Rating: 
Summary: Get the CanoScan LIDE 30 instead.
Review: I've installed this scanner under OS X (download the TWAIN driver, there's none included) and Windows 2000. I've also installed the less expensive Canon LIDE 30 under both environments.I recommend the LIDE 30 for the reasons described below. In particular the Perfection 1660 has fine hardware, but the most abysmal documentation I've see in years. The installation is awkward and the software is unimpressive. Some of the software is specific to Epson printers, for example. Scan color under OS X has a bluish tinge, though that evaluation is complicated by the lack of Epson documentation on ColorSync settings. When you do a scan the progress box is immovable and sits atop all windows -- so you can't work during a scan. A minor point, but it illustrates how unrefined the Epson software is. Additional comparison to the CanoScan LIDE 30 (emphasis is on OS X, but much of this is true for Win2K: 1. Image quality (color picture, 300 dpi, 24 bit)
Both seem to produce excellent color photo scans, though on the Mac the EPSON colors were a bit bluish.
CanoScan > Epson 2. Durability and reliability. The EPSON feels more rugged and
durable, as befits it's significantly higher price.
Epson > CanonScan 3. Convenience. The Epson seems to be about 4 times bigger and heavier than the LIDE 30. The LIDE 30 gets its power from the USB bus, the Epson needs yet another power brick (and we have no room to spare!). The LIDE can be stored on its side.
CanoScan >>> Epson. 4. Performance. The CanoScan is at least twice as fast with a USB 1.0 connection, and probably even faster with a 2.0 (though the images I'm taking aren't huge).
Epson >> CanoScan 5. Drivers (OS X). The CanoScan uses a PhotoShop Plug-In compatible with GraphicConverter, Canon's software, and PhotoShop like products), the Epson uses a TWAIN driver. I thought that OS X (in particular) would have native support for the Epson, but in fact this is no advantage. Without installation of the TWAIN driver Image Capture acquires only a very low res image (400K TIFF). After installing the
TWAIN driver Image Capture behaves exactly the same way, but
GraphicConverter will get an image. The image acquisition software seems similar, with the EPSON having the advantage of more control over embedded color tables and ColorSync use; but I'm not sure the ColorSync setting are doing anything! The EPSON is biased however to EPSON's peculiar proprietary color matching software. I didn't pay attention to the rest of the bundled s/w, but I thought the CanoScan had a slight advantage overall. The Epson OS X TWAIN installation should be straightforward, but for some bizarre reason one has to burrow through folders and extractions to fine a nice simple disk image. CanoScan installation was bizarre, but the front buttons work under OS X. The Epson buttons don't work under OS X (not that I would use them anyway!)
CanoScan > Epson 6. Cost. The EPSON is almost twice the cost of the CanoScan.
CanoScan >> EPSON (much better, not more expensive!) 7. Support. The Epson web site is fair. Tech support is by phone or mail. Canon has a very good web site.
CanoScan >> EPSON 8. Documentation. Excellent on the CanoScan, worst I've ever seen for the Epson.
CanoScan >>> Epson. 9. Bundled software. Epson has none for OS X, fair to poor for Mac Classic and Windows. CanoScan is fair for OS X, fair to good for Windows.
CanoScan >> Epson. 8. Other features. The EPSON has a negative scanner that's said to work (I've not tested it).
Epson >> CanoScan
Rating: 
Summary: 3rd Try On Epson And Closest Being A Perfection
Review: This is my thrid Epson scanner and this is the one is the best of the bunch after owning Perfection 610 and Perfection 1240U. My primary reason to upgrade to this scanner is USB2 connection which makes a big speed difference especially on high-res scans. The quality of photo scan is magnificent - a printout of the scan from my Epson photo printer looks virtually identical to the original, something my two prior Epson scanners don't quite achieve. In addition, when scanning magazines, the moire pattern is less pronounced than my previous Epsons as well.
In term of installation, I encounter absolutely no problem. I don't even bother to install the enclosed CD-ROM - don't really care about the bundled photo software anyway since I use Photoshop. My best advice - for ALL SCANNERS AND PRINTERS, IF POSSIBLE ALWAYS DOWNLOAD THE LATEST DRIVER FROM THE MANUFACTURER instead of using the bundled CD-ROM which almost always contains outdated drivers. Alternatively, after installation IMMEDIATELY update the driver to the latest version that supports your operating system. Before buying/installing any new products, always check the manufacturer's web site to see if there's any issues / software updates with the product.
In summary, you get what you pay for - Epson 1660 is a great, fast scanner.
Rating:
Summary: I'm EXTREMELY pleased with this!
