Epson Perfection 4870 PRO Scanner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I shoot black & white 35 mm.Previously relied upon either a Polaroid SprintScan 4000 or drum scans.The 4870 produces gorgeous scans and is easy to use.I'm very happy with my purchase.SilverFast has proved to be a dissapointment for use with B&W negs.I would probably have purchased the regular 4870 vs. Pro version if I had it to do over again.

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Product Description:
Perfection 4870 Pro Color Scanner

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Epson Expression 10000XL- Graphic Arts Scanner Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this recently because I wanted to upgrade from my old scanner, the Microtek 9800XL large format scanner.

I create highly detailed scratchboard line art and wanted a scanner that could capture the best possible scans of my work, which I can color digitally and send out to clients in electronic form. (I wasn't confident that my old scanner was doing the job as well as I hoped for.)Both the new and the old scanner are large format but the Epson 10000Xl is more than twice the cost of the Microtek 9800XL. Do I think the upgrade is worth it? Without a doubt.

Here is a list of cons associated with the Microtek that made me take the risk to upgrading:
1. Quirky driver. Sometimes the software could not find the installed driver and I had to restart the computer several times before it would work.
2. Microtek support is practically useless.
3. Very noisy operation
4. Scans required a lot of post production to arrive at the best capture of detail between dark and light tones. I had to scan in grayscale @ 1200dpi, make adjustment with Photoshop before converting to bitmap. With this scanner, the B&W bitmap scanning option was not capturing all the details.

The Epson, in comparison, has been a joy to own. Not only are the results much better, but the unit scans straight to B&W bitmap flawlessly, saving me time in post processing. I do need to clean the scan from unwanted specs but that is still a 50% reduction of time spent getting it optimized. The unit is also much quieter, has a slightly larger scan area, and built with superior design and parts. The lid stays open when raised at an angle whereas the Microtek was a slave to gravity.

After owning it about a month, there have been no problems to report. Since my livelihood relies on the quality of the images I produce, its a good investment and well worth the cost.

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Product Description:
The Epson Expression 10000XL graphic arts edition is a large-format flatbed scanner designed for graphic artists and other high-end users. With its high 2,400 dpi scanning resolution, 48-bit internal color depth, and 3.8 optical density, images are crisp and accurate. The six-line alternated color CCD and auto focus optics system help to ensure that you get the best scans possible. Scan speeds are as high as 2.7 ms/line (at 1,200 dpi), while an optional automatic document feeder allows you to scan multiple sheets at a time. You can zoom in 1% increments anywhere from 50% to 200%.
The software bundle includes a variety of applications to help you easily achieve the best scan results possible. Titles include EPSON Scan 2.2, MonacoEZcolor with reflective IT8 Target, Photoshop Elements 2, and ABBYY FineReader Sprint OCR. The 10000XL connects to your computer via its standard USB and Firewire ports, and an optional network adapter lets you use the scanner as a network device. The AC 100-120V power supply consumes less than 55 watts during normal operation and about 6 watts while in sleep mode. Compatible with both PC and Mac operating platforms, the 10000XL comes backed with a one-year limited warranty.
What's in the Box
Scanner, CD-ROM with software and drivers, power cable, user's manual and setup documentation, USB cable

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iVina BulletScan S300 Duplex Color Sheetfed Scanner with Detachable Mobile Scanner, 15ppm/30ipm. (S3001130) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is really a great product.I used to use a multifunction printer/scanner/fax and scanning was always a major chore, now with the Bulletscan S300 it is really fast and easy. It comes with nice software from Presto to manage your documents and also a business card scanning program.

In this video I tried to show some of the features I found most interesting including the scan selection:

1.B&W PDF Scan
2.Color Scan into Presto Page Manager
3.Scan directly into Google Docs!
4.Scan to Email Client
5.Business Card Scan
6.Scan to Print

At the end of the video I show how you can go portable with the scanner and take it with you leaving the document feeder behind.I have used the scanner for more than a week and am really impressed. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who needs to scan multiple documents.

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Product Description:
The iVina BulletScan S300 Duplex Color Sheet-Fed Scanner with Detachable Mobile Scanner is two scanners in one, providing a scanning solution for the office and the road. Whether you need to scan business cards, receipts, ID cards, photos, or legal-sized documents, the BulletScan S300 has you covered--wherever you may be.
BulletScan S300
At a Glance:

Two-in-one desktop and mobile scanning solution.
20-page automatic document feeder (ADF) when docked.
ABBYY FineReader OCR technology has automatic language detection.
Mobile scanner is powered by USB connection.
2-year warranty.

Two Scanners in One
Whether you're a business traveler or an office worker, you'll love how the BulletScan S300 provides a single solution for all your scanning needs. Using a USB 2.0 connection, the BulletScan S300 scans up to 30 images per minute in color at 200 dpi when docked in its 20-page automatic document feeder.


