This USB model is a good choice for those seeking decent quality at a low price.
Agfa 1212u Snapscan USB colour scanner
For: Text and image scanning. The unit features a maximum image area of 8.5" x 11.7" and scans at optical resolutions of up to 600 (H) x 1200 (V) pixels per inch, in 36-bit colour.
Pros: Plug and play. Lower noise and sharper images than on most comparably priced models. Win98 and (USB-equipped) Mac compatible. Our test unit came with ScanWise 1.2.0.9, which has progressed significantly over older versions of this software and now works very well. The 1212U uses a CCD (charge-coupled device) optical sensor, which we have found to produce results superior to those those achieved by CIS (contact image sensor) devices.
Cons: Weak documentation. Fairly slow. No transparency option. Some users report problems on USB-equipped Socket 7 motherboards with NEC, VIA or SiS USB chipsets. The 1212u is not compatible with Agfa's high-end scanner driver, FotoLook.
Included software:
PC software:
Macintosh software:
From: www.agfa.com.
Update: Agfa in Aug. 2001 announced its intention to exit from the consumer scanner market and is canceling production and development on all consumer scanner models including the SnapScan and DuoScan product families. Warranties will be honored.
MacWorld has details....
Looking for a flatbed scanner under $200? The Agfa 1212u should be on your short list. This model, along with the the Microtek X6, Umax 1220S, and a few higher-priced models from Hewlett-Packard including the 5300 and recently discontinued 5200C, are the best products in the now-bulging category of inexpensive flatbed scanners. As we noted in our reviews elsewhere on this site, these brands are a better bet than those from lesser-known manufacturers (Plustek, Acer, Vivitar, etc.), and the 1212u has fared well in other tests, including those at PC Magazine and PC World.
The ScanWise software is, perhaps, an acquired taste in terms of interface design, but the functionality is excellent. The software we tested, version 1.2.0.9, can straight to your word processor, image editor, Web browser, fax or e-mail applications. It also auto-rotates misaligned originals and automatically chooses the right scanning modes for text, color or black/white images. A feature Agfa calls "PhotoGenie" enhances image detail (via a process technically known as unsharp masking) and color balance. The software also provides integrated color management maintains color accuracy on monitors and printers. All in the blink of an eye!
There's also an optical character recognition feature, thanks to a bundled copy of Caere OmniPage LE 5.01. This software turns a page of scanned words into editable text. (We also tested the unit successfully with the upgraded version of OmniPage Pro 10, available separately.)
Of course, being a USB-based product, the 1212u requires a recent operating system release: at least Windows 95 OSR2 with the USB supplement or Windows 98 on the PC; or a USB-equipped Mac. We tested the unit on both Windows 98 and iMac platforms. In both cases, USB made it possible to connect or disconnect the scanner without turning off or rebooting the computer. This makes the 121U an excellent choice for environments where multiple users might want to share a single scanner.
Tip: Some PC users, particularly those with Socket 7-based systems, report that setting "Legacy USB devices" to "DISABLED" can help tame unruly USB functionality. Upgrading the BIOS of these machines may also help.
In short, the Agfa 1212u has a sharper resolution and a low signal to noise ratio that comparably priced models from Microtek and Umax. It's a better scanner overall.
Other models worth considering:
Agfa SnapScan Touch: similar to the 1212U, this unit features almost identical specs (600x1200 optical resolution; 36-bit colour) and the same software bundle, but an important addition: four buttons right on the top of the scanner that, respectively, scan to printer, scan to fax, scan to email or open the ScanWise software with a single touch. Thus, you can turn your black/white or color printer into a copier with a push of a button. One issue that may bother some: the scanner light sometimes doesn't go out, even when the unit is idle. (Agfa provides a utility that can turn the light on or off; however, this problem also affects some models from other manufacturers. We'd recommend checking the unit or buying from a dealer with a money-back guarantee if this is a concern.)
Umax Astra 1220S or 1220U: The SCSI based "S" unit and the "U" model are essentially the same scanner with different interfaces. Both produce high quality images, yet are easy to use. The "S" model got top marks from MacWorld magazine when it was new. With recent price reductions, the 1220S is a good value. It is a bit slow, but the resolution is very good.
Microtek X6el: Good scanning software, includes Photoshop 4 LE. Supports up to 1200 dpi. A popular choice with Mac users. The X6 is available with a USB interface for about C$136, complete with a bonus kit that scans negatives. The Microtek Phantom 336cx is another popular model. We think Microtek's scanning software is among the best and easiest to use on the market.
HP's 4100C (discontinued) or 4200C. Includes Adobe PhotoDeluxe. The driver is a bit awkward to use (defining custom resolutions seems especially clumsy). The 4100C, now discontinued, is still a bit more expensive than other scanners in its class. Comes with its own USB drivers for Win95.
PC Buyer's Guide does not recommend parallel-connected scanners in general. However, users unwilling to upgrade to Windows 98/Me or a SCSI-based scanner may find a parallel-port scanner a viable solution. In this event, we recommend a unit such as the HP 5200C, that includes both parallel and USB ports, or the Canon Cano-Scan 620P. The latter unit was rated positively by C|Net, although the editors conceded that its software is a little weak. It's under US$100.
Not recommended:
Acer 310P: a cheap parallel-port scanner. Gets the job done, but images aren't as sharp as those produced by Agfa, Umax, HP or Microtek models.
UMAX Astra 610P: Slow and fairly noisy, this parallel-port-based unit never turns off the scanner lamp, leading to early lamp failure and/or scan quality degradation. Later models don't even have an off/on switch on the back!
Mustek 1200ED: includes select editions of Corel Draw & Corel Photo Paint. Rock-bottom price gets you a unit with software that many users characterize as "awful" and picture quality charitably described as "not great." As well, numerous reports of hardware problems with Mustek scanners, particularly defective power supplies, suggests that you get exactly what you pay for with this, or other "too cheap" models.
Also, beware of "superslim" scanners. these units typically have inferior image quality to boxier units.
For further reading:
wish to update scanwise 1.20
how can i go about this my scanwise is window 98 and i wish to run it on window xp
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