Please Recommend a Scanner?

[BillG]

I've got a pristine ThinkPad 600X that is happily running Windows 2000 with Office 2002 and I'd like to keep it running happy.

Can anyone recommend a good USB sheet scanner for this machine?

Now, what I want is a scanner where all I install are scanner drivers, and nothing else. Of course, that leaves out all HP scanners which force you to install a bunch of (un)helpful junky applications like share-to-web. HP imaging, and other crap, some of which do not have uninstall applications. (Of course, "subscribe to AOL" is installed too, duh).

I'm looking for a good scanner that only installs scanner drivers. Please help a ThinkPad devotee keep his 600X stable.

Thanks!

[Deckard]

Hi,

I have a Canon flatbed scanner that I've been using quite a time and I'm very happy with it. All I did was to install the Twain drivers and nothing else.

However, I have WinXP Pro, but I think it shouldn't be different on Win 2000.

[jdhurst]

I use an HP 4570C Scanner. I did not install all the junky stuff (I understand you well Bill G). I also disable the Share to Web. It does OCR (like the Canon) and it saves in .TIF files which are smaller than .PDF's and can be read natively by Office XP and Office 2003. I like that feature. I scan client notes into such files and can scan for things. Seems to work fairly well. ... JD Hurst

[JHEM]

Another vote for the Canon Bill.

James

[NS]

I have used a HP scanner before and the pics i scanned out is blur and disfigured. And, so... i use a Cannon scanner and in the end everything went well. Cannon scanner got the extra features to make the pics you scanned look clearer and also you can author the pics if you like.

User Recommendation: Go for a Canon Scanner...

[BillMorrow]

use this on most any scanner..
and it does not screw with anything..

http://www.hamrick.com

[BillG]

I would have to recommend the Canon CanoScan LiDE 80 if you are looking for something bare bones/lightweight on software installed.

The one I have replaced a failed HP scanner and, thus far, has been an extremely good scanner in comparision. It doesn't install much other than drivers (requires selection during setup) and the Scanner toolbox+OCR (another option). All the reviews I have seen for it have been very good; its other strong points are slimline form factor, lightweight, high DPI for its size, and it can operate off of a single USB port, even for a laptop, without a power adapter.

The "street price" that Canon has on its website is, however, misleadingly high as I got mine for significantly under $80 and have seen good deals on them in most stores.

Thanks, Chris, the CanoScan LiDE 80 looks real nice, and with the other Canon recommendations to back you up I think this is the way to go!