The scanner undocks to provide a compact, mobile scanning solution while on the road. View larger. When it's time to hit the road, simply undock the S300 BulletScan, and you'll have a USB-powered, easy-to-carry mobile scanner that can read an 8-1/2- by 11-inch document in less than five seconds. You'll be able to easily scan business cards, receipts, ID cards, photos, and other documents you acquire while traveling.
Multiple Scanning Options
The BulletScan S300 uses a Contact Image Sensor (CIS), scanning at a crisp 600-dpi optical resolution with 48-bit color, 16-bit gray scale, or black-and-white. It also allows for scanning output with 24-bit color, 8-bit gray scale, halftone, dynamic black-and-white, or fixed-threshold black-and-white. With so many options to choose from, the BulletScan S300 ensures you'll always get the scans you want.
Easy-to-Use Software
BulletScan Manager Software makes it easy for you to control your scanning processes, file formats, and scan-to destinations. The BulletScan S300 includes six scan-to destinations with one-click configuration for scan-to-email, scan-to-print, scan-to-PDF, searchable PDF, and others.
Additionally, BulletScan Manager offers both easy and advanced scan mode settings. In easy mode, default features include auto straighten, auto crop, auto rotate, and edge cleanup. Advanced mode allows for fine tuning of all settings.
Optimum Accuracy with Auto-Language Detection
The BulletScan S300 is powered by ABBYY FineReader Technology, the same technology used for ABBYY FineReader Desktop OCR, a PC Magazine four-star product. With high optical character recognition accuracy, the BulletScan is able to reduce the size of resulting PDF files without any loss of visual quality. Additionally, the smart software retains text-under-image, text-over-image, text-and-picture, or image-only PDFs.
The FineReader technology has automatic language detection, so you get no-hassle scanning, OCR, and conversion. It automatically detects documents in English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish.
System Requirements
The BulletScan S300 requires a computer with a Pentium 4 or equivalent processor, Windows 7/XP (SP 2)/Vista operating system, 512 MB of RAM (1 GB for Vista), 350 MB of available hard drive space, a CD/DVD-ROM drive, and a USB port.
The BulletScan S300 is rated for a daily duty cycle of 2,500 pages and is backed by a two-year warranty.
What's in the Box
Mobile scanner, docking station, USB cable, power supply, quick install guide, and installation CD.

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Epson Duet 80-Inch Dual Aspect Ratio Projection Screen, Portable 4:3 and 16:9 Aspect Ratio Screen (ELPSC80) Review

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(More customer reviews)As a professsional speaker I've seen hundreds of screens over the past 25 years and this one really stands out. It is everything you could hope for and more. I love the design. It sets up fast, is easy to open and is just the right size for a living room or a medium size (up to 35 people) business meeting. I can't believe the price! I thought it was a good value at the original $250 price and now Amazon has it for under $85. If you need a protable screen, this is a great choice. Since it opens horizontally it is much shorter than other screens of this size. I am considering upgrading my projector now to show movies on tis screen instead of my old 27" TV.

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Product Description:
One screen two sizes The first ultra portable projection screen to offer both standard (4:3) and widescreen (16:9) formats, the Duet ultra portable projection screen from Epson provides the perfect solution for both business presentations and home theater applications.Use the included floor stand to set up your screen. Or, mount it to the wall with the included bracket. Then, pull the screen out to the size that works best for you, 65 inches for standard viewing or 80 inches for widescreen viewing. With the innovative, patent-pending, design, setup couldn-t be easier. In no time at all, you-ll be ready to sit back and enjoy brilliant images on a bright white screen. When it-s time to shut down, Duet stores quickly and easily.

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Epson WorkForce Pro GT-S50 Document Imaging Scanner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For the last year and a half, I've been using a Fujitsu S510 SnapScan page scanner, which is a natural competitor to the Epson GT-S50.So, when I was offered the chance to review the Epson, it seemed like a natural fit - somebody looking to purchase one is likely to also look at the other. (Go to Fujitsu ScanSnap S510 Sheet-fed Scanner to read that review. It was fairly far down, on page 4, when I last looked.)

Let's look at the two scanners...

First of all, both scanners are top fed and scan both sides of a page in a single pass.They are infinitely faster than the scanners built into the "all-in one" printers and suitable for high volume scanning...the Epson is rated for 1200 pages per day.

The Epson GT-S50 comes with both TWAIN and ISIS drivers, giving it with a clear advantage in interfacing with software from other companies. Almost every program that can read from a scanner uses one or the other.The ScanSnap, on the other hand, uses its own proprietary driver, which only ties into their ScanSnap Organizer program...a program that displays small images of the scanned pages. Both scanners come with OCR programs, for converting scanned images to editable text, but, with the TWAIN driver, only the Epson directly interfaces with different programs - OmniPage Pro, Textbridge, or whatever else you prefer.

