Popular scanners. Tips for choosing a scanner
RUB 5,990
B11B231401 - Epson - Scanner Epson Perfection V19 (A4; 4800x4800 dpi; USB 2.0)
Maximum Y resolution 4800 dpi. USB enabled. Supports Windows OS. Supports MacOS OS. The scanner sensor type is CIS. Scanner type - flatbed. Color depth 48 bits. Maximum X resolution 4800 dpi. Maximum format - A4. Dimensions 248x39x364 mm.
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RUB 83,540
HP Scanjet Enterprise Flow 7500
Windows OS support. USB interface. Scanner type - flatbed. Display. With 24-bit color depth. ISIS standard support. Maximum format - A4. With a maximum Y resolution of 600 dpi. With a maximum resolution of X 600 dpi. With a scanning speed of black and white 50 ppm. With auto feeder capacity of 100 sheets. Automatic feeding device. TWAIN standard support. The scanner sensor type is CCD. With depth: 426 mm. With height: 211 mm. With width: 515 mm.
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RUR 6,127
Fast A4 flatbed scanner Avision FB1000 (FB1000N) (000-0793-02G)
The scanner sensor type is CIS. Maximum resolution X 1200 dpi. Maximum format - A4. USB enabled. With TWAIN support. Maximum Y resolution 1200 dpi. Scanner type - flatbed. Color depth 48 bits. Dimensions 260x43x410 mm.
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RUB 262,835
Epson WorkForce DS-70000 (tablet)
WIA standard support. With auto feeder capacity of 200 sheets. With a maximum Y resolution of 600 dpi. With a maximum resolution of X 600 dpi. Scanner type - flatbed. TWAIN standard support. Mac OS support. Maximum format - A3. Windows OS support. With 48-bit color depth. ISIS standard support. Automatic feeding device. The scanner sensor type is CCD. USB interface. With a scanning speed of 70 ppm black and white. With a color scanning speed of 70 ppm. Display. With width: 640 mm. With height: 289 mm. With depth: 521 mm.
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RUB 5,990
0269TS-Plustek OpticSlim 2610 flatbed scanner. A4 format, scanning speed 12 sec., resolution 1200 x 1200 dpi, USB interface
USB enabled. Maximum Y resolution 1200 dpi. With TWAIN support. The scanner sensor type is CIS. Supports Windows OS. Supports MacOS OS. Scanner type - flatbed. Color depth 48 bits. Maximum format - A4. Supports Linux OS. Maximum resolution X 1200 dpi. With depth: 378 mm. With height: 33 mm. With width: 257 mm.
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RUB 92,205
Avision FB6280E, A3
With a scanning speed of black and white 6 ppm. ISIS standard support. Scanner type - flatbed. Maximum format - A3. With a maximum resolution of X 600 dpi. With 24-bit color depth. USB interface. The scanner sensor type is CCD. TWAIN standard support. With a maximum Y resolution of 600 dpi. Width: 645 mm. Height: 135 mm. Depth: 428 mm.
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RUB 9,990
B11B207313 - Epson Perfection V370 Photo - A4 CCD scanner with slide adapter (scanning 35mm films and slides, 4800x9600dpi.
Scanning speed b.w. 4 ppm Scanner type - flatbed. The scanner sensor type is CCD. Maximum format - A4. Supports MacOS OS. Maximum X resolution 4800 dpi. With slide adapter. Color depth 48 bits. Supports Windows OS. USB enabled. Maximum Y resolution 9600 dpi. With width: 280 mm. With depth: 430 mm. With height: 67 mm.
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RUB 19,410
HP ScanJet Pro 2500 F1, flatbed
Maximum format - A4. With 24-bit color depth. With a scanning speed of black and white 20 ppm. With a maximum resolution of X 600 dpi. TWAIN standard support. Scanner type - flatbed. The scanner sensor type is CIS. Automatic feeding device. With auto feeder capacity of 50 sheets. Display. With a maximum Y resolution of 600 dpi. Windows OS support. Mac OS support. USB interface. With a color scanning speed of 20 ppm. With depth: 351 mm. With width: 451 mm. With height: 122 mm.
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RUB 16,125
Passport scanner Avision AVA5 Plus A5 format (000-0658-07G)
Maximum resolution X 1200 dpi. With TWAIN support. Maximum format - A5. Scanner type - flatbed. Maximum Y resolution 1200 dpi. Color depth 48 bits. The scanner sensor type is CIS. USB enabled. Scanning speed b.w. 1 ppm With ISIS support. Dimensions 275x38x270 mm.
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RUB 25,800
CANON DR-F120
The scanner sensor type is CIS. Scanner type - flatbed. With a maximum Y resolution of 600 dpi. With a color scanning speed of 10 ppm. Windows OS support. Maximum format - A4. Automatic feeding device. USB interface. With a maximum resolution of X 600 dpi. ISIS standard support. With auto feeder capacity of 50 sheets. With a scanning speed of black and white 20 ppm. TWAIN standard support. With 24-bit color depth. With height: 120 mm. With depth: 469 mm. With width: 335 mm.
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18,000 rub.
L2747A-HP Scanjet Pro 2500 f1 Flatbed Scanner. CIS scanning technology, A4 format, resolution 1200 dpi, scanning speed 20 ppm, automatic feeder for 50 sheets, duplex,
With automatic feeder. With TWAIN support. With display. The scanner sensor type is CIS. Supports Windows OS. Color depth 24 bit. Automatic feeder capacity 50 sheets. Scanner type - flatbed. Supports MacOS OS. USB enabled. Maximum resolution at X 600 dpi. Maximum format - A4. Color scanning speed 20 ppm Maximum Y resolution 600 dpi. Scanning speed b.w. 20 ppm With width: 451 mm. With height: 122 mm. With depth: 351 mm.
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RUB 256,280
Xerox DocuMate 4830i tablet
WIA standard support. ISIS standard support. Scanner type - flatbed. Display. With 24-bit color depth. The scanner sensor type is CIS. USB interface. With a scanning speed of black and white 50 ppm. With 75 sheet auto feeder capacity. With a color scanning speed of 30 ppm. Windows OS support. Automatic feeding device. With a maximum Y resolution of 600 dpi. With a maximum resolution of X 600 dpi. TWAIN standard support. Maximum format - A3. Height: 194 mm. Depth: 499 mm. Width: 582 mm.
