HP ScanJet 2400 Digital Flatbed Scanner

...
Having had a HP Printer for years, and having had it serve me well in terms of printing off coursework and homework assignments among other things, I decided to opt for a HP scanner to compliment it. My old inferior Mustek had just given up the ghost, thus it was definately time for a new scanner!

So I headed off to my nearest computer fair, to search for a brand new scanner. I hadn't much to spend on the day, just under 40 ...
...I did however, find the HP Scanjet 2400 in one stall, looking most impressive on the box, I found myself checking out the specifications and asking the stall owner the price.
The gruff reply was "37.99 mate", awesome, I thought. Even got enough money left for a happy meal!
So I strolled out of the place lugging...)well not so much lugging it must have only weighed a couple of kilograms) a brand new scanner.

... more

Ever since the advent of digital cameras a couple of years back, many have labeled scanners defunct, devices of the past. You couldn't be any further than the truth however, scanners are useful for a multitude of activities.
If you still have film photos for example, you can digitize them using a scanner, or work documents can be put on screen to perhaps copy out using a word processor program. Labels and stickers drawn from hand can also be digitized and printed. The list goes on and on.

How to acquire the scanner

Having had a HP Printer for years, and having had it serve me well in terms of printing off coursework and homework assignments among other things, I decided to opt for a HP scanner to compliment it. My old inferior Mustek had just given up the ghost, thus it was definately time for a new scanner!

So I headed off to my nearest computer fair, to search for a brand new scanner. I hadn't much to spend on the day, just under 40 quid infact, so owning the creme de la creme of scanners wasn't an option.
I did however, find the HP Scanjet 2400 in one stall, looking most impressive on the box, I found myself checking out the specifications and asking the stall owner the price.
The gruff reply was "37.99 mate", awesome, I thought. Even got enough money left for a happy meal!
So I strolled out of the place lugging...)well not so much lugging it must have only weighed a couple of kilograms) a brand new scanner.

The Scanner

Upon arriving home I went about setting up the scanner. Scanners are all readily assembled, so installation is as simple as plugging in the lead. While not exactly tiny, the size is necessary - most scanners have to be big enough to accomodate A4 sized sheets of paper. Its a flatbed scanner, measuring around 45cm in width and just over 6cm in height and with a depth of about 27cm, meaning it does require quick a bit of deskspace, for the aforementioned reason however, this isn't to the products detriment.

The scanner is compatable with both Mac's and Pc's, and its software can be installed on Windows 98, 98 SE, 2000, Me and Xp. Aswell as any Mac OS later than 9.1 or 10.1. In other words, the scanner can be installed on pretty much any computer created during the past few years.

Upon plugging in the scanners USB connection in to the back of my tower unit, I inserted the software installation CD. As with many input devices, the installation was a doddle, the software takes up just a few megabytes of space and installs in no time at all. It really is very convenient.
Upon finishing the installation, the scanners ready to scan and is fully functional!

Over the years, scanners have gradually become more home-orientated and easy to use. This is especially the case with the Scanjet 2400, a small button located on the front of the device allows for one touch scanning, and will scan whatever you've put inside the device, whether it be a photo or documentation. I tested my 2400 out by scanning some homework assignments in, while it doesn't scan at lightning speeds, thats expected for the price. Indeed, the speed at which it does scan is excellent for the money you pay, making the scanner a veritable bargain.

Specification wise the scanner also shines, equipped with such perks as 48 bit depth colour, with 1200 dpi optical resolution. While obviously not the finest on the market, again these specs are downright brilliant for the 38 quid I paid for it.
I also tested some old photos with the scanner, and found the results to be quite good. While not especially vibrant or vivid, the photos came out on my screen looking pretty great.

The scanner also comes with an excellent booklet, as is to be expected from such a reputable company as Hewlett Packard. The manual covers all the features included in the software package, as well as how to use the scanner.
The product also comes complete with a 1 year warranty, so in case anything goes wrong within a year of purchase, you can send it back for a replacement!

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Hp Scanjet 2400 is an excellent, versatile and modern piece of technology. Simple to operate and use, its quite simply ideal for the home. Equipped with the ability to provide excellent scans with an awesome price versus performance ratio, the product is definately worthy of a five star rating.
So, if you need a scanner for under 40 pounds, I strongly advise opting for the Scanjet 2400, as you certainly won't regret it. 

...less