12/21/2011

Canon CanoScan LiDE 60 Color Image Scanner Review

Canon CanoScan LiDE 60 Color Image Scanner
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This scanner is very light and compact. No annoying AC power brick to get in your way as it gets power from USB connection. Small enough to slip into a notebook bag for traveling. Uses small LED light bar instead of traditional fluorescent bulb to perform scan allowing for smaller footprint. A nice touch is the included stand so you can mount it upright on a desk. However, in order to scan this way, the document must be flat else it will fall off the platen before you can close the lid.
Very pleased with scan speed due in part to its high speed USB 2.0 connection. For 200 dpi B/W docs, speed is not much different from my old scanner. The speed of this scanner really shines for color dpi settings of 600 and above. I can scan a 1200 dpi photo in less than a minute. My old scanner took several minutes to perform the same feat.
An important consideration for any scanner is its scan driver. An excellent scanner with a crappy driver will yield disappointing results. The LiDE 60 has an excellent driver with modes for beginners and experts. I had 20+ year old photos that were faded and by setting the fade correction in the driver software, I got scans which looked better with more accurate color than the original photos. It can also scan multiple photos in one pass and the driver will automatically crop and save each photo as a separate file. A great time saver if you're scanning lots of photos.
This scanner does not have a transparency adapter, so if you want to scan 35mm photo negatives or slides you'll need a different scanner. Some may be turned off that it's "only" 1200 dpi, whereas some scanners on the market in this price range are 2400 dpi or higher. Unless you plan to scan 4x6 photos and make lots of 11x17 blowups, 1200 dpi is more than enough if all you plan to do is scan photos to save on your computer. I use 600 dpi for scanning photos. I've done comparisons of a photo scanned at 600 and 1200 and barely notice a difference even at high magnification. Plus the jpeg file size of a 1200 dpi scan is about 3 times larger than that of a 600 dpi scan.
The only annoyance is the high pitched noise it makes as the light bar moves across the platen, particularly at 300 dpi or less. It's much quieter using resolutions higher than 300 dpi because the light bar moves more slowly. This is a minor nitpick as you get used to it after a few scans. I really like this scanner and highly recommend it. You get a lot of value for the price.

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CanoScan LiDE 60 Flatbed Scanner

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12/20/2011

HP LaserJet 3390 All-in-One Printer/Copier/Scanner/Fax (Q6500A#ABA) Review

HP LaserJet 3390 All-in-One Printer/Copier/Scanner/Fax (Q6500A#ABA)
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Having owned an HP 3330 multifunction (from 2002) I thought this new 2006 model can only be better. Well, it is in some ways....I guess.
The 3390 adds duplex printing and has a built-in JetDirect for network based printing and sharing, but other than that it doesn't seem to be any different than the recently discontinued 3380. And for that matter its not a whole lot different than the 4 year old 3330. Fairly sad product innovation on HP's part considering that the competition is offering some credible new features in this class of product.
Comparing the new Brother 8860DN and the HP 3390 side by side proves the Brother is superior in most things. Since this is an HP 3390 review, I'll refer you to my Brother 8860 review for more details.
Its not all doom and gloom with the 3390, I just feel for the $700 price they are asking, HP could have added a bit more innovation.
Things missing from the HP that I wish were included:
1) duplex scanning from document feeder
2) faster scanning (its S-L-O-W)
3) a legal size scan glass (realtors still use legal paper)
4) fax forward to email
Other annoyances:
The 3390 has only been out for a few weeks, however they've already revisioned the software from V1.0 to V1.1 and now V2.0. HP has also released two firmware updates in that tims as well. Sounds good, assuming all problems are resolved, however they are not! In the couple days I used this printer, I found the following issues:
1) the TWAIN interface for the scanner will often give warning messages about the document feeder and these warnings don't make sense. Bypassing them resolves the problem. Plus the TWAIN interface counts the pages backwards (ex: 6 of 2 instead of 2 of 6).
2) I have experienced issues where printing a document from Word will cause all text to be truncated on the paper.
3) TWAIN interface will not work with the Windows XP built-in fax program.
4) If you turn off your 3390 the HP toolbox program will sometimes hang.
So, all in all its a decent machine. For anyone looking for a no nonsense multifunction this will do the job. For $200 less you can also get the Brother 8860 that will do everything the same plus more.

