Umax Astra 2000P

Advantages: good price
Disadvantages: persistent failure

...Hi I used to have a Umax Astra 2000P parallel-port flatbed scanner, but after the third one went wrong, I asked Umax's UK support provider to give me something else, because the darn thing would always go wrong when I most needed to copy a document or scan something. I don't know if this is the experience of other users, but the parallel port model was nothing but trouble from the start. The problem was always scanner connection. VSaccess used to suddenly and without warning say the scanner was undetectable and that was it. The last problem occurred during a scan - my machine hung whilst it was scanning happily, but following reboot the scanner was permanently undetectable. I now have a 2200 instead, which has worked fine (so far), but did need me to go and buy a scsi card....

markedwards 05.01.2001 · Read review
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Review of UMAX Astra 2000P

And Olddy but a Goody

Advantages: Cheap, decent build quality, good picture quality
Disadvantages: Slow, and old.

...I owned an Umax Astra 600p scanner for well over four or five years now. I've attached it to several computers, all of various speeds. Currently, it's connected to my P2 450Mhz computer, and is doing fine. It's been around for a while now, but at the end of the day, technology in this area hasn't improved significantly. This model, as the 'p' in the name indicates, is connected to the parrallel port. Everybodys first fear is then "Where does the printer plug in to?!?". Simple! It plugs into the back of the scanner. The printer performance doesn't seems to affected by this, just make sure that you have enough printer leads to join them all up. Alternatively, by a Parrallel to USB adaptor if you have any USB ports. It woun't speed up the connection much as it is still a 'parrallel' cable and device. So, the scanner itself. It is...

aljones 27.05.2001 · Read review
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Review of Umax Astra 600p

Actually got a Astra 2000U

Advantages: It scans
Disadvantages: Squeeks a bit

...The UMAX Astra 2000U, comes in a USB format for the easiest of setups. Software also came with the package with a nice bundle of Adobe applications for great picture editing. The scanner is of a good quality, desgined well. I wouldn't say it was fast at scanning, but since this is my first scanner, what do I have to compare??? It scans from simple text, to detailed photos. Also offers a preview text so you can see what your scanned image would look like. All round good scanner from UMAX, and great value for money. This thing helped me in my GCSEs a LOT!...

robertliu84 03.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of UMAX Astra 2000P

Umax Astra 1220P

Advantages: Good resolution, good build quality, good drivers, price
Disadvantages: A little slow

......

KarlRyan 06.08.2001 · Read review
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Review of Umax Astra 1220P

Great value for money but old technology now

Advantages: Good value, great all rounder
Disadvantages: Old technology now, slow parallel connection

...I bought this scanner a few years ago now and it was a really solid buy. It is not exactly state of the art, but it does its job. It connects to the computer through the parallel port, which transfers data slowly but surely. The scanner came supplied with some basic imaging software and basic OCR software, as well as the necessary TWAIN drivers. The OCR software wotks reasonably well, but the imaging software is pretty useless. However, for a budget scanner the inclusion of this software has to be applauded. The image quality of the scanner was very good at the time. The natural resolution of the scanner is 300*600, but this can be increased using software. However, this 'interpolation' is not really worth while as it only serves to increase the file size. The scanner is very easy to use; you can either use the button on the front...

Dunc 25.05.2001 (26.05.2001) · Read review
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Review of Umax Astra 600p

It's a scanner and it's got a flat bed...

Advantages: Good quality and a transparency adapter
Disadvantages: Poor handling of negatives

...The Umax Astra 3450 is a mid-range consumer flatbed scanner. Launched this year (2001) it is one of a range of products that includes both consumer and professional standard equipment. I have owned and used flatbed scanners for about 6 years. I only decided to replace my previous model because it had a SCSI interface and I don?t have a SCSI card in my new PC. Having used a scanner for some time I had a pretty clear idea of what features I wanted, in this case I decided to go for a USB interface (might as well use those empty ports on the PC) and 600 dpi optical resolution. I wasn?t too concerned about higher resolutions as experience had shown that past 150dpi there was little difference when it came to the final printed result. One additional feature I was interested in was a transparency adapter. This allows for the scanning...

pauljm 05.09.2001 (12.09.2001) · Read review
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Review of UMAX Astra 3450

For positive - very good, for negative - very bad.

Advantages: Rather compact, excellent price, scanning positive image is very well
Disadvantages: Poor software, problems with USB, scanning of color negatives is bad

...and direct copying on the printer. Connection of the scanner and installation of the software have not call any difficulties. The scanner works with little noise level, the process of scanning is accompanied by small vibration. The power supply unit in operating time is appreciable heated up. When work with transparent originals on a plane table to put a special framework. The sizes of area of scanning in this mode allow to place rather large originals, for example slides by a size 9x12 sm. Unfortunately, the absence of special inserts hinders work with a 35-mm film. In a counterbalance to the software of performance of the hardware Umax Astra 3450 have appeared much better on a comparison with the 2200 model. The scanner shown the excellent output results and good productivity. It is necessary to mark a high exactitude colors and balance...

iharsh 06.11.2001 · Read review
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Review of UMAX Astra 3450

scan this

Advantages: It scan's
Disadvantages: big and bulky,

...A while ago as part of my pc bundle I bought. I purchased a Umax Astra 5400 scanner. The first thing that struck me when it was delivered was the sheer size of it. I know most flat bed scanners are quite a good size but this one seemed quite a bit bigger measuring 16 ½ inches by 12 ¼ inches. This as you can imagine takes up a goodly proportion of my desk. It was light and dark grey in colour with four buttons on the front. One is to turn off the lamp for saving the power; one is for scanning straight to email, one for scanning to documents and the other is just to scan to file. When I started to assemble it and connect it to my pc. I found that the connector that connects the electricity supply was a little loose and when I choose to move my scanner a little it often falls out. It may not be that bigger deal to simply plug it back in...

kimking 29.09.2003 · Read review
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Review of UMAX Astra 5400

Acquiring Immaculate Images

Advantages: Cheap, good image quality, excellent bundled software
Disadvantages: Short USB cable

...The only previous experience I’ve had with scanners was with my sisters aging Black Widow parallel port scanner which recently went to the great image processor in the sky. As such, she was looking for a new scanner, and at the same time, my dad mentioned his interest in one as well, for some charity work he was doing. As I was the one with the Internet connection, I told them that I would sort them out. After recent dealings with Scan.co.uk, I decided to give them a go – looking on their web site showed lots of scanners, but one caught my eye – the Umax 3400 USB. It had recently been awarded a PC Format Gold Award, and was in the right price range for both my father, and my sister (around the £55 mark). After clearing the price with them, I ordered two. After a shockingly short amount of time waiting (i.e. less...

TheDuke 16.07.2001 · Read review
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Review of UMAX Astra 3400

  Samsung G600

Advantages: Stylish, Radio
Disadvantages: Camera

...The G600 is one of the new phones from the Samsung line. With the company being known to have great phones and be famously free with contracts nationwide I couldn't help but get this as my most recent upgrade. Contents When purchasing the G600 you get several different items within the box. Starting with a 1GB memory card which normally retails at £10 this is the first bargain. Next you have a Bluetooth headset with the Samsung logo. Most of these will start at £15 if they are branded. You get earphones with a power part in the middle to pick up local radio signals, a charger for your phone and your Bluetooth headset, software CD which serves as an instruction manual and links your phone to your computer so you can download music, photos etc. This leads to the final item - a USB cable so you can connect the two. Look...

ovetta2001 10.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Samsung SGH G600