The Epson driver offers more choices in output resolution.Whereas the SnapScan has four levels - Normal (150dpi), Better (200dpi), Best (300dpi) and Excellent (600dpi) - the Epson has eight levels ranging from 75 dpi up through 600 dpi.For some strange reason, neither company's software allows you to name the output file before scanning.After scanning, you'll need to manually rename each file with something recognizable. (The default date/time stamp doesn't give you any useful information if you need to find a file a month later).

The Epson ships with software for both Macintosh and Windows systems.I've tested both versions in a mixed Windows/Mac network and they both work smoothly.The Fujitsu ScanSnap, on the other hand, comes in dedicated Mac (S510m)and Windows (S510) models.I've only used the Windows version.

Both scanners are similar in their physical shape, although the Epson looks quite a bit larger...it's about 1" longer, 2" taller and an inch or two deeper than the SnapScan.It holds 75 pages in the input slot, versus 50 in the SnapScan.The Epson has a two-line display on the front.The SnapScan only has "scan" and "power" buttons.Both units are solidly built and give the feeling that they'll last for a long time...I've used my SnapScan for 30K+ pages and it's still going strong.Both units have user replaceable pads and rollers to keep them running smoothly.

How do they operate in real life?To begin my testing, I fed the same 42 page document through each scanner.The document was complex as they come, with both text and color graphics on most pages.It was also laid out to be used in a vertical flip chart (letter-size, but bound on the short edge)...from the scanner's perspective, the back-side of each page was upside down.My theory was that a scanner that could make sense out of it could handle almost anything...

The Epson scanned my test document faster than the ScanSnap, but software processing of the scanned image took longer.The ScanSnap took 3min 10sec from the start of the scan to PDF file creation, without using text recognition; the Epson took 4min 6sec.The OCR software runs in the background on the SnapScan, but runs in the foreground on the Epson.Because of this, the SnapScan can be used to scan the next document while the text is being recognized, while the Epson remains busy until it's completely finished.My test document tied up the Epson for 12min 20sec from the time that I started the scan until the OCR finished and saved the file.My computer's no slouch, but a faster computer would obviously shorten that time.If you use an outside text recognition package, you can always run it at a later time and eliminate this time waster.

The ScanSnap features automatic rotation of upside down and landscape pages.(Everything is fed in vertically on both scanners.) The Epson doesn't...you get what you feed in.In my test document, the ScanSnap flipped the upside pages right-side up.The Epson left them upside down.Even with the upside down pages, the OCR worked fine.

The Epson can handle mixed page sizes in one scan.You can drop all your receipts in and have them scanned at once.The ScanSnap needs all the pages to be the same size in each scan...a longer page is assumed to be a misfeed and aborts the scan.

The Epson has a straight through paper path.It can handle credit card and ID Card scanning.The ScanSnap doesn't and can't.This makes the Epson perfect for a medical office where health insurance cards are always being copied.

The Epson can scan documents up to 36" long.The ScanSnap stops at legal size (14").This is useful when you are scanning cash register receipts, but as a practical matter, I seldom run into anything else that's longer than 14"...at least not without also getting too wide for the scanner.

Using the default settings, the ScanSnap had a sharper output at 600dpi.Clicking the "unsharpen" box in the Epson software produced a scan that almost exactly matched the ScanSnap's output...why unsharpen actually sharpens is a mystery. In solid-color blocks, the Epson was clearly superior, producing a solid-color output.The ScanSnap had a lot of off-color noise that was clearly visible when enlarged.

The Epson also has the ability to drop out colors, which is useful when scanning something printed on colored paper.It would also be useful if you need to remove a red "confidential" or "top secret" stamp from a borrowed document.:)

Besides the drivers and other utility software, the Epson includes PaperPort 11 SE, which is a visual file organizer.It operates similarly to the ScanSnap Organizer.I didn't test it out...the last time I installed PaperPort 11 Pro (NOT the SE version), it messed up my computer so badly that I ended up reinstalling Windows to get rid of it.(If you have a minute to kill, go read the reviews on Amazon for PaperPort 11 Pro!)I assume that Epson's version is more reliable, but having been burned more than once, I'm not about to try any version of PaperPort ever again!Both scanners use the ABBYY FineReader software.It works nicely.The ScanSnap also includes a full version of Adobe Acrobat Standard...a $200 program if you were to go out and buy it separately.

So....which scanner would I buy?The short answer is that it depends on your application. If you're using both Macs and Windows machines, the choice is clear...the Epson works with both.Both scanners are built for years of use and each has unique features (e.g. card scanning) that point it in one direction or the other.The Fujitsu ScanSnap is designed to be a more "push the button and it goes" type of device.The Epson GT-S50 is more flexible.I like them both.

