Microtek Scanmaker X12USL OFF ED

WHAT'S HOT: Microtek's ScanMaker X12USL Office Edition combines the winning features of the veteran ScanMaker X12USL (a former Corporate chart Best Buy) with the added benefit of a bundled automatic document feeder. It offers attractive 48-bit color, 1200-by-2400-dpi optical resolution, a legal-size scan bed, and a versatile dual interface. Priced at $430, the X12USL Office Edition costs less than many competing corporate scanners with ADFs.

In both print and on-screen tests, the ScanMaker produced admirable images, with saturated and accurate colors and fine shadow and highlight detail.

WHAT'S NOT: A number of corporate scanners outperform the ScanMaker X12USL Office Edition. For example, its 75-, 300-, and 600-dpi scans took from 6 to 17 seconds longer to process than did those of the Epson Perfection 1640SU Office. (Both scanners were tested using their USB interfaces.) If you want to use the ScanMaker's SCSI interface, you must purchase your own SCSI card and cable.

The X12USL Office Edition no longer represents state-of-the-art capabilities for a corporate scanner. Its ADF, for example, handles up to 25 pages in a single batch, versus the HP Scanjet 7450c's 50 pages and the Epson Perfection 1640SU Office's 30 pages. And although high resolution isn't necessary for OCR scanning (which is typically performed at 300 dpi), the ScanMaker's lower 1200-by-2400-dpi resolution makes it less desirable than the newer models from HP and Epson for scanning detailed images.

WHAT ELSE: Two optional transparency adapters, for scanning multiple slides or filmstrips, are available for this unit, both priced at $79. The LightLid EL offers a scanning area of up to 5 by 6 inches, and the Magnetic Media Transparency Adapter supports a maximum area of 7 by 10 inches.

The comprehensive software bundle includes Abbyy FineReader 4.0 Sprint OCR application, Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE for image editing, and Trellix Web Microtek Edition 2.5 for Web page design. Also included is Microtek ScanWizard 5, an excellent scanner driver that incorporates two different task-based control panels, one for novices and one for advanced users.

UPSHOT: Although it doesn't break any new ground, the ScanMaker X12USL Office Edition is a worthy choice for any general business that needs a competitively priced OCR scanner.

SUMMARY

Microtek ScanMaker X12USL Office Edition USB and SCSI, 1200 by 2400 dpi, 12.1 by 21.4 by 12.8 inches (width by depth by height), 18.1 pounds, 8.5-by-14-inch scanning area; includes automatic document feeder, optional transparency adapter. One-year warranty; toll-call technical support (10 hours on weekdays) limited to 6 months; thereafter, fee-based, toll-call support (same hours) is available for $30 per call. $430 310/297-5155 www.microtekusa.com