Forum, forum on the net, which is the fastest scanner I should get?

[DimViesel]

Not so much wicked b***h of the west more miserable lad with a lot of scanning to do. No one seems to concentrate on this aspect of scanners not even the review sites or periodicals, magazines etc, I've come across. Essentially I am wondering which scanner, regarless of resolution, price etc. -though I presume I am looking at a USB2 or firewire interfaced unit- has the shortest preview and 300 dpi and under, scan times?

I would prefer it to achieve these in full colour, but I suppose B&W would work as long as the speed gains were great. I want 2-3 second scans.

Automatic doc feeder solutions unfortunately will not lend themselves to the task since I am not scanning single sheet documents.

Any info, as long as it is not explaining contemporary scanner technology, I think I'm pretty up on this already, most welcome.

Is there such a thing as industrial scanning solutions, for converting (digitising) a whole company's worth of documentation over to electronic form? Anyone know what this type of business would be called?

Anyone know a better place I could pose this question?

[SteveI]

If you asked this question 3 years ago, I might have been more helpful. I faced a similar dilemna, but for home use.

AFAIK, scanners today a just a bit better than a few years ago... The low end stuff is still slow as heck. I bought an HP 5300 when it first came out. I read a review that it was MUCH faster at low dpi(150-300). It takes about 10 seconds to warm up from sleep, and only another 5 seconds or so to scan. It came with a 1yr warrantee, where the HP home models were 90days. Also, back then, wake up time was like 30 sec, and another 30-60 to scan.

The best thing to do is go to a CompUSA or similar, and start pressing buttons... with a stop watch. Definitely stay away from anything under $100 if you want speed.

[DimViesel]

Thanks for the heads-up Steve. Guess I had better give a bit more detail in my stats. There really is not much of the equivalent to Comp USA here in the UK -at least not in my area. This is part of the problem. I believe also that manufacturers stats are to be taken with a pinch of salt. Perhaps I should go and do all the research and build the first "F1 Scanners" - 'first past the finish line every time' perhaps I can even get the models sent out for some 'reviews' -yeah I wish!!!

[SteveI]

Sorry, didn't realize you were in the UK...
For a while, reviewers did time the scans. (I guess the mfgrs didn't appreciate that.) For speed today, I honestly don't have a clue. Sorry.

[DimViesel]

Hey no apologies required! No, indeed I'm grateful you took the time out to respond. No question about that. There was also no way of you knowing where I was based -my fault entirely.
This, essentially is the problem with static textual communication; there is no way to guage how sardonic a particular sentence appears to other people.

However as I said there seems to be a real need for someone to benchmark scanner's speeds under both Win & Linux. Anyone have any idea how to go about getting hold of units to actually do this?

[Aedan]

The interface used will have some impact, but probably not that much unless you're scanning at high res. Scanning a 9inch wide line at 300dpi produces just under 8K. Under USB1.1 you'd get a maximum speed of ~190 lines/sec, or an inch in just over 1.5seconds. Firewire and USB2 would vastly increase the maximum theoretical scan speed. USB2 would bring it up to 6333lines/sec (21 inches/sec). Firewire would be similar.

Obviously the interface (USB2/SCSI/Firewire) won't be the limiting speed, but the CCD and the mechanics of the device.

As to where to pose the question, I'm not really sure on that!

[timbob2469]

Worlds fastest. $12,000.00 USD- http://www.businesswire.com/webbox/b.../191191371.htm

Fastest for the money. $125.00 USD-
http://www.businesswire.com/webbox/b.../222190231.htm
If money is no problem I'd get 5-10 of the cheap ones and hire some temporary "loaders" anyway. For $12,000.00 it better make copies on titanium sheets with gold ink.
bob

[Holst]

Nice one timbob, scanners are something I know little about.

My dad got given one a few months aggo, it takes a secent quality scan but it takes about 5 minutes to DL the pic using USB 1.1 most tedious...