplex (one-sided) or duplex (two-sided) scans. A function button selects which of nine customizable scan tasks is active (such as scan to searchable PDF, scan to printer, and so forth), indicated by an LED. A blank label to help you remember what each numbered function does is also included. One minor quibble: The power switch is located on the back of the scanner, and would be easier to reach if it were on the front.

The DocuMate 152 delivered mixed results in our speed tests. It took nearly 2 minutes (114 seconds) to scan a 15-page, single-sided text document (at 300 dpi), making it the slowest model among our test group on this task. In comparison, the next-slowest scanner, the Canon DR-2050C, took 94 seconds; the Epson GT-2500 turned in the fastest time, 38 seconds. The DocuMate 152's speeds for color scans were much more competitive: It scanned a two-sided color page at 300 dpi in merely 18 seconds, just behind the fastest time, 17 seconds, by the Fujitsu ScanSnap s500. Ultimately, the DocuMate 152's slow text scans resulted in average overall performance.

In image quality, the DocuMate 152 earned ratings of Good for its color scans and for how well it rendered monochrome pages. Both tests resulted in text that was generally clear and readable, but also somewhat darker than in the originals. In the monochrome document, some of the finer detail in line art was missing, and in the color scan some of the shades (such as blues) looked slightly darker than in the original.

The relatively compact Xerox DocuMate 152 comes with a variety of software, but its overall speeds and image quality are merely average.

-- Richard Jantz