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RUB 19,950
Document scanner Canon DR-F120 (9017B003)
USB enabled. Scanner type - flatbed. With automatic feeder. Maximum format - A4. Maximum Y resolution 600 dpi. Color scanning speed 10 ppm With TWAIN support. With ISIS support. Scanning speed b.w. 20 ppm The scanner sensor type is CIS. Color depth 24 bit. Supports Windows OS. Maximum resolution at X 600 dpi. Automatic feeder capacity 50 sheets. With height: 120 mm. With depth: 469 mm. With width: 335 mm.
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RUB 27,250
HP ScanJet Pro 3500 f1
Maximum format - A4. USB interface. With a maximum resolution of X 1200 dpi. With a scanning speed of black and white 25 ppm. TWAIN standard support. Scanner type - flatbed. Windows OS support. With a color scanning speed of 25 ppm. The scanner sensor type is CIS. With a maximum Y resolution of 1200 dpi. Mac OS support. Automatic feeding device. With auto feeder capacity of 50 sheets. Display. With 24-bit color depth. With width: 460 mm. With depth: 387 mm. With height: 145 mm.
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RUB 17,950
Mustek A3 1200S (80-239-03560, 98-239-06070)
USB enabled. Maximum Y resolution 1200 dpi. With TWAIN support. Color depth 48 bits. Maximum resolution X 1200 dpi. Maximum format - A3. Scanner type - flatbed. The scanner sensor type is CIS. Supports Windows OS. Scanning speed b.w. 10 ppm Supports MacOS OS. Dimensions 383x88x555 mm.
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RUB 14,915
Epson Perfection V550 Photo
Maximum format - A4. USB interface. With a maximum resolution of X 6400 dpi. Slide adapter. Windows OS support. Linux OS support. With a scanning speed of black and white 4 ppm. Scanner type - flatbed. With 48-bit color depth. Mac OS support. The scanner sensor type is CCD. With a maximum Y resolution of 9600 dpi. With width: 485 mm. With height: 118 mm. With depth: 280 mm.
V online store CompYou The scanners on sale can be divided into three groups. The first of them will include expensive devices with an emphasis on high resolution and good color rendition, the second - even more expensive models with high scanning speeds and automatic page feeders, and the third - on the contrary, simple and inexpensive models designed primarily for scanning various documents in relatively small volumes.Despite the pace of progress, this task is still relevant: our offices will not completely get rid of paper document flow very soon, which means that the problem of transferring documents from paper to electronic form will be relevant for just as long. A completely reasonable solution to this problem for most organizations is to purchase inexpensive, with a price of up to two to three thousand rubles, scanners of the third group listed above - after all, neither the highest speed nor the most accurate color rendition is required in such cases, a reasonable quality of scanning text documents and simple graphics.
Such models are no less relevant for home users - most of those who still use a scanner generally need it only from time to time: to scan a photo from an old album (in Internet quality) or several pages of text (in Internet quality). suitable for recognition). Of course, there is no point in buying a top price category scanner for such tasks.
In our article today, we will look at the six most popular models of inexpensive A4 flatbed scanners among buyers, paying attention to both scanning speed in various resolutions and color accuracy.
Specifications
Based on the table, you can outline the main features of a modern entry-level scanner. As you can see, the cost of such a device varies from one and a half to two to three thousand rubles; optical resolution, which, as is known, determines the class of the scanner, is in the range from 1200 dpi to 3200 dpi. For basic scanners, manufacturers do not provide for the connection of automatic feeders, since such models in any case are not characterized by high operating speed, which means that there is no special point in having an automatic feeder. Slide adapters, on the contrary, are found in some models of basic scanners, but they are rather primitive devices designed for digitizing one or two frames of 35 mm film. And it’s unlikely that the quality of slide digitization will satisfy the user, because the maximum optical density of entry-level scanners does not exceed 3.2 Dmax. I note that you rarely see this parameter in the list of technical characteristics of the base model - scanner manufacturers, for the most part, carry out the corresponding measurements only for more expensive devices. Finally, I would note that either a contact image sensor (CIS - Contact Image Sensor) or a charge coupled device (CCD, or CCD - Charge Coupled Device) can be used as a converter in a basic level scanner architecture. I will try to explain their differences and draw attention to the advantages or disadvantages in the next chapter.
CIS or CCD
So, modern scanners for home and office can be equipped with two types of sensors: CCD or CIS. In general, of course, the difference between CCD and CIS scanners is sometimes noticeable even by eye: the height of a device equipped with a contact sensor is much lower than that of its CCD counterpart. And CIS scanners, as a rule, have one less cord - the power consumption of these devices does not exceed 2.5 W, and therefore they can be powered directly from USB, without an additional mains power supply. But, of course, both CCD and CIS have their advantages and disadvantages. For ease of perception, I tried to summarize them in a small table:
The large depth of field of the CCD scanner is achieved through the use of complex
mirror and lens systems
Virtual absence of optical system
CIS scanners do not provide such
same depth of field as CCD scanners
CCD scanners are much more widespread than CIS scanners. This is explained by the fact that scanners in most cases are purchased not only for digitizing sheet documents, but also for scanning slides, negatives, books, etc. In this case, the user wants to get a scan with a good depth of field and the most accurate color rendition. And, besides, a CCD scanner conveys color shades, highlights and halftones much more strictly than a CIS scanner.
Due to its features, the CIS scanner has a relatively shallow depth of field. For comparison, for CCD scanners the depth of field is about ±30 mm, for CIS it is ten times less, ±3 mm. In other words, if you place a thick book on the tablet of such a scanner, you will get a scan with a blurred stripe in the middle (at the binding), where the original does not come into contact with the glass. With a CCD camera the whole picture will be sharp. In turn, it is the rather bulky optical system that does not allow the CCD scanner to achieve the same compact dimensions as its CIS counterpart. Let me note that the requirements for optics are very high, so rumors about “plastic mirrors” in cheap models are greatly exaggerated, if not fictitious.
