HP ScanJet 4200C

...PC’s and a CD for HP PrecisionScan LT Software with HP Intelligent Scanning Technology Version 2.01c and a huge glossy sheet printed on both sides with instruction on what to do.

On one side of this A2 size paper were details, in four languages, on how to set up the scanner with particular emphasis on making sure that the “Locking Slider” was pushed to the ‘unlock’ position. Although installing the software ...
...front. By this time the HP PrecisionScan LT window has opened to display the scanned picture and four options of what to do with it.

The first option, numbered 1, is a button for starting a new scan whilst the second option, numbered 2, asks you where you want to send the scan to and as what. The third option, numbered 3, gives you the opportunity of selecting what type of output, whether it has to have a border and its size, and underneath ... more

UPDATE

It occurred to me the other day that there is one foolproof way to test the quality of a scanner and a printer. Take a nice crisp £20 note and scan it and then print it and also view it in a decent paint package like PhotoShop.

Compare the screen display of the scanned note with the original and the closer the screen copy is to the original the better the scanner quality.

Compare the printout with the original and the closer the copy is to the original the better the printer.

Not exactly kosher and you must destroy the paper copy and picture file afterwards otherwise the Bank of England might have something to say about it not to mention the police, MI5 etc.

END OF UPDATE

Acting on an uncharacteristic impulse I decided that my computing corner could do with a Scanner. So as a break from pounding away at the keyboard I let my frivolous impulse get the better of me, jumped in the car (metaphorically speaking as you have more chance of going to Alpha Centauri than I have of jumping) and made haste to Comet. The real intention was to get a vacuum cleaner but I thought that while I am there I might as well as have a look at scanners so it had to be Comet first. The salespeople know me quite well by now and they also remembered that I am perfectly capable of browsing around before needing their services. So apart from a “good afternoon” and the answer, “they are over there” to my query as to the location of scanners, the sales staff hung around the door and left me alone. Having asked about the location of scanners and immediately heading in the opposite direction towards vacuum cleaners must have had them wondering about my sanity but no one decided to try and find out. A Henry vac was selected and I made my way towards the scanners.

The choice was phenomenal, ranging from £35 to over £200. Hewlitt Packard featured predominantly in the display and one unit was marked 30% off as it was the last of its kind and it had a tiny black mark on the front. For 23 quid off I can live with a tiny black mark. Listed at £78.98 the discount meant that it would be mine for £55.29.

For my money I got a Hewlett Packard Scan Jet 4200 C, which had a footprint of 10 inches wide by 18 inches deep and a slim 3 inches tall and weighed in at about a couple of pounds. It came complete with a power lead and a USB lead for connecting to my tower, two CD’s with Adobe Photo Deluxe 3.0 both for PC’s and a CD for HP PrecisionScan LT Software with HP Intelligent Scanning Technology Version 2.01c and a huge glossy sheet printed on both sides with instruction on what to do.

On one side of this A2 size paper were details, in four languages, on how to set up the scanner with particular emphasis on making sure that the “Locking Slider” was pushed to the ‘unlock’ position. Although installing the software took precedence over this crucial activity. The scanner does not have an on-off switch, which was a bit of a bummer but my power sockets are within easy reach so it will not be a problem.

With the software installed and the scanner set up I was ready to do my first scan by following the instruction, again in four languages, on the other side of the monster sheet. Placing a handy photograph, to a maximum of A4 size, on the scanner bed as close to the front and as far left as was possible and closing the lid all I had to do was press the blue Scan button on the device and the system just took over. Pressing the blue Copy button next to it will send the picture straight to the printer without further ado and the E-mail button will optimise the scan for e-mail.

Pressing the Scan button launches the software automatically and the scanner gets on with its job of scanning with a slight whirring sound as the gubbins traverses from front to back and back to the front. By this time the HP PrecisionScan LT window has opened to display the scanned picture and four options of what to do with it.

The first option, numbered 1, is a button for starting a new scan whilst the second option, numbered 2, asks you where you want to send the scan to and as what. The third option, numbered 3, gives you the opportunity of selecting what type of output, whether it has to have a border and its size, and underneath there are the details of the picture just scanned. What sort of picture it is, its width, height, scaling and approximate byte size. The final option, numbered 4, allows you to print the picture there and then. Which means that to all intents and purposes this scanner can, with a computer and a printer, act as a photocopier. Underneath the displayed picture are two buttons for zooming in on the picture and zooming out with an obligatory help button alongside. Five drop down menus complete the options of what to do once a picture has been scanned.

You get a choice of 6 different types of output; text, black and white drawing, black and white picture, colour drawing, normal colour photograph in 256 colours and best colour photograph in 16.7 million colours which seems to cover just about every eventuality.

Having decided what type of output you go back to option 2 and select where it is to go. Thus, if you selected a text output you can opt to send the output as a text file to Word etc. or as a text file to be saved as just that. But wait I had scanned a picture so how can it convert it to words. Well it can and it can’t. The scanner will convert a page of text and any picture containing text into a text file for use in programmes like Word or notepad etc. Sadly it cannot convert handwriting or even hand printing but for less than 60 quid you can’t expect miracles.

If you want to scan pictures for storage rather than manipulation right away the File menu Save As function allows you to make your selection as to where it has to go as a picture file or a text file.

The user has no control over scanning resolution but at 1,200 dpi, which isn’t exactly magazine quality, it is good enough for computer display and the lower end of desktop publishing.

 

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