Microtek ScanMaker 4800 Scanner

Rating:
Summary: You Get What You Pay For
Review: This scanner promised more features and better resolution for a lower price than the competitors, so I figured I'd try it out... The software is very good and easy to use. The first scan I did turned out great! But after the first couple weeks, the scans became progressively worse and the scanner slower and slower. I find spots on my images and the resolution is much worse than promised. May be fine for the general email a pic type use, but if you want to do any photo editing or have photos good enough to scan and print, spend a little more and get a better scanner.

Rating:
Summary: Microtek Scanner Software issues
Review: This scanner's software drivers have a utility called SDII.exe that has a nasty habit of taking over the CPU resources while running under Windows XP (Pro). The hardware itself seems pretty sound. (I used to run the scanner on a computer using Windows 98 before I upgraded the computer and operating system). Microtek has seemed less than helpful in supporting this product.

Rating:
Summary: Microtek Scanmaker 4800
Review: Unfortunately, this scanner I purchased died within 24 hrs after installation. The photo I scanned before this occurred come out wonderfully. The scanner comes bundled with excellant software but the scanner is noisey compared to the Umax Astra 2100U it replaced. I returned this scanner and decided to spend a little more money for a Microtek Scanmaker 4900. I'm hoping when I receive this scanner it will prove to be more durable.

Rating:
Summary: Film scanning
Review: Using the calibration software is very helpful--it doesn't load automatically when you set the system up so you have to look in the software menu to get it. Also, scan film at the scanners highest optical resolution (1200 dpi). The booklet says to scan film at no less than 600 but due to the nature of slides and film, scanning at less than full optical resolution cheats you out of tons of detail (slides and film are ideally scanned at about 2000 dpi). Also, go to the trouble of using the softwares "advanced" preview setting which allow for RGB histogram, gamma curve and color adjustments instead of just slapping the slide down and hitting the "scan" button. If you have lots of slides and film to scan and you need prints over 4x6" you may want to look into a slide scanner (be ready to pay big bucks for a good one) otherwise, with attention to each slide before scanning, this is a decent option for much less money. As a home option for slide and film scanning (for small prints) I give it four stars--but for scanning photos and objects I give it five stars as it really shines in those applications. PS--this probably doesn't need mentioning, but in case your scanning all your slides and film so you have a digital copy to archive DO NOT discard the original film. Using this scanner to create prints from slides is fine, but it doesn't wring all the information out of the originals and if you toss your originals you'll lose data you'll never retrieve.

Rating:
Summary: Works great for me in Windows 2000 and xp
Review: Wish there is a power button on this model

Rating:
Summary: an error in your features
Review: you say the lightlid 35 is not included. The microtek web site says it is. It shows it also in the picture of the 4800 model. I have spent several days trying to gain as much information as I can before I make a purchase. I seem not to be able to find consistant information form the different web sites and from the different local stores. I guess it's a gut feeling thing and I hope for the best.