A value-for-money scanner that is portable in many ways (Canon Canoscan FB630U)

Member Name: SimonMackay

Product:	Canon Canoscan FB630U
Date:	15/09/01 (542 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Portable, Single-cable setup, Easy to use, can handle awkward documents

Disadvantages: None

Last year, a person whom I was giving plenty of computer assistance to was in the market for a scanner. I had done plenty of research on various scanners and found that the Canon scanners are worth specifying.

I knew that they had a relatively-modern computer that was equipped with a USB port and I liked the way this scanner was able to work off one cable to the computer. The person whom I was providing computer assistance to thought about providing me with something as a thank-you for the work that I had put in; and agreed to buy me one.

The mechanism that is built into this unit is very simple in concept -- one bar containing RGB LEDs to illuminate the work being scanned as well as the phototransistors needed to "see" the work and digitize it. This bar is dragged along the glass platen using a simple belt drive. This has allowed for a very slim unit which can be stored sideways or in a drawer when not in use. As well, the low-power design allows for the unit to be powered by the host computer or powered USB hub over the USB cable.

It is also easy to use -- you can start a scanning job by pressing a button on the front of the unit. The bundled software (ScanGear) is limited to single-page fax and copy jobs; but I would recommend using the Imaging applet supplied free with Windows 98 or Me for scanning documents to disk or faxing multi-page originals.

I also recommend it as a portable scanner for use with laptop computers -- big enough to fit into a laptop bag and needs only one lead to get it going. Being a flat-bed design, it can handle documents that may give most of the portable sheet-fed scanners touted for use with laptop computers trouble; like receipts printed on thermal paper or carbon-copy receipts, plastic or laminated cards such as ID cards; or bound documents like passports or airline tickets. This would benefit travellers who need to keep electronic copies of receipts or want an electronic copy of key trave
l documents as a safety copy.

Summary: