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Umax Astra 2000U
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Construction The body is executed from a light plastic. At center of a forward board is the indicator. The cover is lifted up and is fixed in a vertical position, the construction of strengthening allows if necessary fast it to remove and to set back. The beginning of coordinates is in a distant right angle of a plane table, on ... edges there is a sectoring in centimeters and inches, and also the boundaries of the most widespread formats are marked. On center of a back board the interface plug USB (type B) is located, and it is a little more to the left is the round plug for connection of a power supply unit. The feed is carried out voltage 12 V DC from the external adapter putted into the socket.
Software
For scanning the software package VistaScan is used which can work and as independent application, and as the TWAIN-driver.
In the main window of the program there are two boards. On the left is content of a plane table and icons of tools, and on the right customized parameters are mapped. The window "Preview" is supplied with bar, which can be graduated in centimeters, inches or pixels.
VistaScan has two switched operational modes - for beginners and for the advanced users.
In a mode for beginners three tools are accessible: crop, magnifying glass and scrolling. On the right board a button of preliminary scanning is located, there are icons below, with the help of which choose the method of saving of the file (to save on the disk, to locate in application, to print etc.). The button of scanning as such is absent. For the beginning scanning is necessary to click on one from icons designating a type of an image (a color photo, the journal page, text, Web graphics).
After switching in the advanced mode the tool kit extends. Besides here there are icons of call of in-depth tunings (above) and batch scanning (below). On the right board from lists it is possible to select a type of a original, color
mode (true color, 256 colors, Web-graphic pallet, black-and-white etc.), resolution, mode of suppression moire, filter and scale in percentage. If necessary it is possible to actuate an option of automatic choice of parameters of scanning. There are buttons of preliminary and final scanning, and also withdrawal from the program and return of tunings by default below.
Common notes
Because of absence of rubber overlays on feet of the scanner it very easily moves on a smooth surface of desktop. A moderate noise and minor vibration accompany the process of scanning.
Umax Astra 2000U has a quite good quality. Conclusive dignity of this model is best color reproduction and balance on gray. It is necessary to mark good parameters of an actual resolution and high stability of a light source, and also functional software equipped with two interfaces.
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Umax Astra 4000U
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The body of this scanner has rather impressive dimensions. A little strangely on rather traditional body looks the bright orange plank of the holder of cover; under which right edge is located the transport clamper. The cover is lifted up and is fixed in a vertical position; if necessary it easily can be raised above a surface of a table ... or to remove. On center of a forward board the indicator is located. On a back board are present the interface plug USB, plug miniDIN for connection a slide-module (optional), and also the standard plug IEC-320 for connection of the energy cable, near to which is setting the switch of a power.
There is next software in a package:
- the program of management of scanning VistaScan 3.52 (PC/Mac),
- VistaShuttle 1.00 (PC),
- utility for copying on the printer Copy Utility (PC),
- Presto PageManager Deluxe 4.20 (PC) /2.31 (Mac),
- graphic editor ImageFolio LE (PC),
- OCR system PageType (PC),
- Caere OmniPage LE (PC/Mac) and Recognita Standard (PC),
- graphic editor Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE.
After installation of the software package from an enclosed CD and reboot of a system in System Tray there is an icon of the scanner, with pressing on which by the right button of mouse it is possible to call the context-sensitive menu. From it the help loads the programs VistaScan, Vista Shuttle, Copy Utility, the test of the scanner is initiated and the window of management of a lamp is called.
For management of scanning the program VistaScan 3.52 is used which can function independently or as the TWAIN-driver. It the interface has two modes switched by large buttons in a top of the window: for the beginners and experienced users.
Connection of the scanner and installation of the software have passed without any difficulties. Before installation of the scanner it is necessary to unblock the transport clamper. The use of a built-in power unit and equipment standard plug allows
if necessary easily to connect the scanner to a UPS.
The scanner works is rather noisy, especially in case of scanning with the low resolution.
Umax Astra 4000u has shown an excellent quality of scanning. It is necessary to mark good parameters of an actual resolution, low level of noise on a received image, and also the exactitude of colors.
The productivity of Umax Astra 4000u has appeared rather low. Nevertheless it is necessary to mark that, despite of a little bit disappointing outcomes, the hardware of this scanner has a large potential, which can be uncovered, using the software of other manufacturers, for example SilverFast from LaserSoft Imaging.
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Umax Astra 2000P
by aljones
I've owned an Umax Astra 600p scanner for well over four or five years now. I've attached it to several computers, all of various speeds. Currently, it's connected to my P2 450Mhz computer, and is doing fine. It's been around for a while now, but at the end of the day, technology in this area hasn't improved ... significantly. This model, as the 'p' in the name indicates, is connected to the parrallel port. Everybodys first fear is then "Where does the printer plug in to?!?". Simple! It plugs into the back of the scanner. The printer performance doesn't seems to affected by this, just make sure that you have enough printer leads to join them all up. Alternatively, by a Parrallel to USB adaptor if you have any USB ports. It woun't speed up the connection much as it is still a 'parrallel' cable and device.
So, the scanner itself. It is quite big in comparison with most new ones, and although it doesn't look to bad, it does look very drab compared to the new ones, especially those that come with the currently fashinable 'iMac' colouring. It is a flatbed scanner, so you simply need to place your document on the glass panel under the cover, which need not be closed while scanning, so it can easily accomodate anything from a business card to an encyclopedia. Be careful with the weight you place on the panel though! Once, I pressed down a little to hard to try and flatten the spine of a book out, and ended up dislogging the scanning head, though Umax (or rather Novatech where I bought it from) replaced/repaired it free of charge. Very nice of them.
It's not fast, but then most scanners aren't. At, it can be very prone to making some very strange and worrying sounds as the scanning head moves down the glass pane.
The software is certainly adequate. It uses VistaScan do the actual scanning, and does come with various graphics programs that you can use to play around
with the images. Personally, I'm a bit of a Paint Shop Pro fan, and so have never really used these products that are included. The VistaScan software though allows you to both preview and scan the document, and alter a multitude of settings. These include resolution, brightness, contrast, colour, and many more.
All in all, it can't be faulted. You'd probably be able to pick one up second hand for around £20, though having said that I bought it new all those years ago for just £59!
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