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If you like unusual design, do a ton of scanning, and lack desk space for a conventional flatbed scanner, check out the $200 Hewlett-Packard Scanjet 4670. This see-through device props itself vertically on an included stand--much as a photo frame does--and even from that position, it's a breeze to use. But it is expensive.

In my informal tests with a shipping unit, scanned text pages came out crisp, sharp, and bolder than the originals. Photos scanned at 2400-dots-per-inch optical resolution looked okay, though scans made without tweaks to the color settings overemphasized the blues, and detail appeared murky in dark areas.

Despite its dainty appearance, the device's scanning glass side and its polycarbonate window are designed to resist scratching and breaking. And its rubber-trimmed frame absorbs shock--which is good, because although the easel-like stand feels sturdy and secure, the 3.1-pound scanner tips forward slightly when you insert a photo or document. The 4670 scans items up to 8.5 inches by 11.7 inches. An included transparent-materials adapter scans photo slides and negatives. The scanner connects with USB 2.0 and comes bundled with Adobe Acrobat Reader, ArcSoft Panorama Maker (a photo stitching app), HP Photo & Imaging software, and IRIS Readiris Pro optical character recognition software.

The Scanjet 4670 produces decent scans and adorns a desk handsomely--but at a price.

--Laura Blackwell