Scanner recommendation

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Honnold · #1 Post by **Honnold** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 2:38 pm

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive, quality scanner?

The main use will be to copy pages out of books and maybe to substitute for a copying machine. It should be sturdy enough to accomodate say a 300 pg. book pressed against the glass.

Don't care too much about photos, high-end functionality, etc.

Thanks a lot.

benz · #2 Post by **benz** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 3:25 pm

I got a scanner for about the same purpose, and I came across the Canon LiDE 35, a USB-powered flatbed that is VERY thin, and basically is completely portable. It runs about $70 (I got an opened box item at Best Buy for about $60), and it should do about everything you need without even installing all that bulky OEM software.

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=can ... i=froogler

#3 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 6:02 pm

HP makes some pretty good scanners. I have a circa 1998 Hewlett Packard ScanJet 4p and it is one of the most reliable and most durable scanners I have used to this date. I'm not sure what their current models are like, but if the current HP's are anything like the older ones, they are reliable and give great quality at a reasonable price.

Epson also makes some pretty good scanners as well.

Honnold · #4 Post by **Honnold** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 4:07 pm

Thanks for that.

Staples is selling the Canon LiDE 35 for $80-$30 mail-in rebate = $50!!

Sound like a good deal for my needs. I'm going to buy it.

Don't even know what OEM is. Is that software that recognizes the standard typefaces and allows you to actually go into the text that you've scanned to edit, etc.? If so, I might want that feature in my scanner. I assume you're saying that the Lide 35 will have this functionality, anyway?

Cheers.

benz · #5 Post by **benz** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 12:42 am

Actually, what you're thinking of is OCR, which stands for Optical Character Recognition....this is usually some software package that can translate the image from a scanner into text it detects in the scan. The technology is still being worked out, but there is a LOT of software out that works with just about any scanner depending on what you want to do with it. As for what I was talking about, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), I meant that you don't really need to install all that software that Canon includes in the box. The scanner will work fine with Windows XP, thanks to Microsoft's innovation. Still, if you want to get the max out of your scanner or are doing something really specific, feel free to install the software....I just learned that I didn't really even need it taking up room on my computer when I only scan occasionally, and the image ends up in MS Word anyway (which, by the way, has a built-in "acquire" tool to pull an image or block of text from a scanner connected to your computer). Good luck with it, and feel free to ask me any questions you might have as far as getting it setup and all...I have been using mine for several months with no problem.

Honnold · #6 Post by **Honnold** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:49 pm

Thanks, Benz, for those insights. Really helpful info! Much obliged.

don · #7 Post by **don** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:02 pm

I use a Cannon Lide20 and ist my best Scanner ever. Price 25 USD. OCR is perfect.

don · #8 Post by **don** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:03 pm

I use a Cannon Lide20 and ist my best Scanner ever. Price 25 USD. OCR is perfect.