# Scanner Reviews
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanner-reviews/71889
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 9, 2001, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanner-reviews/71889 "2001-07-09T23:51:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@JCThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCThunder)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2001, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanner-reviews/71889/1 "2001-07-09T23:51:52Z")
I need a scanner. Well, I need it to scan documents to be faxed. I really want it to be able to send pictures in e-mails & the such. My question is do you have a scanner under $200 that you are pleased with? What are the features that you like? WHat don’t you like? No need to give specs, I can look those up on my own, but rather give me opinion on the product thus far. Any help is greatly appreciated. - JC
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### Author:  [@JCThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCThunder)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanner-reviews/71889/2 "2001-07-10T02:22:20Z")
Am I not getting responses because people don’t give product advice here or because evrybody with a scanner thinks it’s just so-so?
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### Author:  [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2001, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanner-reviews/71889/3 "2001-07-10T03:21:20Z")
I believe any basic scanner will do what you want. I have a basic Umax and it does everything I need. My only complaint would be that it is a bit slow but I don’t scan that much. It is a parallel port connection. Now it would be USB and the transmission would be faster. For basic scanning I believe anyone will do. You can see some reviews at [PC Magazine](http://www.pcmag.com/category/0,2999,s%253D1665,00.asp) although there the Umax gets low grades.
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### Author:  [@JCThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCThunder)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2001, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanner-reviews/71889/4 "2001-07-10T06:30:56Z")
Thanks for the Link!
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### Author:  [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2001, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanner-reviews/71889/5 "2001-07-10T16:58:03Z")
I’ve used quite a few different scanners, all the way from the $149 variety up to one at work that cost $1,100.
My personal preference is for the Microtek brand. I’ve liked them better than either Hewlett Packard or Umax, partly because the software that comes with the Microteks seems to work better in general. I bought a Umax scanner for home once, and I never was able to get it to work properly, so I returned it and got a Microtek instead. It’s several years old now and it still works fine.
Too bad Logitech doesn’t make scanners any more. My very first home scanner was a black and white Logitech and I loved it. I was forced to stop using it when we upgraded our operating system and I couldn’t get an upgrade for the software it used for less than it would have cost to buy a new color scanner.
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2001, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanner-reviews/71889/6 "2001-07-10T21:55:00Z")
check out [http://www.cnet.com](http://www.cnet.com) - search for scanners- it will give reviews and user opinions.
I didn’t post before because I didn’t see it.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2001, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanner-reviews/71889/7 "2001-07-11T18:29:23Z")
I have a Umax model and have had no problems with it. Umax scanners are possibly the best that can be had for such a low price.
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### Author:  [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2001, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanner-reviews/71889/8 "2001-07-11T19:01:16Z")
I have an old Umax that’s been pretty good. You might want to check out [http://www.epinions.com](http://www.epinions.com) to get consumer reviews. I check there quite often before buying anything more major than a number 2 pencil.