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Microtek ScanMaker 3700 Flatbed Scanner (PC/Mac)

Microtek ScanMaker 3700 Flatbed Scanner (PC/Mac)

List Price: $79.99
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Product Info Reviews

Features:
  • True 600 x 1,200 dpi optical resolution, 9,600 x 9,600 dpi interpolated, 42-bit color depth
  • USB connection to PC or Mac
  • Easy 1-button scanning; scans area of 8.5 by 11.7 inches
  • Comprehensive software bundle included


Description:

Ideally suited for small or home businesses with a variety of scanning needs, the Microtek ScanMaker 3700 combines speed, sharp images, and brilliant colors in an easy-to-use single-pass scanner. It offers 600 x 1,200 dpi optical resolution (9,600 x 9,600 dpi interpolated), 42-bit color depth, a flatbed with a full 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area, and a software package designed to meet the needs of most serious users. It connects via either a USB or SCSI port and is PC and Macintosh compatible.

To set up the scanner, we followed the reference guide, connecting the power and USB cables and installing the driver software. From the start of setup, we especially liked the fast installation and easy-to-read instructions with minimal fluff. (We highly recommend following the enclosed and very logical reference guide for the fastest trouble-free installation.) It took us only 15 minutes to go from opening the box to scanning documents.

In our tests, editing and enhancing images was a snap, thanks to Microtek's ScanWizard5 software, which provides a simple and straightforward approach to navigating through a variety of scanning tasks. All our choices (input and output type, resolution, color depth, and so on) were onscreen for easy selection. We enlarged wallet-size photos to 8 by 10 inches while maintaining their image clarity. We scanned 35mm slides and filmstrips with the LightLid add-on component, but with mixed results. This scanner did not yield the high-resolution images we've seen from similar systems with built-in film-scanning abilities. For documents with both text and images, Trellix Web Microtek Edition and OCR software assisted in converting the text into an editable form and then easily reconfiguring and positioning the images. For copies, we pressed one button for a quick scan and print. Pressing another button delivered our scanned documents to e-mail. All of these operations were intuitive or easily mastered with only a little practice.

The ScanMaker 3700 is a solid workhorse, measuring 20 by 11.4 by 4.6 inches yet weighing only 8 pounds. Its sturdy but readily transportable design and clean three-button operation make it a good all-purpose scanner. --Barbara Price

Pros:

  • Single-pass scanning
  • No-mistake setup
  • Good feature set for general use

Cons:

  • Minimal documentation for the software bundle
  • Film scans lack fine detail
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