do all-in-ones equal flatbeds in quality?

[Brendan R. Wehrung]

The introduction of a new Microsoft OS is usually a cause for
consternation for a certain percentage of users becuase their present
equipment lacks the new drivers and the manufactuerers won't write a new
one for older or discontinued equipment. I've got a Visioneer and HP
scanners (two companies tht have been complained about) that work fine
with XP, but what about Vista? I tend to keep older computers as back-ups
and their peripherals with the computer so what I have now isn't going to
become an immediate orphan.

But I need to buy a new computer to accommodate the fairly hefty demands
of MS Vista (it was time anyway) and I have to face acquiring some sort of
scanner to go with it.

A few years ago flatbeds were the standard and sold in a range of prices.
Now all you see advertised are those for around $150, with tose on the
lower end subsumed into all-in-ones.

Are scanners that come with all-in-ones good enough that I only need to
look for what I want in the printer or should I worry about buying
a seperate flatbed?

Luckily it will be a few months before Microsoft introduces Vista and the
first two or three service packs that make it work properly, but it's
never too soon to start the evaluation process.

If it helps, I'd probably take a Canon printer (I'm using a Lexmark now) as
first choice. How are they on driver upgrades?

Brendan

 

[Roy G]

The introduction of a new Microsoft OS is usually a cause for
consternation for a certain percentage of users becuase their present
equipment lacks the new drivers and the manufactuerers won't write a new
one for older or discontinued equipment. I've got a Visioneer and HP
scanners (two companies tht have been complained about) that work fine
with XP, but what about Vista? I tend to keep older computers as back-ups
and their peripherals with the computer so what I have now isn't going to
become an immediate orphan.

But I need to buy a new computer to accommodate the fairly hefty demands
of MS Vista (it was time anyway) and I have to face acquiring some sort of
scanner to go with it.

A few years ago flatbeds were the standard and sold in a range of prices.
Now all you see advertised are those for around $150, with tose on the
lower end subsumed into all-in-ones.

Are scanners that come with all-in-ones good enough that I only need to
look for what I want in the printer or should I worry about buying
a seperate flatbed?

Luckily it will be a few months before Microsoft introduces Vista and the
first two or three service packs that make it work properly, but it's
never too soon to start the evaluation process.

If it helps, I'd probably take a Canon printer (I'm using a Lexmark now)
as
first choice. How are they on driver upgrades?

Brendan

Hi.

I think some of your concerns are needless.

There is still a good range of stand-alone flatbeds available at reasonable
prices, for example the Canon Lide range. Their drivers will no doubt be
updated for Vista, and download versions will be available.

I just do not like the idea of All-in-Ones. If one bit goes West the whole
thing becomes junk.

Roy G

 

[CSM1]

Hi.

I think some of your concerns are needless.

There is still a good range of stand-alone flatbeds available at
reasonable prices, for example the Canon Lide range. Their drivers will
no doubt be updated for Vista, and download versions will be available.

I just do not like the idea of All-in-Ones. If one bit goes West the
whole thing becomes junk.

Roy G

I would agree with some of Roy G's statement.
The advantage of a separate printer and scanner is, if one unit needs repair
or dies, you only have to replace the defective unit.

The Canon Lide series of scanners are good for a portable computer where you
need a compact scanner that does not need an external power adapter. The
Lide's advantage is the fact that they are USB powered.

But the Lide series also have a CIS sensor which has little or no depth of
field. That means that only documents that lie flat on the glass will be in
focus.

Desktop scanners with a CCD have enough depth of field to be able to scan
objects placed on the glass such as flowers and books.

 

[Eddie]

The introduction of a new Microsoft OS is usually a cause for
consternation for a certain percentage of users becuase their present
equipment lacks the new drivers and the manufactuerers won't write a new
one for older or discontinued equipment. I've got a Visioneer and HP
scanners (two companies tht have been complained about) that work fine
with XP, but what about Vista? I tend to keep older computers as back-ups
and their peripherals with the computer so what I have now isn't going to
become an immediate orphan.

But I need to buy a new computer to accommodate the fairly hefty demands
of MS Vista (it was time anyway) and I have to face acquiring some sort of
scanner to go with it.

A few years ago flatbeds were the standard and sold in a range of prices.
Now all you see advertised are those for around $150, with tose on the
lower end subsumed into all-in-ones.

Are scanners that come with all-in-ones good enough that I only need to
look for what I want in the printer or should I worry about buying
a seperate flatbed?

Luckily it will be a few months before Microsoft introduces Vista and the
first two or three service packs that make it work properly, but it's
never too soon to start the evaluation process.

If it helps, I'd probably take a Canon printer (I'm using a Lexmark now)
as
first choice. How are they on driver upgrades?

Brendan

Bit like people complaining of the poor quality of movies on still digi
cams. As Mr Eastwood would say: 'If you're gonna shoot, shoot! If you're
gonna scan, Scan!'

Multifuction devices have improved but, rarely do such things match pure
functionality of stand alone items, and, as said by others, one goes...all
goes.

For basic scanning ok. Even good printing. But for more advanced features...
Eddie