Review: I've had this for over a year now, well over a year, and I am still amazed at how easy it is and what great results I get. For the past six months, I've been waiting for it to keel over a die from overuse. I've been working on a project, scanning and archiving family photos, and I've scanned so many photos, paintings, family documents etc, that I fully expected this scanner to surrender. If it stopped working tomorrow, I've already had more than my moneys worth from this scanner. I highly recommend it. Great little scanner!
Rating: 
Summary: Hardware is okay; Software okay, manual is lousy
Review: This is the 2nd Epson scanner I have purchased, the first being the Epson Perfection 1200U. I have a need to scan slides and negatives for archival purposes. The 1200U, even after buying the special lid, did a lousy job. So, I figured the Perfection 1660 "PHOTO" would do the job. Not! I can't tell the difference between the two scanners on photos; both do a good job on photos. Neither the software nor the manual is any help with the 1660 Photo. (The manual is installed from the CD-ROM and the hardware shown in the manual is not even the Perfection 1660 Photo. It's another scanner - made differently!) I just gave up and took my slides to Wal-Mart and will pay 29 cents each to have them scanned. Don't believe the manufacturer about scanning negatives nor slides. This machine just don't do the job
Rating:
Summary: A Real Workhorse!
Review: I am 65 and after 40+ years of marriage, my wife and I had accumulated about 5,000 pictures and slides in albums, boxes, envelopes, etc. I have now finished scanning them all and have PhotoShopped, date-labeled, filed them in folders in "My Documents" and created CDs for the relatives. The Epson 1660 performed flawlessly! My conscience no longer nags me! Based on my satisfaction, I looked to Epson for a combination printer/scanner/copier. (I left my scanner and printer at our Florida home) I bought the Epson Stylus CX5400 based on the very favorable user reviews and the remarkably low price. It too is a great product.
Rating: 
Summary: I will never ever buy EPSON again
Review: First, I'm computer professional and I've been doing this stuff for years and years. The Epson software for this scanner is flaky. I've used it under Windows 2000 and Windows XP and it is not reliable. Sure, when it works it's ok. But, quite often it pops up modal or non-modal but very non-standard Windows windows that you can't get to with Alt-TAB and they are not in the Task Manager. Basically, you're hosed and you need to reboot. If you've scanned a bunch of images in and they have not yet been saved to file, they are gone. You've just wasted a little bit of your life. And installing the drivers is another time that Epson gets to steal from your life. Epson used to make the ONLY printer in the old days, but I don't know what they are doing now. But I do know that I will never buy an Epson product for the rest of my life.
Rating:
Summary: Installed in less than 10 minutes!
Review: I read the reviews concerning the installation of the Epson Scanner and I didn't have any difficulty at all. Great scanner for the price.
Rating:
Summary: No problems with this scanner
Review: I haven't had any problems with the Epson Perfection 1660 Photo since I purchased it earlier this year. It is running on a Windows XP PC utilizing the USB 2.0 port, and it's speedy. Scan quality is very nice, and the drivers haven't caused any crashes. However, I make a habit of downloading the latest drivers from manufacturer websites when buying a new accessory instead of relying on the CD, which is usually outdated by the time of purchase. The only caveats I have are the following: 1) it is quite large and will need a lot of desk space (although this adds to the sturdy feel), and 2) the included software is somewhat clunky and non-intuitive. Instead I use a document management program (Paperport 9.0), which is much easier to work with.
Rating:
Summary: Unsatisfactory XP installation
Review: I was not able to install this properly on my Windows XP PC
after many hours trying. The installation CD supplied by Epson generated numerous errors, so I went to the Epson support website. The site directed me to a third party website. I followed the instructions there (uninstall XP patch, install software, install another XP patch), but the 'Smart Panel' software still would not run. I finally got it to work by runnning it under Windows 98 compatibility mode. Some XP users have gotten it installed easily, but in my case it was a big hassle! Too bad, since the scanning quality is good.
Rating:
Summary: epson perfection 1660
Review: There are some reviews below which claim that the 1660 isn't XP compatible- which I find strange, since I'm using Windows XP and I don't have a problem with it. I bought this scanner a few weeks ago and so far, I'm very happy with it (the problems customers have encountered during the installation have probably more to do with corrupted software than the scanner itself-it can happen, after all)
This is the second scanner I've ever owned and the main reason I bought this is because they have this same scanner in my office; I work for a major newspaper company here in the Philippines and they have two 1660's here which our graphic artists use to scan photos, negatives, penciled sketches and anything else you can think of. The scanners have lasted for more than a year (probably even 2 years) and have produced excellent professional quality scans. If the 1660 is good enough for professional work, I figured it would be good enough for me. And it is.
I'm an aspiring computer artist and I use Adobe Photoshop for everything I scan. I love all the different options this scanner has to offer (such as the different scanning modes for b/w, color, color photo, b/w photo and even illustration) and the clear, crisp quality of the pictures I scan.
| 