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The HP LaserJet 3390 All-in-One Printer/Copy/Scanner is a revolutionary office machine that prints, copies, faxes, and scans. Its versatility, productivity, fast performance, and legendary HP reliability make it a must for every business. The LaserJet 3390 offers high-quality black-and-white printing, black-and-white copying, black-and-white faxing, and black-and-white and color scanning. Supremely efficient and incredibly convenient, this all-in-one unit will help increase office productivity. The Performance You Need The LaserJet 3390 is designed to let you accomplish more work in less time. This system makes high-quality copies and prints at speeds of up to 22 pages per minute (ppm), so it won't hold you up or slow down your busy workday. In fact, the LaserJet 3390 delivers fast first-page out speeds of less than 11 seconds when copying, and less than 8.5 seconds when printing so you won't waste valuable time waiting for output. In other words, with the LaserJet 3390 you can pick up your completed job before most other devices have even begun to warm up! You'll also enjoy superior quality with genuine HP cartridges. With HP Smart printing technology, the HP print cartridge and the device work together to achieve consistent, outstanding print quality, enhanced reliability, and a system that is easy to use, manage, and maintain. Automatic alerts let you know when the cartridge is low or out, and you can depend on convenient online ordering with HP SureSupply. The enhanced finishing features also allow for greater flexibility while standard automatic two-sided printing helps you conserve paper. Plus, this compact desktop product multi-tasks; if someone is printing or copying, you can still receive that important fax you've been waiting for. The Productivity You Deserve The LaserJet 3390 lets you maintain your momentum with an optional 250-sheet input tray that offers a total input capacity of up to 500 sheets. This high capacity means you can print more pages with less intervention and depend on the product to be ready when you need it. The LaserJet 3390 also effortlessly handles your volume demands with a 64 MB memory (expandable to 192 MB), 4 MB FAX memory, and a fast, reliable engine. This machine can truly take on even your biggest, most complex jobs. Plus, for optimum convenience and to save you time, the HP ToolboxFX lets you interact with the LaserJet 3390 from the comfort of your own desk, with configuration, status, and support for every feature. The LaserJet 3390 prints complex documents with built-in support for HP PCL5e, HP PCL6, and HP postscript level 3 emulation. You can also easily and reliably connect multiple users with standard 10/100Base-T Ethernet networking or take advantage of easy direct connections with the hi-speed USB 2.0 port. Speed, Connectivity, and Included Software The LaserJet 3390 gives you many time and money saving options, while delivering optimum productivity. The fast print speed of up to 22 ppm, as well as the monthly volume of up to 10,000 pages, ensures that you won't waste time either waiting for jobs or continually replacing paper. The print quality is up to 1200 x 1200 dpi so you can count on the sharpness of your documents. Fast and reliable, the fax machine speed dials up to 120 numbers and 119 group dials and has a resolution up to 300 x 300 dpi. To help ensure that all your copies are clear and readable, the copier can be adjusted to reduce/enlarge each document from 25 to 400 percent while the scanner offers a hardware resolution of up to 19200 dpi. The LaserJet 3390 comes with a variety of software to keep your system running smoothly. The software package includes: HP ToolboxFX, HP LaserJet Scan, TWAIN 1.9 or WIA scanner drivers, HP LaserJet Fax, HP Fax Setup Wizard, Readiris PRO text recognition software (not installed with other software, separate installation required), printer drivers (HP PCL 5e, HP PCL 6, HP PostScript Level 3 emulation), installer/uninstaller, and for Macintosh users, HP Director. The LaserJet 3390 comes with a one-year limited warranty.
What's in the Box HP LaserJet 3390 printer/copy/scanner, power cord, HP LaserJet Q5949A black print cartridge, getting started guide, support flyer, CD-ROMs (software and documentation), control panel faceplate, ADF input support, and phone cord.

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12/19/2011

Epson Stylus NX115 All-in-One (C11CA46212) Review

Epson Stylus NX115 All-in-One (C11CA46212)
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First things first: this is a very inexpensive all in one. Don't expect it to be as good in overall build quality and features as the expensive models from Epson or competitors.
That being said, this is a fully competent copier/printer/scanner that surprised me when I saw the prints. They are excellent.
OK, not perfect. On plain paper, some colors looked a little more washed-out than with the more expensive models (in particular the HP Photosmart Premium). But the HP costs three times as much and is only slightly better in print quality. What's different? Colors are shifted a little from the original on copies, and the saturation could be a little better (though that would also use more ink).
I like the fact that Epson sells higher capacity replacement cartridges, bringing the cost per page to a reasonable amount compared with the supplied low-capacity cartridges. I also like the speed of printing and copying once it actually starts doing so. You do have to wait a while for the first copy, especially when you haven't printed in a while ... typical for inkjet printers. But once it starts, print speeds are very acceptable.
Overall I am very satisfied, especially considering the cost. In fact, at far less than $100, the NX115 offers quite a bit. Obviously no fax, but few people fax much any more, and the scan capability is nice to have.
Software installation takes some time, but the installer does a nice job and only installs the various programs on computers that support them (I installed the software on various Macs ranging from current models to the 2nd generation iMac, all using different versions of OSX). The software plays nice with Macs, though I did not test it with 10.6.
I believe this is a solid choice for an inexpensive printer.

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Print. Copy. Scan. Smart. Simple. Amazing. Achieve amazing results at fast speeds with this smart, simple all-in-one. Get maximum print speeds of 30 ppm black and 15 ppm color.