The scanning carriage of a CIS device consists of an LED line that illuminates the surface of the scanned original, self-focusing microlenses (SELFOC lens) and the sensors themselves. The carriage design is very compact, so the CIS scanner is always thinner than its CCD counterpart. In addition, such devices are less sensitive to mechanical stress. However, CIS scanners are somewhat limited in their use: the devices, as a rule, are not adapted to work with slide modules and automatic document feeders, and due to the shallow depth of field, they are sometimes unable to accurately digitize thick books in their binding areas.
In terms of resolution, CIS scanners are also not a competitor to CCD. Now some models of CCD scanners for home and office have an optical resolution of about 4800 dpi, while for CIS devices the optical resolution is currently limited to 2400 dpi. But, in general, you shouldn’t discount CIS technology. All technologies are developing rapidly. Scanners with a CIS matrix have found their application where it is necessary to digitize not books, but sheet originals. The fact that these scanners are powered entirely via the USB bus and do not require an additional power source has come in handy for owners of laptop computers. They can digitize the original and convert it into a text file anywhere, without having to deal with the proximity of electrical networks, which allows them to turn a blind eye to a number of shortcomings of the contact sensor. Actually, that’s why you can answer the question “which scanner is right for me” only based on your specific requests.
Description of models
As you have already noticed, our review today includes scanners from four well-known manufacturers. Two devices are equipped with a contact sensor - these are both Canon scanners, with which, according to the alphabet, we will begin the story.Canon CanoScan LiDE 25
Canon CanoScan LiDE 25 in retail packaging
Our regular readers are familiar with many Canon scanner models: most of them have already been in our test laboratory. This did not affect only scanners based on the CIS sensor, which, however, we promised to test at the first opportunity. Such a case has come up right now, when we decided to talk about budget models - for obvious reasons, CIS scanners are found only among them.
Appearance of Canon CanoScan LiDE 25
Canon CanoScan LiDE 25 is the company's earliest scanner model, which was the first to use a scanning carriage based on a contact sensor. Proprietary LiDE (LED Indirect Exposure) technology provides a resolution of 1200x2400 dpi, which is sufficient for most home and office needs. Despite the fact that CanoScan LiDE 25 is the cheapest model among the scanners participating in the test, this fact does not detract from its advantages.
Scanner transport lock
Like all its older brothers, CanoScan LiDE 25 is also equipped with a transport lock located on the bottom of the device. This lock protects the scanning carriage from mechanical damage during transportation, so immediately after removing the scanner from the box (immediately before turning it on for the first time), it must be moved to the working position.
Quick Scan Buttons
The Canon CanoScan LiDE 25 is equipped with three "quick scan" buttons located on its front panel. These are the Scan, Copy and E-Mail buttons with the corresponding functions assigned to them. However, the scanner software allows you to reprogram them to perform other tasks.
Scanning carriage
Due to the absence of bulky optics, CanoScan LiDE 25 is much thinner and lighter than its CCD counterparts, its weight is only 1.5 kg. The scanning carriage of the device is as lightweight as possible, and does not require a powerful motor to move it. Thanks to LiDE technology, the carriage has a low-profile design, due to which the height of the device is only 34 mm - this is the thinnest scanner among those tested.
After the installation CD autoruns, the user is prompted to select applications of interest. The scanner disk contains the following programs:
ScanGear CS (25 MB) – main software shell (scanner driver);
CanoScan Toolbox (25 MB) – auxiliary utility;
ArcSoft PhotoStudio (35 MB) – image editing program;
ScanSoft OmniPage (90 MB) – optical character recognition (OCR) program;
Adobe Acrobat Reader (25 MB) – a program for viewing PDF files (in particular, manuals for using the scanner);
Scanning Guide (10 MB) – scanning guide
The main distinguishing feature of all Canon scanners is functional and unified software. In purely external terms, the driver shell of the cheapest scanner in the CanoScan line is no different from the shell of the top model of the family. Regardless of your level of preparedness, the user can easily master the operation of the scanner by choosing one of three maintenance modes: Simple mode, Advanced mode or Multi-Scan mode. If you are interested in learning more about the proprietary software for Canon scanners, please refer to the article about the Canon CanoScan 8600F on our website.
Check availability and cost of Canon CanoScan LiDE 25
Canon CanoScan LiDE 90
Canon CanoScan LiDE 90 in retail packaging
CanoScan LiDE 90 is the latest modification of Canon scanners, which are based on a contact image sensor and LiDE technology (there are currently six models in this line). The CanoScan LiDE 90 scanner, according to the manufacturer, is a modification of the LiDE 70 model. In addition to its elegant design, the new model has a higher scanning speed.
Scanner appearance
It is impossible not to once again note the work of Canon designers - the LiDE 90 model turned out to be ultra-compact, thanks to which it became not only the smallest A4 scanner, but also, probably, one of the most beautiful. Just like all LiDE models, this scanner is equipped with a contact image sensor. Unlike the LiDE 25 discussed above, the new model is equipped with a high-speed USB Hi-Speed 2.0 interface, which should give a noticeable increase in the speed of digitizing originals (especially at marginal resolutions).
Quick Scan Buttons
There are four quick scanning buttons on the front panel of the scanner: COPY, PHOTO, PDF and E-MAIL. Each of them is assigned to perform a corresponding action. The user can reassign button tasks using the utility from the software package.
Window for selecting programs to install
After the installation CD autoruns, the user is prompted to select programs to install. Their specific packages for the CanoScan line of scanners may differ slightly from each other, but this never affects the main ScanGear CS software shell, which comes with absolutely all Canon scanners.
Check availability and cost of Canon CanoScan LiDE 90
EPSON Perfection V10
EPSON Perfection V10 in retail packaging
The low-profile design of this model suggests that the manufacturer has chosen a CIS sensor as the sensor here. However, it is not. Surprisingly, the Perfection V10 uses a CCD matrix with a mercury fluorescent lamp illuminator. The secret of the scanner's unusually thin thickness, which is only 41 mm, lies in the proprietary design of the scanning carriage, namely in the way the manufacturer managed to contrive to arrange a complex system of lenses and mirrors.
What distinguishes the EPSON Perfection V10 from most scanners is its unconventional approach to the design of the tablet cover. When developing this model, the manufacturer apparently decided that the scanner should open like a book, and not like a notepad. However, this did not have the best effect on the size of the case: despite its small thickness, the V10 takes up a relatively large amount of space on the desk.
