Umax Astra 2000U Flatbed USB Scanner (PC/Mac)

Rating:
Summary: Well, it can sorta scan!
Review: I was hoping to get a wonderful scanner to put pictures of my kids on our webpage. Pictures look blotchy and the OCR is horrible. I would suggest saving up for a higher end model.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT SCANNER FOR THE MONEY!
Review: I've had this unit for almost 3 years now and it has given me GREAT service!

Rating:
Summary: Good scanner with decent software package
Review: I've used this scanner for over a year now and find the total package to be quite good. The scanner tends to scan images a bit dark, but that is easily corrected with the included imaging software (I actually use PaintShop Pro to adjust the brightness). The OCR (OmniPage LE)does a fairly good job, but free OCR software will never be the match of $100.00 programs. I scan images almost exclusively for posting to websites. The scans are fairly quick, even with the 30-second warm-up for the first scan. You get quite a bit of bundled software, some of which is redundant (how many graphics programs do you really need?). I use the copy utility much more than I thought I ever would. I even put a shortcut of the Copier on the desktop so I can copy quickly. In short, this is a pretty good scanner with some decent included software and a great USB interface!

Rating:
Summary: A very good scanner for the money
Review: Scans very well, haven't any problems with it (although if you want to any serious editing of scanned photographs, use Photoshop instead of PhotoDeluxe). Overall, a great scanner for the home.

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Summary: Buy anything but Umax!
Review: So, now I have a scanner sitting on my desk doing absolutely nothing! Tech support was well, "Thanks for nothing". I think tonight we will have a scanner bonfire and put this scanner, and myself, at peace.

Rating:
Summary: Works for a day
Review: The dumbest scanner I have ever seen you shoud check out the software old and slow.

Rating:
Summary: Umax Astra 2000U
Review: The scanner has never scanned since new. I can understand a unit being shipped factory without firmware. Mistakes happen. But the Umax customer service is just plain lousy. The "Get them off the phone" and "don't answer e-mails" policy is an insult. I'll pay a little more and by an office HP.

Rating:
Summary: An Abomination
Review: The Umax Astra 2000U has locked up completely on me after very limited service. I have attempted Power Cycling as recommended by the website, with no results. The VistaScan software, the scanner control strip module, and any attempt to access the TWAIN driver through Photoshop or Photodeluxe all crash my laptop. As other reviewers have testified, customer support is either nonexistent (via email) or unconscionably expensive (via telephone). Had God not convinced Pharaoh to free the Hebrews with the Passover plague, He surely would have bombarded Egypt with thousands of these useless scanners. Invest your money wisely: go HP.

Rating:
Summary: An Abomination
Review: The Umax Astra 2000U has locked up completely on me after very limited service. I have attempted Power Cycling as recommended by the website, with no results. The VistaScan software, the scanner control strip module, and any attempt to access the TWAIN driver through Photoshop or Photodeluxe all crash my laptop. As other reviewers have testified, customer support is either nonexistent (via email) or unconscionably expensive (via telephone). Had God not convinced Pharaoh to free the Hebrews with the Passover plague, He surely would have bombarded Egypt with thousands of these useless scanners. Invest your money wisely: go HP.

Rating:
Summary: Good scanner for the price
Review: This is a nice scanner for the money. I upgraded from a lower resolution, parallel port scanner to this one, because of the price and it was a USB scanner. I have been using this scanner for a couple of years with no problems. I have run it originally under Windows 98, and currently under Windows XP Home Edition.
Yes, there are better scanners out there that will do more, but for basic scanning needs and the price I would recommend this scanner if you are looking to save money and still have a good basic scanner with good quality.