Update - August 3, 2009 - I've now had both machines running side-by-side for about five months.I now find myself almost always using the Epson instead of the ScanSnap. The reason is simple - the Epson NEVER double feeds. This may be a function of the newness of the Epson, but my Fujitsu isn't really that old, nor, at 19K pages has it seen much service.The double feeding has become a real problem...I have to carefully watch everything going through the SnapScan to make sure that it's not skipping a page.Not good.

Update #2 - November 14, 2009 - I upgraded one of my office computers to Windows 7 and the GT-S50 is working fine.There no drivers yet available for the ScanSnap S510...Fujitsu is estimating the end of December.Even their newer model, the S1500 won't have drivers for another couple of weeks.
I also need to add that I've have a less-than-satisfactory with Epson service.My GT-S50 keeps truckin' along, but another Epson scanner, a V500 Office started misfeeding after two weeks.Epson wouldn't ship me a replacement unit...their scanner service policy apparently requires that the scanner be delivered, at customer's expense, to a repair depot.That's not exactly the most customer-centric way of doing things...

Update #3 - January 27, 2010 - Fujitsu now has Windows 7 drivers available on their website.My s510 is now up and running.

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Product Description:
The Epson WorkForce Pro GT-S50 Document Imaging scanner...The WorkForce Pro GT-S50 document image scanner offers an amazing value with its remarkable reliability, powerful performance and easy-to-use features. With a daily duty cycle of up to 1200 sheets, plus a 75-page feeder, it?s ready to tackle any task in busy office environments. Scan everything from business cards to rigid ID cards and documents up to 8.5x36 inches. The GT-S50 easily scans both sides of one sheet in just one pass -- in color, grayscale or bi-tonal. It?s never been easier to electronically capture critical documents. Whether you need a faster way to access shared documents, a more affordable way to comply with government mandates or a better way to maintain the integrity of important documents, the GT-S50 is the perfect place to start. Designed by Epson, a leader in digital imaging, the GT-S50 offers robust paper handling capabilities and quality you can depend on -- all from a compact, desktop scanner.

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Epson Perfection V30 Color Scanner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just got this and have been trying it out. As I surmised, it is identical to the V300 except there is no negative holder in the box. The driver CDROM and all documentation lists both models. I'm using this with Photoshop and Indesign to make personal studies for portrait drawing practice, using art book and magazine images for source material. I was holding my breath to make sure the TIFF file type is included with this version, and it is (in the professional scan mode.) Fabulously smooth images made from ordinary newspaper color ad inserts using only 800 dpi. You can select various destination image types, including up to 48-bit color and up to 12,800 dpi (in professional mode). TIFF files are rather large, but I plan to dump them as soon as I print the cropped images. (After I draw, I no longer need the images.) Of course, also does jpeg format (default) and has a tremendous range of custom formatting before saving, as well as ultra simple 'point and shoot' scanning. Also has customizable presets for home mode (email scanning, etc.) and office mode (RGB value settings, for example). I haven't tried this yet, but it makes PDF files in all but full auto mode, without purchasing Adobe Acrobat, unbelievable. (I have a Fujitsu document scanner that outputs to PDF, but it cost several times more.)

There is the same user selection option for film as a document type as on the V300 so I don't see why you can't scan slides and negatives, using a homemade holder or even just guessing where to position film in the center strip of the scanner bed. I don't plan to scan many film images or I would have gotten the V300, but it was not available for prime shipping. I do have some favorite Velvia slides I will eventually try to scan and see what happens. Will let you know how it goes when I get a chance. Superb scanner, incredible price, and arguably unbeatable Epson reliability, per my previous experience with color inkjets going back to windows 3.1 that just never stopped working well. I based my purchase on all the high praise for the V300/V200 and the assumption that this one uses the same scan engine and software, which it does, the only difference I can tell being the missing film holder. If anything, the V30 is more recent and probably has higher specs than the V300. If you don't need a film holder, or if you just need to update your flatbed scanner, this is a total no brainer. Forgot to mention, top is hinged and lifts/flips back out of the way.

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Product Description:
Scan photos and 3D objects with amazing clarity and detail. The value-priced Epson Perfection V30 makes it easier than ever with 4800 dpi optical resolution and a host of automatic features. With the scanner-s remarkable resolution, you can easily create extraordinary images. And, it offers easy setup plus one-touch scanning. So, whether you choose to archive important documents or your favorite photos, you can be up and running in no time. Bring those faded color photos back to life effortlessly with the Perfection V30. This versatile performer even includes a high-rise lid for scanning books and other 3D objects. With an innovative LED light source, the Perfection V30 provides fast scans with no warmup time.

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