Appearance of EPSON Perfection V10
EPSON Perfection V10 is the entry-level model, and is intended primarily for those who are purchasing their first scanner and want to easily digitize documents and photos at home. In principle, you don’t have to worry about the quality of scanning - the manufacturer introduces into its even very simple models a proprietary scanning sensor made using its own Matrix CCD technology. I’ll tell you about this technology in one line: all EPSON scanners scan each of the three primary colors using two matrices shifted relative to each other by half a pixel, which allows you to increase the scanning resolution without reducing the pixel size and without degrading color rendition. Well, how well the V10 copes with digitizing originals - we will find out in our testing.
View of the scanning carriage
During our acquaintance with the Perfection V10, one feature of the device was noticed: after completing the next digitization operation, the scanning carriage of the device was positioned in the center of the tablet each time, whereas in the vast majority of scanners the carriage is positioned at its beginning. The main disadvantage of this approach is the increase in the total scanning time, to which is added the time for moving the carriage to the beginning of the tablet. However, perhaps this is just an oversight in the compilation of the scanner firmware, and in the new version everything will fall into place - in the literal sense of the word.
Quick Scan Buttons
The scanner is equipped with four large square quick scanning buttons, which are located on the top plane of the body. Each has its own icon corresponding to the functional purpose of the button.
Window for selecting programs to install
The V10 comes with a powerful software package that is functionally virtually identical to the similar software package for older Perfection scanner models. When the installation CD autoruns, the user is given the opportunity to select the following programs:
EPSON Scan driver;
User's Guide;
EPSON EasyPrintModule utility for outputting scans to a printer;
Branded scanner profiles ICC Profiles (Adobe);
ArcSoft PhotoImpression;
Optical character recognition program ABBYY FineReader 6.0 Sprint Plus;
EPSON Copy Utility;
EPSON Creativity Suite;
EPSON Online Registration Application
Our test laboratory has already tested quite a lot of different EPSON scanners, and whether it’s an expensive or, conversely, a cheap model, they all have one thing in common: traditional unified software. From model to model, the company's programmers supplement the proprietary software with functions that are used in a particular device, but the scanning process control scheme almost never undergoes significant changes. The good news is that the user is free to choose the scanning mode himself, based on his level of preparedness. Even in the control of a professional scanner model, you can use the fully automatic mode if you do not want to delve into many settings. And, on the contrary, in the cheapest model, which includes the Perfection V10, you can turn on the professional mode of the control application and “squeeze” everything that it is capable of from the scanner. The interested reader can find a detailed story about the proprietary scanning program from EPSON on our website in previous articles in the “Scanners” section.
Check availability and cost of Epson Perfection V10
Genius HR-Slim2400TA
Genius HR-Slim2400TA in retail packaging
Genius scanners appeared on the computer market quite a long time ago, and almost immediately became a good alternative to more expensive devices from such well-known giants as AGFA, EPSON, HP and UMAX. But the sharp rise at one time culminated in the future only with an uncertain maintenance of the achieved height, while competitors did not get tired of improving both the software and hardware parts of their products.
Appearance of the Genius HR-Slim2400TA scanner with
slide module on glass
The scanner body with an unpronounceable name is made of gray plastic in a streamlined shape. There is a transport lock on the bottom of the device that protects the scanning carriage from mechanical damage. The scanner comes with an external plug-in module for scanning transparent originals (35mm slides and film). The connection connectors are located on the back wall of the scanner.
The scanner is equipped with a CCD matrix providing an optical resolution of 2400 dpi and a white cold cathode fluorescent lamp.
Quick Scan Buttons
The scanner's front panel has seven quick scan buttons that start the digitizing process with preset parameters. Each of them has an icon corresponding to the functional purpose of the button.
Window for selecting programs to install
After launching the installation CD, a window for selecting programs appears in front of the user. As a control program for the Genius HR-Slim2400TA, it is proposed to install a driver from a third-party manufacturer, namely ScanWizard 5. But, if I’m not mistaken, ScanWizard 5 comes with all Microtek scanners? Then what does the Genius scanner have to do with it? I was not too lazy to go to the website of this manufacturer in order to clarify whether Microtek by any chance had a “twin brother” of the scanner in question. It turned out that there is. This is a Microtek ScanMaker 5800 scanner, which both externally (especially the same seven quick scan buttons) and technical specifications is a complete analogue of the device in question. Moreover, the slide adapter included in the package is an exact copy of the Microtek LightLid 35 module. Well, thus, the Microtek ScanMaker 5800 scanner also takes part in our testing, only with “interrupted numbers”.
ScanWizard 5 scanning program window
ScanWizard 5 is aimed at the advanced user rather than the beginner. In terms of the number of settings, it is in no way inferior to the SilverFast program developed by LaserSoft. If a potential buyer has the patience to master all the capabilities included in it, then the purchase of this scanner model can be considered successful.
Check availability and cost of Genius HR-Slim2400TA
HP Scanjet G2410
HP Scanjet G2410 in retail packaging
As if to show us all that HP-branded hardware is constantly being worked on, the company is once again changing the appearance of its packaging boxes, which, however, does not in any way affect their contents.
Appearance of HP Scanjet G2410
The design of this scanner was completely inherited from the HP Scanjet 2400. Despite the fact that the G2410 is a modern modification, for some reason the manufacturer did not bother to equip the device with a high-speed interface port. Like its predecessor, the G2410 transmits data to the host computer via low-speed USB 1.1.
The scanner is equipped with a CCD sensor that provides an optical resolution of 1200 dpi. A white fluorescent lamp with a cold cathode is used as an illuminator.
Two quick scan buttons
The front panel of the scanner also contains two quick scan buttons with corresponding icons.
Window for selecting programs to install
The proprietary scanning program that comes with the device, as before, does not shine with functionality. Moreover, this primitive program is included in the kits of all HP scanners without exception: whether it is a top model or an entry-level scanner, the user will equally encounter the inconveniences with which it abounds. I note that the driver for the scanner requires 225 MB of disk space for installation. At the same time, it cannot be said that its interface is overloaded with graphics.