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12/18/2011

Canon imageFormula DR-3080CII High Speed Color Document Scanner (9673A002) Review

Canon imageFormula DR-3080CII High Speed Color Document Scanner (9673A002)
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This scanner is amazing. We have it configured to scan 200 dpi color and it just flies through stacks of paper that are all sizes and thicknesses. As long as the 1/4th and 1/8th sheet papers are aligned at the center they never get missed.
The ultrasonic double-feed connection is working extremely well too. We've tried all kinds of things to fake it out but it has always successfully detected double feeds.
Clearing jams and double feeds are a piece of cake.
We've ran about 25,000 documents through this scanner so far and it has exceeded my expectations.
BTW we are using this in conjunction with Visionshape's Autoscan software for barcode recognition of all our documents. Also a very good product.

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The Canon imageFormula DR-3080CII High Speed Color Document Scanner is a high-speed, high-performance, color desktop duplex scanner. The Canon DR-3080CII scans at speeds up to 86 images per minute. It offers a wide choice of scanning modes, 24-bit color, 256 levels of grayscale and black and white modes, and even advanced text enhancement for the documents with text on a dark background. Equipped with dual sensors, the DR-3080CII provides fast efficient one-pass, two-sided scanning, for robust document management and flexible paper handling.Other features include a dual USB 2.0 and SCSI III interface and a 100-sheet automatic document feeder that's ideal for batch scanning of mixed documents. The scanner adjusts automatically for different paper thickness in the same batch. A built in skew correction feature automatically straightens misaligned documents, and the scanner's color dropout capability allows you to specify one color for omission during scanning. You can pre-program up to 20 settings for quick-start scanning, and a pop-up virtual panel allows you to make changed while the scanning is in process. The Canon includes ISIS and TWAIN drivers. It measures 7.5-by-13.5-by-11 inches (HxWxD) and weighs 17.8 pounds.

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12/17/2011

Visioneer 4400 USB Flatbed Scanner Review

Visioneer 4400 USB Flatbed Scanner
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This scanner is a steal at this price, especially for those new to the world of computer technology. The software included allows for a variety of projects, and is explained in lay terms that make the experiance that much easier. Though this scanners' price is a bargain, you get much more than you pay for. The set up is easy, just plug it in and scan away. The resolution is great, and for those photos where your badside is showing there are a myriad of editing options available, so you can always look your beat, even when you don't. I have also scanned documents and had great results. If you are looking for a home scanner this is a great bargain with top quality software, this is it.

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A scanner that meets your imaging needs and your budget's demands is a rare thing, but model 4400 from Visioneer manages to handle both. With an optical resolution of 600 x 1,200 dpi combined with 42 internal colors, the 4400 provides clarity and depth to all your scanned images from photographs and magazines to office documents and memos. The included software package covers all sorts of home office graphical applications including templates, document management, and data format conversions. You must have a USB connection for installation, and the cable and driver CD-ROM are included. At a total weight of just over 5 pounds and length of less than 1 foot, this is a scanner that can fit anywhere, even in cramped cubicles or home offices.
Visioneer includes a one-year warranty on parts and labor.

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12/16/2011

Pacific Image PrimeFilm 3600u for Windows and Mac Review

Pacific Image PrimeFilm 3600u for Windows and Mac
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This scanner is a reasonably good value and does a reasonably good job. If you have tried scanning prints with a flatbed scanner, you will be happier with the results you get scanning negatives with the PrimeFilm. A couple of caveats: first, this scanner is not fast. One roll of film a day is probably as much as you'll have patience for. Second, the scanned image quality is only as good as your negatives, and your old negatives are probably more fragile than you expected. Plan to spend a fair amount of time cleaning up blemishes in PhotoShop, and, frankly, if you used a cheap camera in the first place, don't even bother; you'll do just as well scanning the prints (and a decent flatbed scanner is a lot cheaper).
One last thing: if you want to save some money, go buy this scanner at C-O-S-T-C-O-D-O-T-C-O-M.

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12/15/2011

AcomData Enigma Fingerprint Security 500 GB USB 2.0 Rugged Portable 2.5-inch External Hard Drive BIO500UE (Black) Review

AcomData Enigma Fingerprint Security 500 GB USB 2.0 Rugged Portable 2.5-inch External Hard Drive BIO500UE (Black)
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This portable drive is well made. The rubber siding helps protect it from getting scratched; would it withstand a big drop? who knows?!?!? I didn't have an issue with the software being for windows only. My only problem is that the software wouldn't recognize my index finger consistently with the biometric scanner....sometimes it would, other times it would not. If it did scan my finger correctly the software would hang up. I contacted acomdata and they emailed me an update to the software. That did not help as I still encountered the same problem. I think the portable drive needs some fixes before it will be purchase worthy. I would not recommend at this time.

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