Epson Perfection 3170 Photo Scanner 3200X6400 dpi (Epson-B11B161011)

• Reviewed by: kb_c

  Strengths: Flexible (multiple film formats), good quality scans

  Weaknesses: Less than 2 years reliability

  Overall: In less than two years w/ light use...one or two scans a week, the scanner broke down. The bulb burnt out. This happened with only turning the scanner on when needed. The bulb and the light control card can only be replaced by a repair shop. Epson does not appear to sell these parts to retail customers. I have looked into getting the scanner repaired. The estimates run between $70.00 to $120.00 - almost the price of the scanner.

• Reviewed by: JonEaston

  Strengths: Included Adobe Photoshop Elements

  Weaknesses: Total failure to function 3 months out of warranty.

  Overall: Scanner failure caused by fault in lower case affecting function of packing switch which in turn rendered machine inoperable. Cost to repair exceeds present worth of scanner. Epson customer service, of course, dodged any responsibility for the problem which is no doubt due to design flaw or mismanufacture. Goodbye, Epson!

• Reviewed by: htnelson

  Strengths: Reviews by others on the internet

  Weaknesses: Software

  Overall: I would not reccomend this scanner to anyone. After initial software install I was able to scan two documents. After reboot I got message "Please load twain driver". Went to epson site and under support they sent me to newsoftinc who apparently write the software for the scanner. There directions to correct this problem included uninstalling 7 different programs, removing two folders and a .log file. Then reboot and reload the software package. 4 hours later and 6 complete cycles of uninstall/install. Applying all patches and software upgrades (including latest twain drivers)from both epson and newsoft I still get the same error message and now my Win2Ksp4 installation is corrupted. This was a very uncomplicated Win2K installation that was only a couple of months old. Machine is 2.8P4/1gig ram/intel MB with USB 2. Needless to say I am very unhappy. I do understand that some of the problem rests with Windows and the difficulty in cleanly removing old programs but I still think that epson could write a simple twain driver unencumbered by 5 or 6 of newsoft's crippleware programs. There now I feel better.

• Reviewed by: jimedwards

  Strengths: color is not perfect but will do

  Weaknesses: will not print on HP printers

  Overall: I purchased a Epsom "Perfection" 3170 scanner and had problems printing with my HP LaserJet 5L printer. It would keep cutting off bottom and right side, as well as sometimes print distorted images. After many attempts at workarounds with your tech support I was told to purchase a 3rd party piece of copy software for $20. When I questioned the logic of my having to buy some other company's software in order to make your $200 scanner work, I was told, quote: "it is very daunting to create software that will work will all the printers that are on the market. The Copy function will work just fine with an Epson printer."Having used computers for decades, I am careful to make note when I buy new hardware or software that I have the proper equipment that the manufacturer states I need to use their product. Nowhere on your box or in your instruction manual for this scanner does it say "WILL NOT WORK WITH HEWLETT PACKARD PRINTERS!!Now, I have to take my time & use my gas to return your misrepresented product to the store that I purchased it from. I will not be buying Epsom products again and will let my friends know, by voice and the internet, about the way you are now doing business.

• Reviewed by: kpwood

  Strengths: I had done all my homework and was so hopeful that this was the one that work best with my MAC 10.3 but alas, it did 2 scans and then it hasn't since.

  Weaknesses: It is completely unstable even with the downloaded patches from Epson.

  Overall: I would not recommend this despite what the Epson pre-seller rep said and the hype that is out there for this machine. And yes, when it does work, it is noisy and slow. but I would have settled for this had it worked!