Check availability and cost of HP Scanjet G2410
HP Scanjet G2710
HP Scanjet G2710 in retail packaging
Among all the participants, this device is the tallest (its height is 67 mm) and the longest, with its dimensions only slightly inferior to the Genius scanner. The G2710 will take up a lot of space on your desktop. The tablet cover is quite heavy, as it is made of a sheet of transparent plexiglass with inserts.
Appearance of HP Scanjet G2710
The slide adapter module is built into the lid and is designed to scan two slides per pass. And directly on the lid of the tablet there are three quick scanning buttons.
Quick launch buttons are located on the tablet cover
The device does not have a transport lock, so its scanning carriage is in no way protected from impacts during transportation. As if on purpose, so that I would pay attention to this, the first G2710 we received turned out to have broken mechanics and was sent to the defect department.
There is no blanking panel on the inside of the tablet cover, so access to the slide adapter is always open. When digitizing small reflective originals, such as 4x6" photographs, the preliminary scan constantly makes mistakes in determining the boundaries of the document, capturing elements of the slide adapter.
The G2710 software is similar to the G2410 software. It has the same problems and the same low functionality. For example, it is very inconvenient that the driver does not remember the settings from the previous scan, which have to be set anew each time. Once the digitizing process is complete, the program closes automatically, without expecting the user to, for example, need to scan the next original with the same settings.
As a result, in terms of their software interface, today HP scanners are by far the worst among the models that have been in our laboratory. It would do well for the manufacturer to think about completely reworking the software for its scanners, making the driver more functional and convenient. Otherwise, I'm afraid that even a new design of the packaging box will not make up for the buyer's disappointment.
Check availability and cost of HP Scanjet G2710
Testing
The participating models were tested on a computer with the following system configuration:
Processor Intel Pentium 4 3.40 GHz;
RAM 1 GB;
Intel Bonanza D875PBZ motherboard;
ATI Radeon 7000 video card;
Hard drive Samsung HD300LD;
Monitor Samsung SyncMaster 757 NF;
Operating system Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
Scan speed
They once showed on TV how books were scanned in the Lenin Library: the digitization process there involved flipping pages, pressing a single key between actions. And the result appears almost instantly on the computer screen. Of course, SOHO-class flatbed scanners cannot boast such high performance, but potential buyers want to see task performance indicators in the merits of the selected model, and not in the list of its shortcomings. The speed characteristics of the scanner depend on many parameters, among which the most important role is played by the power of the system configuration of the receiving computer. On this side, it is desirable to have the maximum possible amount of RAM (especially when scanning at extreme resolutions), a powerful processor, a fast hard drive, and so on. On the scanner side, the final time for completing the task may be supplemented by the time for warming up its illuminator (if, for example, it is a mercury-based lamp), as well as restrictions on data transfer via the communication interface with the receiving computer. This is especially noticeable if the model is equipped with the legacy USB 1.1 interface (or USB 2.0 Full-Speed, which is actually the same thing), which has a throughput of 12 Mbps (versus 480 Mbps for USB 2.0 Hi-Speed). Today, almost all modern SOHO scanners are equipped with a high-speed USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface, and our testing will certainly show the time gain compared to outdated models.
To determine the speed qualities of the participating scanners, it was decided to use two standard originals: a 10x15 cm photograph and an A4 sheet.
Digitization of a standard 10x15 cm photograph was carried out in 24-bit color mode with automatic driver settings at reference resolutions of 150 dpi, 300 dpi, 600 dpi and 1200 dpi. The job execution time was calculated from the moment the Scan button was pressed until the carriage was returned and the data was transferred to the control application. The time required to warm up or calibrate the scanner was not taken into account. The measurement data is summarized in the following graphs:
Digitization speed of a standard photograph 10x15 cm
Digitization of a standard A4 sheet was carried out at the same reference resolutions, but in Grayscale mode.
Digitization speed of a standard A4 sheet
As you can see, some scanners had difficulty reaching the limiting resolutions, and quite a lot of precious time wasted on the work. But if high-speed digitization at 1200 dpi was not expected from devices with a USB 1.1 interface (these are HP Scanjet G2410 and Canon CanoScan LiDE 25 scanners), then the HP Scanjet G2710, which, as we remember, runs on USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, showed absolutely no results. impressive results. The reason here is rather in the scanner itself, which began to transmit data not synchronously with the movement of the carriage, but only after it returned; At the same time, at low resolutions the G2710 showed, on the contrary, excellent results. Additionally, I note that the Scanjet G2710 and Scanjet G2410 driver always closes its window after scanning is completed, resetting all previously made settings upon subsequent startup. Unfortunately, there are no options for other driver settings. So, when digitizing many documents, the user will have to spend additional time each time setting the necessary parameters (including delimiting the original). Scanner drivers from other manufacturers are free of such “childhood diseases”.
The EPSON Perfection V10 scanner could perform better if it positioned its carriage at the beginning rather than in the middle of the tablet. In this regard, the time required to reposition the scanning carriage was added to the task completion time.
The best scanners for this chapter of testing: EPSON Perfection V10 and Canon CanoScan LiDE 90.
It is also worth noting that when scanning text for recognition, you should not get carried away with too high resolutions: 150 or 300 dpi is quite enough for confident character recognition, and the scanning time with such settings is much less than with 600 dpi.
Profiling
This chapter of testing will help you assess the degree of color match or discrepancy between the sample and its reproduction. As a sample, we use a special color target KODAK Q-60 R2 standard IT8.7/2, and as a reproduction - a scan of this target in a resolution of 1200 dpi, produced in 24-bit color with color correction options disabled in the driver. The digital values of the color areas of the original target are known in advance - they are provided by its manufacturer (in our case, KODAK). Using a special program, we can determine how much the scanner distorted the colors, calculate corrective corrections (which will bring the colors received from the scanner closer to the real colors of the target), save them in a so-called profile, which, when further used with the scanner, will automatically correct the color distortions it introduces . In addition, the profiling procedure allows you to determine the color gamut of the scanner, that is, the range of colors that its sensor normally recognizes.
Below are the color gamut diagrams of the participating scanners obtained during our testing:
A quick clarification: the horseshoe-shaped area on the CIE diagram represents the entire range of colors that are perceived by the human eye. The triangular color gamut zone marked on it is the range of colors that the sensor of the scanner being tested “sees”. It should be noted here that in the case of scanners, we cannot directly measure the coordinates of the vertices of the triangle (unlike, for example, monitors), and therefore it is built approximately based on the color coordinates of various sections of the IT8.7 target - each section corresponds to points on the diagram. In this regard, the vertices of the triangle may slightly extend into the non-physical region beyond the horseshoe, but, nevertheless, comparing scanners by the total area of the triangle is quite correct. Also, next to the above-mentioned points on the diagram, you can notice short yellow vectors: they are equal to the color difference ΔE of the original and the scan for the corresponding area of the target.
You can determine the values of each of the color gamut zones, for which you only need to measure the areas of the triangles. Their vertices are given in Primaries coordinates (R(XY), G(XY), B(XY)) during profiling, so calculating the lengths of the sides of the triangle, the semi-perimeter and its area is not difficult. To make the assessment clearer, you can also estimate the areas of our triangles relative to the widest color gamut zone, Wide Gamut RGB (for reference, this zone covers 77.6% of all visible colors), and at the same time present the results in the form of a graph.
Wide Gamut RGB profile in CIE color space
sRGB IEC61966-2.1 profile in CIE color space – compliant
coverage of most monitors
Color gamut areas of scanners in relation to profiles
Wide Gamut RGB and sRGB IEC61966-2.1
At this stage of testing, the EPSON Perfection V10 scanner demonstrated excellent results - its sensor has the widest color gamut. On the contrary, as we can see, the HP Scanjet G2410 and Scanjet G2710 scanners, after profiling, obtained the narrowest color gamut zones, which in comparison turned out to be even smaller than the standard sRGB. This is explained by the fact that the scanner driver developers did not bother to completely disable color correction, which tries to bring the scanner gamut to sRGB, thereby depriving their users of the opportunity to fully use the output of scanned images to photo printers, the color gamuts of which, as is known, are much larger than the sRGB zone.
The following diagrams are based on the results of calculating the difference between the colors of the original target and its reproduction. The gray scale of the KODAK Q60-R2 IT8.7/2 color target was studied. If we talk about specific numbers, then ΔE values less than 1.0 are considered ideal, within 3.0 - acceptable, and more than 5.0 - bad. On average, the human eye is able to distinguish two color shades if the difference between them is ΔE>3.0.
The graph allows you to determine the scanner for which color correction
most needed
Scanner color mismatch measurements for all areas of the IT8.7/2 target were obtained automatically and averaged into a single ΔE estimate. Let me remind you: the higher the ΔE value, the worse it is. You can see the graph below:
Average ΔE values of all areas of the color target
Scan quality
Another aspect of the scanner's accuracy - which primarily affects its actual maximum resolution - is the accuracy of high-contrast color transitions. Below are scans of a section of the QA69 target with a border of black and white colors - ideally, this border should not only be clear, but also without any noticeable color border.
Applied Image QA-69-P-RM Test Target
Fragment of the QA-69 target for study
The QA-69 target was digitized at a resolution of 1200 dpi in color mode. For each of the six fragments, a graph of the color fade at the border of the high-contrast transition was built, however, even without it, everything is perfectly visible (graphs - follow the links under the pictures).
Scanner Canon CanoScan LiDE 25
Scanner Canon CanoScan LiDE 90
EPSON Perfection V10 Scanner
Scanner Genius HR-Slim2400TA
HP Scanjet G2410 Scanner
HP Scanjet G2710 Scanner
The same color reflective target KODAK IT8/7/2 Q-60R2 was chosen as a sample for digitization, by which one could judge the scanning quality of a particular device. The good thing about the target is that it allows you to evaluate the results of digitization using several indicators at once. This is color rendition in three zones (highlights, midtones and shadows), gradation transitions of primary colors, a grayscale scale and reproduction of flesh tones with the addition of a photograph of the girl’s face. Target scanning parameters were set in accordance with three main modes: without color correction, using a proprietary ICM profile, and with automatic tonal correction (recommended settings mode). The scan results, which will help you decide on your own preferences, are presented below:
Genius HR-Slim2400TA
A small comment. As you can see, in the recommended settings mode, this scanner greatly overexposes the image. I also note that the HP Scanjet G2410 driver completely lacks the option to use profiles for the scanner. I had to resort to some tricks to finally get the desired image (with the color profile applied).
HP Scanjet G2710
"Recommended""Color Matching""None"
Conclusion
Our testing today has come to an end, and now it’s time to summarize. The truly best scanner can be called the Canon CanoScan LiDE 90, which is remembered not only for its magnificent ultra-compact design, but also for its good speed characteristics for a basic-level device. The scanner is perfect for working in a small office, and can be trusted not only to digitize text documents, but also photographs. In addition, the scanner's functional and intuitive software will appeal to both professionals and beginners alike. We should not forget about the autonomy of LiDE 90, which the scanner was able to achieve thanks to the use of a contact sensor and, accordingly, low power consumption.The EPSON Perfection V10 scanner takes second place, in no way inferior to the winner in terms of speed and software functionality. However, such a scanner will take up much more space on the desktop, and it is unlikely to fit into the interior as organically as the LiDE 90. The V10 also did not perform very well in the test for color accuracy in terms of deviation ΔE.
The Genius device is in no way inferior to the winners in terms of speed. The scanner is good for its wide color gamut and reliable color rendition. However, the terrible design of the HR-Slim2400TA, alas, is unlikely to please anyone's eyes.
We can only say one thing about HP Scanjet scanners: the outcome was expected. As long as the company is only focused on changing the appearance of packaging boxes, forgetting about improving their contents, its scanners are unlikely to snatch stars from the sky. In no case do I recommend HP Scanjet scanners for purchase either for your home or for work in the office - and the problem here is both not the best hardware characteristics and categorically inconvenient software.
Cloud antivirus scanners are useful tools for additional analysis of suspicious files, and users do not need to install the program to perform the scan.
Online scanners have been tested
When selecting test participants, the finalists of the Digital Citizen Awards 2016 were primarily used. The researchers checked whether the vendor offered an online scanning tool. Unfortunately, not all companies offer such opportunities, and not all tools are of high quality.
As a result, the following products and services took part in testing: , and .
It quickly became clear that not all products are classic online scanners that run in a browser. Many antivirus vendors now offer standalone utilities that you download and install on your computer. They can work together with the main anti-virus protection without conflicts or performance problems. They can only be used when it is necessary to further check the security status of the system.
Important note: This test does not include full-fledged antivirus products. The trial involves free tools that can be used to scan and evaluate system security. These programs are not intended to replace basic security solutions, in particular antiviruses, firewalls, and anti-spyware tools. They should be used to complement antivirus protection and help identify potential system problems that may be caused by malware.
How was the testing procedure?
First, the concept and architecture of the product were clarified - whether it was a classic online scanner, a standalone application, or a hybrid version of the two approaches. Before installing or launching the product under test, the test system was infected with malicious objects. Then they visited dangerous websites with unwanted cookies and offers to install toolbars and malware.
After the researchers were convinced that the system was infected and dangerous files were stored on the disk, the scanners were launched sequentially. The time it took to scan the system, the number of samples detected, the threat information provided, and the proposed solutions were recorded. The scans were performed on a 20 gigabyte partition with 17 gigabytes of occupied space. The test machine was running Windows 10 with Windows Defender disabled, and 17 malware programs were forced to run on the system.
One of the real online scanners. However, you cannot run the scanner in all browsers. Bitdefender QuickScan supports Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. A distinctive feature of the scanner is its high speed of operation - checking the test system took less than one minute.
Unfortunately, Bitdefender QuickScan simply tells you whether the system is infected or not and does not tell you the name of the active threat. The user does not receive any additional information; he is asked to install a 3-month trial version of Bitdefender Internet Security to disinfect the system.
This tool works quickly and smoothly, but is of dubious value to users. Other vendors offer more interesting alternatives.
A cloud scanner that is presented as a standalone program available for download and installation on Windows computers. You will immediately notice that the scanner looks more like a full-fledged antivirus solution. The user interface offers a large number of options and settings, as well as several types of system analysis: quick, full or custom scans.
A quick scan of the test system with Comodo Cloud Antivirus completed in 2 minutes, and only one malicious sample was detected. This is a weak result, so an additional full scan of the system was carried out. This time the scan took 59 minutes, and Comodo was able to detect 13 out of 17 malware.
Comodo Cloud Antivirus is one of the few antivirus scanners that can remove detected threats. Users appreciate this feature.
One of the best online scanners. The product is available as a standalone Windows application that can be downloaded and run on your computer. Before running a scan, ESET automatically downloads the latest signatures to your computer and allows you to configure scan settings. By default, ESET Online Scanner is configured to scan your computer completely: RAM, startup items and local drives. The user can set automatic cleaning of detected threats, scanning of archives, and scanning for potentially unwanted applications.
A full system scan took over 29 minutes and ESET was able to recognize all 17 test samples. For each individual malware, ESET displayed the name and path of location. It is noteworthy that after the scan is completed, the user can configure the removal of scanner files from the system.
ESET products are promoted discreetly and unobtrusively. ESET Online Scanner copes well with the tasks of a secondary scanner and demonstrated high efficiency in the test.
Another standalone program that needs to be downloaded and run first. Before performing the scan, the product downloads the latest signature definitions.
F-Secure Online Scanner then begins scanning the system for malware. The user cannot configure anything and cannot select the type of verification - the entire process is performed automatically.
If F-Secure Online Scanner detects infected files, the product asks you to reboot the system in order to clean up the threats. If you wish, you can view information about the location of threats and the total number of infected files - if this is not enough, you can go to the website to obtain additional data about the malware found.
F-Secure Online Scanner is one of the fastest scanners, scanning a test system with a 20 GB partition in less than a minute. F-Secure ultimately detected 12 out of 17 viruses.
Another scanner in standalone application format. The program has a simple and intuitive interface and allows you to perform quick or full system scans and even create a schedule for regular scans. By default, the tool checks the system twice a week. Unfortunately, you cannot change the frequency of checks, but you can specify specific days of the week when they should be run.
A quick system scan took 2 minutes and resulted in 2 threats being detected. The full scan took 52 minutes, Kaspersky detected 9 malware.
Scan results are presented in several categories:
- Malware - all detected infected files
- System protection - shows whether anti-virus protection is installed on the system
- Other problems - Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer configuration problems are displayed.
If you want to remove detected threats or fix detected problems, Kaspersky Security Scan will redirect you to the vendor’s website to download a trial version or purchase a commercial solution.
It has a long and complicated name, but it really is a very simple Windows application that scans your computer for threats and security issues. McAfee Security Scan Plus automatically updates its files on startup, and the product scanned a test system in less than a minute. Unfortunately, the user cannot set scan parameters. On the test system, McAfee detected only one malicious file out of 17.
It's hard to find reasons to regularly scan your computer with McAfee, but McAfee Security Scan Plus makes it possible. The user can schedule checks at their convenience.
McAfee Security Scan Plus does not offer a cleaning function, so the only sample it detected remained active on the system. When you select the protection option, the tool will redirect you to the McAfee website to purchase a McAfee Total Protection subscription for 3 computers. Don't you think this is too much for one infected device?
A desktop application that needs to be downloaded and installed on your computer. When launched, the program automatically downloads the latest antivirus definitions and scan engine updates. Norton Security Scan scans systems not only for malware, but also for suspicious cookies and potentially dangerous applications.
When you hover your mouse over a detected threat, Norton displays detailed information about it. After installation, Norton Security Scan automatically starts scanning the system; on a test machine, the product detected 12 malware in 2 minutes. Unfortunately, the user cannot configure the scan, and removal of detected threats is also not available.
When you click the “Fix now” button, Norton Security Scan will send you to the website and recommendations for downloading Norton products.
Proven high accuracy and efficiency. The product comes as a separate application that must be downloaded and installed on your Windows system. Before scanning starts, Panda downloads the latest signatures automatically. The user can run a quick scan or a custom scan.
When the scan is completed, Panda Cloud Cleaner displays a report of detected malware and PUPs, unknown files and suspicious policies, and items that can be removed.
When you select a separate section, you can view detailed information about detected problems.
The quick scan took 8 minutes to complete and found 13 infected files, while the full scan took 32 minutes and was able to detect 17 malicious samples. The high detection rate makes Panda Cloud Cleaner a testing favorite.
A standalone application that needs to be downloaded and run on your computer. When launched, the product automatically downloads the latest signatures. The program interface is extremely simple. Using the settings button, the user can select quick, full or custom scans.
The quick scan completed in 7 minutes and found 3 infected files. A full system scan took 462 minutes (and this was not an error!) and allowed 11 files to be recognized. The long scanning times tested the patience of the researchers.
For each malicious object, the name, exact location, type and severity level are displayed. On the plus side, Trend Micro HouseCall allows you to remove malicious elements, which users appreciate.
Trend Micro HouseCall is an innovative product that has capabilities that most free scanners do not have. Low scanning speed and average detection level do not allow Trend Micro to get closer to the leaders.
Review of results
Summary data on the test results are presented in the table:
If you are trying to choose a good cloud scanner, this is probably the best option. We also recommend and, located in 2nd and 3rd place in the ranking, respectively. All of the programs listed are reliable security tools that were able to detect most threats. All three products allow you to clean the system and do not force you to install additional security programs. When you are faced with an infection, this will be a big plus.
Almost all other products have shown low efficiency in detecting malware and are purely informational in nature, not allowing you to remove dangerous objects. They are basically marketing tools designed to sell commercial solutions.
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These devices are needed for converting documents and photographs into digital form - if your work involves handling a large amount of paper or processing images taken with analog cameras, then a scanner is a must-have. Most often, scanners are found in offices, sometimes in homes, but in recent years the need for their home use has dropped significantly due to the spread of digital cameras and smartphones, photos from which do not need to be scanned.
The scanner is also useful for artists who use pencil, brushes and other “analog” tools instead of a digital graphics tablet.
In the next section, we will talk about the important characteristics of scanners that should be taken into account when choosing, then we will give some useful tips, and at the end of the article we will talk about ten models worthy of your attention that can be bought from sellers in our catalog.
Key Features You Should Pay Attention To
The two most common types of scanners are broach scanners and flatbed scanners. The first ones are intended only for converting documents and photographs/pictures on separate sheets of paper into digital form. During scanning, the sheets move with the help of a motor relative to the stationary sensor of the device. The second type of scanners is designed for scanning both individual documents and books and other storage media. It is worth noting that the scanning speed of broaching scanners is much higher - when using a flatbed model, after scanning each page/sheet, you will have to manually place a new one on the scanner glass.
Sensor type
Modern scanners use two types of sensors - CIS and CCD. The first type is used in low-cost and mid-budget models, as well as in broaching scanners. It allows you to achieve good quality materials and make the scanner quite thin.
CCD sensors are much more complex, more expensive and larger. They are used in quality flatbed scanners that are designed for scanning photographs and other media that require high precision. CCD scanners have excellent color reproduction and depth of field. The disadvantage of such scanners is their large size and slowness.
Light source type
The vast majority of models use LEDs to illuminate scanned materials - they are small, heat up quickly and consume little energy. Sometimes there are xenon lamps (significant energy consumption, excellent quality, small size and minimal warm-up time) and cold cathode fluorescent lamps (long warm-up time, excellent image quality). Most likely, your future scanner will have LED backlighting.
Maximum paper size
Most scanners can process A4 or smaller sheets. If you are going to scan larger media, then be sure to purchase the appropriate model - it will be larger and more expensive, but it will allow you to scan, say, A3 sheets without having to cut or fold them, and then further process the received data on a computer. However, in most cases an A4 scanner is quite enough.
Resolution, dpi
The main characteristic of any scanner. It describes the accuracy of converting analog information into digital form - the number of pixels per inch. If you are not engaged in professional work with printing materials and photographs, then a resolution of 600x600 (horizontal and vertical) or 1200x1200 dpi will be sufficient. If you need maximum quality, then the limit of perfection rises to 4800x4800 dpi. Naturally, models with higher resolution, all other things being equal, are much more expensive.
Color depth, bits
Another important characteristic of all scanners, which determines their purpose. Most office and home scanners are 24-bit, that is, they use 8 bits for each color of the RGB palette. Scanners for professional photographers and designers are more capable - they use 48-bit color, which allows them to achieve almost perfect color rendition and process the resulting materials on a PC without losing their quality.
Scan speed
Mostly depends on the type of scanner. As already mentioned, broaching models cope with scanning much faster. If you need a printer for a large number of documents, buy a continuous printer; if you need high-quality photos and printing, take a look at slow tablet models.
USB powered
Not too large scanner models allow power to be supplied via a computer’s USB port, so they can be used on the road in conjunction with a laptop (or simply not clutter up your workplace with another cable). As a rule, this applies to inexpensive models.
Connection interfaces
The vast majority of modern scanners connect to a PC using a USB port. Some high-end models can also use a fast FireWire (IEEE 1394) port. In addition, sometimes there are models with an optional connection via a local network - wired (Ethernet) or wireless (Wi-Fi). The latter are intended for use in offices with many client computers.
Slide adapter
This adapter allows you to scan documents on transparent media - for example, developed photographic film. These adapters are rarely used, but if your work requires scanning such media, then you cannot do without them.
Automatic feeder
The presence of an automatic autofeeder allows you to quickly scan a large number of documents (depending on the capacity of the autofeeder - usually 30-60 sheets). This device can be single-sided (automatically scans sheets on one side only) or double-sided (automatically scans both sides of sheets and flips or scans simultaneously). Scanners with an automatic feeder are designed for use in the offices of large companies.
Be sure to pay attention to the printer's support for various operating systems. If you use Mac OS X or Linux, then the purchased model must have drivers for them, otherwise the printer simply will not work (or will not work correctly).
Designate a space on your desk or shelf. Consider the weight and dimensions of your future scanner - this applies to all computer peripherals.
Even if you are going to use the scanner in an office environment, this does not mean that you will need an autofeeder and a fast feed model. Estimate in advance the number of documents that will have to be scanned - you can often save money by doing this.
A scanner combined with a printer can be used as a copier - this also allows you to save on the purchase of additional peripherals.
