Help choosing a scanner !

[Razvan & Milena Verzeanu]

Dear people,
I want to buy a scanner, and what I need from it is the following:

1. Great color scans (don't care much about b/w or text)
2. Reliability
3. USB port
4. Price range US $100-$200
5. Fast scanning speed
6. 600 x 1200 dpi
7. 36-bit
8. I don't need a film scan adaptor or transparency scanner.

I'm using a laptop Toshiba 2535CDS with Win 98, and I'm not going to
scan much. I'm thinking about buying Microtek Scanmaker X6 USB. Do you
think I made a right choice ? Can somebody please share your experiences
with Microtek scanners and compare them to other brands ?

Many thanks,
Milena Verzeanu

[J. Costello]

My experience with Microtek is with an older IIHR (24 bit color at 600
dpi). At the time of purchase the scanner was $1100. Then about 2
years latter I got a second one of these machines for $249 (from
Onsale auction because the model was discontinued. They both still
work great and give very faithful color reproduction.

However, your low end scanner will NOT scan as well as my older
scanner. Your #1 requirement will not hold true simply because the low
end scanner will not be able to differentiate between colors (tones)
near the lower and upper ranges. In short, you will see less detail in
the highlights and shadows.

Additionally, beware of the software bundle packed with low end
scanners. They are the pits.

J. Costello

[TheBookDoc]

Tha t price range is a little low for quality equipment. check out the
Lino-Hell scanners though. Excellent manufacture, features, software and
service.

_____________________________
Richard Lynch (thebo...@aol.com)
Author of ADOBE PHOTOSHOP 5 HOW-TO
ISBN 1571691561
Available here:
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/newwriting/photoshop">Adobe Photoshop 5
How-To</A>

[James Cook]

CanoScan FB 62OU.
Bought it at Staples for $129.00