Advantages: I cannot see any advantages with this product Disadvantages: Software is convoluted and unreliable, paper jams are difficult to clear
In summary:
* Very unintuitive, convoluted and unpleasant to use (same on Win2K as XP)
- sometimes the SW hangs during scan and needs a reboot
- sometimes the SW crashes with a dialogue "try reinstalling HP software", and needs a reboot
- sometimes it scans and after conversion to pdf every page is blank
- very occasionally it scans a document properly
*If the sheet-feeder jams is says to refer to the documentation to clear it, which doesn't exist. There is no way to clear the jam except to pull hard & hope. No levers to release it like one would expect.
*Frequently has error 23 (lamp failure) on power-up and needs to be power cycled to work again.
Everything has to be started by pressing a button on an application called "HP Director". There are 4 apps started from this:
1) Scan Picture
2) Scan Document
3) Make Copies
4 ...
Advantages: Inexpensive Disadvantages: Not too user-friendly
My HP Scanjet 2400 experience began when I inserted the installation CD, this began to run and immediately stopped with a 'Macromedia Projector' error message. I presume 'Macromedia Projector' is software used to momentarily give a flashy display before the installation starts. Overkill that died!!! I am running Windows XP Service Pack 2 so my guess is that there was a conflict.
So I explored the CD, found the Setup files and ran these to install the software. I think this worked, although I have no idea if I got the full software set.
Next I tried to scan a series of A4 (paper size) documents as A4 documents using the HP Director control software. Could I do this? Not without a good deal of manual intervention because after each scan the scanner insisted on removing the margins and I had to manually drag them back into place ...
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 HPscanner 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 ...
Product Information for "HP ScanJet 8200 Digital Flatbed Scanner" »
Scanner
Input Type
Colour
Grayscale Depth
8-bit (256 grey levels)
Colour Depth
48-bit colour
Optical Resolution
4800 dpi x 4800 dpi
Scan Mode
Single-pass
Scan Element Type
CCD
Scan Scaling
2000%
Control Panel Buttons Functions
Copy, email, file, save document, Scan, copy, email, file, edit text, save document, Scan, copy, email, file, OCR, save document
Scanner Speed Details
4 sec/scan - preview
25 sec/scan - colour - 10x15cm
50 sec/scan - OCR
20 sec/scan - black & white, 4 sec/scan - preview
Compliant Standards
TWAIN
Interpolated Resolution
999999 dpi x 999999 dpi
Manufacturer's product description
The HP ScanJet 8200 is one scanner that aims to please with consistently enhanced colors and razor-sharp images. Designed with 4800 dpi and 48-bit color, the output is so real, you can almost touch and feel your subject matter. Quality is always high so your ideas come across exactly the way you want. You'll be pleasantly surprised that it's no slouch, either. There's no warm up time, so there's no waiting. The scanner's instant-on patented technology assures you instant start up with scans ready for preview in as little as 4 seconds. HP's triple-sensor scanning technology assures you of superb image quality and saves time, as each CCD sensor works independently and seamlessly depending on the resolution and setting you choose. Thoughtful features abound, like the six unique pre-configured buttons for one-touch scanning, copying, emailing and more. You'll also appreciate the built in Transparent Materials Adapter for scanning 35mm negatives and slides. With the HP ScanJet 8200, you'll enjoy faster execution with greater ease of use for delivering greater visual impact.
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