Advantages: Affordable, solid, good quality and you can rest cups of tea on top! Disadvantages: Sometimes slow to scan and other scanners do have better quality
We have had out Microtek Scanmaker 3600 for well over 5 years now and it is still going strong and doing the job for our entire family. I'm not sure how much we paid for it, but it was not a lot because we just wanted a basic scanner that could scan in documents. It is very reliable, easy to use, with a suitable range of features but has the tendency to be a bit slow occasionally.
1. Looks, Design and Size
The scanner is fairly good looking, quite elegant and fairly compact. It measures approximately 17" long, 10" across and 4" high so can fit into most desktop areas. It has a solid build to it and rather funky curve on the lid that gives it some added style. Furthermore, the main surface is flat and you can easily rest your cup of tea, lunch or bits of paper on top! The white colour is easy on the eye and fits in to most rooms ...
Advantages: Durable, Programmable, Easy to Set Disadvantages: Too Slow for Offices, Quality Pictures Require Changing Settings
The Microtec ScanMaker 4850 flatbed scanner might seem obsolete due to its quality, being half of what more modern scanners can offer, and the fact it is not a part of a multi-functional copier, but you should not be assumptuous about this device.
Instead of reviewing the mechanics and energy consumption of the scanner, this summary will provide you practical information about the technology in question.
The scanner came with an USB wire and power cord, instruction manual (it was unnecessary, as all you have to do is plug it in and install the software), installation CDs (multi-lingual, one for Max, one for Windows) with plenty of software including Microtek's scanner applications and an OCR application, which is gold, as it turns your scanned material available for editing in Word.
Value for Money
I've gotten this ...
Advantages: Spec for price Disadvantages: Its apparent design fault
Please note: I'm a Mac user so the software issues here are Mac-specific and I'm unable to comment on how the 5900 runs with a PC; however, the hardware issue is machine-non-specific!
I bought my first Scanmaker 5900 from GHQ Computers, a reputable store in Britain which specialises in Apple software and hardware. I'd tried several computer superstores locally to no avail. It cost £125 + VAT from GHQ (online) in May 2004.
My choice was governed by budget and special requirements, i.e. I needed 4"x5" transparency scanning. Many scanners provide 35mm film adaptation, but most of those that offer large format fall into the very expensive, 'arts professional' bracket. Up until that point, I'd had a Scanmaker X6 with Light Lid and been reasonably happy with it, though its output quality had certainly declined over the 4 year period. My ...
Product Information for "Microtek ArtixScan 2500f" »
Scanner
Input Type
Colour
Grayscale Depth
14-bit grey
Colour Depth
42-bit colour
Optical Resolution
2500 dpi x 2500 dpi, 1250 dpi x 2500 dpi
Interpolated Resolution
10000 dpi x 10000 dpi, 5000 dpi x 5000 dpi
Scan Element Type
CCD
Bulb / Light Source Type
Xe-gas cold cathode fluorescent lamp
Scan Density Range
4.4D, 3.9D
Scanner Speed Details
23 sec/scan - preview
18 sec/scan - film
50 sec/scan - 4x5 - 1000 dpi
Scan Mode
Single-pass
Manufacturer's product description
The ArtixScan 2500f is a pre-press quality 42-bit flatbed scanner that has two scanning beds, one for photos and one for film, and uses Microtek's own-patented Emulsion Direct Imaging Technology (E.D.I.T.) for incredibly sharp transparency scanning. A 10, 000-element CCD ensures high-resolution clarity at an optical resolution of 1, 250 dpi (entire scan bed) and 2, 500 dpi (high-resolution area), and up to 3.9 Dmax. With E.D.I.T, there is no glass between the scanning lens, film, or light source, eliminating distortion and Newton rings, which can occur with traditional transparency adapters. Versatile connectivity allows for both FireWire and SCSI-2 connections. A PCI FireWire card is included for Windows plus a PCI SCSI card for both Macintosh and Windows. New to this scanner is Anti-Newton Ring glass. Whilst most film can be scanned with the glass-free holders, large 10" x 8" format and panoramic film require the use of the included glass holder. This new glass now eliminates unwanted Newton Ring distortion. A new medium format adjustable film holder allows full support of all 6cm film from 6 x 4.5cm up to 6 x 9cm. High-end features include Flotherm, which maintains a constant, optimum internal temperature ensuring consistent and optimized sensitivity from the Kodak CCD. Low-flare lenses and mirrors further reduce unwanted distortions and anti-vibration feet minimize the effect of external vibrations.
