Compact size Intuitive touch-screen Excellent ease of use Excellent network support Fast

Compact size Intuitive touch-screen Excellent ease of use Excellent network support Fast

Sheetfed rather than flatbed Requires some configuration for best operation No long sheet support Requires a little setup for best operation

Just about everything about the ScanFront 220P is impressive. Although it's not a flatbed device, it's easy to configure for routine document scanning tasks.

High-capacity document feeder High-speed scanning Duplex scanning Excellent software bundle Barcode scanning Oversize flatbed

High-capacity document feeder High-speed scanning Duplex scanning Excellent software bundle Barcode scanning Oversize flatbed

No network connectivity (relies on a connected PC) Large desktop footprint Heavy Control panel lacks usability

The Scanjet N8640 is fast and flexible enough to handle a variety of documents and comes with a very capable software bundle. However, the system as a whole would benefit from a usability makeover.

Excellent build quality Double-sided multi-sheet feeding 10-sheet ADF Runs off AC adapter or USB connection

Excellent build quality Double-sided multi-sheet feeding 10-sheet ADF Runs off AC adapter or USB connection

Can''t run on batteries No internal memory Scans to PDF only

This compact and lightweight colour scanner could prove useful to mobile professionals who need to digitise paper documents on their travels, although it only scans to PDF and doesn't run on batteries.

Good scan quality Supports barcodes Recognises CMC 7 banking font Reads text on coloured backgrounds

Good scan quality Supports barcodes Recognises CMC 7 banking font Reads text on coloured backgrounds

Produces black-and-white scans only No built-in memory or wireless connectivity

The IRISPen Executive 6 has limited functionality compared to a regular desktop scanner (or even a sheetfed scanner); but what does do, it does very well.

Excellent scans, especially of very saturated originals Very nice industrial design

Excellent scans, especially of very saturated originals Very nice industrial design

Only supports sRGB colour space Random colour registration problems on slide scans Weak driver Many operations are very slow

The HP Scanjet G4050 is a solid scanner that could use a driver overhaul and a better means of handling slides.

Produces high-quality scans ; easy to install ; comes with adapters for slides and 35mm or medium-format film ; nice price ; lets you save scanning presets

Annoying software package ; no manual ; scans slowly at highest optical resolution

The Epson Perfection 3170 Photo scans like a champ -- and it's reasonably affordable, too.

Scans stacks of photos effortlessly; offers good photo and colour-graphic scans; fast opaque scans

Scans stacks of photos effortlessly ; offers good photo and colour-graphic scans ; fast opaque scans

Huge footprint ; unintuitive setup ; exceedingly slow translucent scans

If you need to scan lots of photos and negatives -- and you have plenty of desktop space -- the Scanjet 5530 is a good choice.

Compact compared to other digital pens Bluetooth and USB connectivity animated desktop playback

Compact compared to other digital pens Bluetooth and USB connectivity animated desktop playback

USB download requires a brief Internet disconnection basic software pen cannot currently pair with a desktop Bluetooth dongle

Nokia's slimline Digital Pen does everything expected of it and more, offering both Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

Affordable ; simple setup ; includes practical software ; produces clean scans

Boxy, dated design

If you're not after a stylish scanner and you need to save some cash, HP's Scanjet 3670 is a good choice.

Excellent image quality; USB 2.0 & FireWire interfaces; flexible transparency scanning.

Excellent image quality ; USB 2.0 & ; FireWire interfaces ; flexible transparency scanning

Scanning area limited to 216mm by 297mm ; brief printed manual

As easy to use as any entry-level scanner, this device boasts the image quality, the speed and the features that business users and graphics professionals will appreciate.