flawless (HP Scanjet 4200C)

Member Name: ryanbritto

Product:	HP Scanjet 4200C
Date:	07/01/01 (615 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: performance, quality

Disadvantages: none

I've owned this scanner for over a year now and it has proved to be pratically flawless. I use it for photos, OCR, archeiving, and photocopying.

It isn't the highest density scanner available, but it is very easy to setup and use. My favorite features may be the two buttons on the front. Each button will launch an app that will perform a function One allows for immediate printing of what is on the scan bed, great for quick photocopies. The second does a scan that you can use to save into just about any image file.

Photos:
I did stop using the software that HP included in favor of Paint Shop Pro. I find this a lot easier to use and it interfaces directly into the ScanJet 4100. This is great with the one button feature since you can immediately start the scan after you've placed your photo, saving a few seconds, but hey, it can be worth it if you are scanning a lot of photos.

OCR:
This is the weakest point, and it may be due to the software rather than the scanner itself. It is a little clumsy the way you need to scan it not as text, but rather as some sort of image to let the Caere software do it's stuff. My documents were originals and not faxes and I still had difficulties.

Archeiving:
I mostly use this for when I send in for refunds . I scan the form, with the receipts and the UPC code before I drop it in the envelope. I hold onto that image until the check comes. I've often thought that I should store a bunch of my statements this way and burn to disc.

Photocopying:
I use this a lot for making copies of stuff I need to submit on expenses. Also if I need to fax something that won't fit in the machine. You can control the darkness to get the output needed.

Overall, this has performed very well in a home office environment and I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to play with settings on install or worry about it after that.

Summary: