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FLATBED SCANNERS: Microtek ScanMaker 5900

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PCQ Bureau
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This flatbed scanner has an optical resolution of 4800X2400 dpi and color depth of 48-bits. It's a mid-range scanner that can be used by designers for their basic scanning requirements. There are several features in this product, the most visible being the array of seven buttons on its front panel. Through these you scan, customize settings, cancel scan jobs, post scanned images on the Web and send them via e-mail, perform OCR and copy documents. The other interesting one is the scanner's cover, which comes with a built-in transparency adapter unit. So you don't need to buy one separately, or get into the hassles of interchanging it with the regular cover whenever you need to scan the transparencies. 

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On the performance front, it took just 7 secs for a preview scan and 47 secs for an A4 color page at 300 dpi, and 5 mins and 35 secs at 1200 dpi. It took only 49 secs to scan a transparency at 600 dpi. Scan quality was good in both the cases. The OCR capabilities of the scanner are very good, thanks to the bundled ABBYY FineReader OCR software. For that matter, the software bundle with the scanner is pretty good. It includes Kodak Color Management, ABBYY Fine Reader Sprint (a spelling checker for OCR process), Adobe Photo Deluxe, Ulead Photo Explore and Ulead DVD Picture Show for creating slide shows.

The bottom line: Given the features and good software bundle, and the fact that it has a built-in TP unit, the scanner is a good buy.

CyberMedia Labs

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