Features:
- True 36-bit color, 12-bit grayscale
- True 600 x 1,200 dpi, 9,600 dpi enhanced resolution
- FlexScan lid for scanning 3-D objects
- Zero-reflection technology
- Parallel connectivity
Description:
Get easy parallel connectivity and true 600 x 1,200 dpi scanning from the Microtek ScanMaker X6. It offers several advanced technologies to give you great scans of text, and of color and black-and-white images, all at an inexpensive price. We set up the ScanMaker X6 without documentation to guide us: we plugged in the AC power and connected the parallel cable to our PC. Then, with the scanner turned off, we installed the drivers, optical character recognition (OCR) software, and ScanSuite software from the CD-ROM. We restarted Windows and turned on the scanner, and Windows automatically completed the installation. The entire setup process was flawless. To test the scanner, we placed a color photo on the scanner bed, started a paint application, and selected Acquire from the application's File menu. The ScanMaker driver software started automatically, allowing us to select the scanning options. We chose 600 dpi with millions of colors and clicked the mouse for a preview scan. We used the ScanMaker software to crop the preview image and then clicked the mouse for a full scan. The full scan took less than a minute and contained unwanted moiré patterns. We repeated the scan, this time specifying a descreening option. Shortly thereafter, we were treated to beautiful results: the moiré pattern had disappeared entirely. It was impossible to distinguish this scan from a scan of the same photograph made on a much more expensive professional scanner. To test the OCR software, we started ScanSuite, clicked the OCR button, and set the options for 300 dpi and for output to Microsoft Word. We scanned a high-contrast, multicolored promotional flyer overlaid with black text. After scanning, the OCR software processed and converted the scan to Word's .doc format. We opened the Word file to mixed results. The OCR software had mistaken every red bullet in the original as "4m" or "4o," and it had placed line breaks in unexpected places. However, the software had read all the text, and there were no outright typographical errors. Given the ScanMaker's easy setup, good scans of photographs, and friendly ScanSuite software, we think this is an excellent scanner for the price. Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Lightweight, durable design
- Good suite of software
Cons:
- Cumbersome to use with some applications
- OCR software produces mixed results
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