« Return to: Top 10 Scanners
| Rank | SOHO scanner | Street price (12/15/01) | Overall rating | Scan quality | Scan speed (sec per page) Black-and-white | Scan speed (sec per page) Color1 | Comments | |
| 1 | Best Buy, New Microtek ScanMaker 4800 | $100 | 89 | Good | 41 @ 300 dpi | 249 @ 1200 dpi | FEATURES: USB, 1200 by 2400 dpi, 11.3-by-17.1-by-3.1-inch case,2 6 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area; includes transparency adapter; no automatic document feeder. Summary: Killer price for a high-resolution scanner, but free tech support is available for only 90 days. 
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| 2 | Canon CanoScan N1240U | $199 | 89 | Good | 40 @ 300 dpi | 303 @ 1200 dpi | FEATURES: USB, 1200 by 2400 dpi, 10.1-by-15.1-by-1.3-inch case,2 3.3 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area; no optional transparency adapter or ADF. SUMMARY: Compact unit offers glorious color and ample software, but it isn't as speedy as other USB scanners. ( Nov 01) | |
| 3 | Epson Perfection 1650 Photo | $249 | 88 | Good | 18 @ 300 dpi | 417 @ 1600 dpi | FEATURES: USB, 1600 by 3200 dpi, 10.9-by-17.7-by-4.6-inch case,2 6.8 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area; includes transparency adapter; no optional ADF. SUMMARY: High-resolution scanner with zippy black-and-white speed. Creates crisp, colorful images, but it doesn't come cheap. ( Dec 01)
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| 4 | Visioneer OneTouch 8920 | $150 | 88 | Good | 23 @ 300 dpi | 429 @ 1200 dpi | FEATURES: USB, 1200 by 4800 dpi, 16.7-by-11.7-by-4.5-inch case,2 7.2 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area; includes transparency adapter; no optional ADF. SUMMARY: This scanner features 48-bit color and high resolution but is the slowest SOHO model here for color scans. ( Jan 02)
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| 5 | Canon CanoScan N670U | $99 | 88 | Good | 39 @ 300 dpi | 93 @ 600 dpi | FEATURES: USB, 600 by 1200 dpi, 10.1-by-15.1-by-1.4-inch case,2 3.3 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area; no optional transparency adapter or ADF. SUMMARY: Slim unit comes with ample software, but bargain price is offset by mediocre performance and low resolution. ( Dec 01) | |
| 6 | Microtek ScanMaker 5700 | $380 | 88 | Good | 29 @ 300 dpi | 88 @ 1200 dpi | FEATURES: USB and IEEE 1394,3 1200 by 2400 dpi, 11.4-by-19.7-by-4.5-inch case,2 10.4 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area; built-in transparency adapter; ADF optional. SUMMARY: The only IEEE 1394 model on the SOHO chart offers speed and strong image quality, but at a hefty price. | |
| 7 | HP Scanjet 4470c | $199 | 87 | Excellent | 58 @ 300 dpi | 255 @ 1200 dpi | FEATURES: Parallel and USB,4 1200 by 1200 dpi, 12-by-19.9-by-2.9-inch case,2 6.3 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area; includes transparency adapter; no optional ADF. SUMMARY: Splendid scan quality, but warranty and free support limited to 90 days. ( Oct 01) | |
| Rank | Corporate scanner | Street price (12/15/01) | Overall rating | Scan quality | Scan speed (sec per page) Black-and-white | Scan speed (sec per page) Color1 | Comments | |
| 1 | Best Buy HP Scanjet 7450c | $7605 | 94 | Good | 17 @ 300 dpi | 687 @ 2400 dpi | FEATURES: USB and SCSI,6 2400 by 2400 dpi, 12.3-by-22.6-by-7.3-inch case,2 13.8 pounds, 8.5-by-14-inch scanning area; includes transparency adapter and ADF. SUMMARY: High-resolution $700 unit handles legal-size documents and transparencies, and blazed through our text speed tests. SCSI card and cable cost $60 extra. | |
| 2 | Microtek ScanMaker 8700 Pro Design | $1100 | 94 | Excellent | 29 @ 300 dpi | 83 @ 1200 dpi | FEATURES: USB and IEEE 1394,3 1200 by 2400 dpi, 22.3-by-15.3-by-6.3-inch case,2 25.5 pounds, 8.5-by-14-inch scanning area; built-in transparency adapter; ADF optional. SUMMARY: Powerful imaging software, great scan quality, and blazing performance. ( Dec 01)
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| 3 | Epson Perfection 2450 Photo | $399 | 94 | Excellent | 18 @ 300 dpi | 983 @ 2400 dpi | FEATURES: USB and IEEE 1394,4 2400 by 4800 dpi, 11.9-by-18.7-by-4.8-inch case,2 12.8 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area; includes transparency adapter; no optional ADF. SUMMARY: Dual-format unit with impressive scan quality, ultrahigh resolution, and a great price. ( Jan 02)
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How We Test: All scanners are tested at default settings under Windows 98 on a Gateway GP7-550 (Pentium III-550) PC with 128MB of RAM, using each scanner's bundled software. Overall rating is based on image quality (25 percent), speed (SOHO 22 percent; corporate 25 percent), ease of use (SOHO 17 percent; corporate 10 percent), features (SOHO 16 percent; corporate 20 percent), support (10 percent), and price (10 percent). Speeds are timed from start of scanning until cursor control is regained. Data based on tests designed by the PC World Test Center. For more details, see A Guide to PC World's Star Ratings.
1 At unit's maximum optical resolution.
2In order: width, depth, height.
3Tested with IEEE 1394 interface.
4Tested with USB interface.
5Priced with SCSI adapter.
6Tested with SCSI interface