No reason to buy this unit
Written: Jun 17 '01
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Pros: It scans
Cons: It doesn't scan well
The Bottom Line: Not worth it
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| skhong's Full Review: Visioneer PaperPort 3100 Flatbed Scanner |
I bought this scanner because it was inexpensive. What a joke. The quality of the scans are poor, and the installation can be difficult.
First, the scanner software needs to be installed before plugging in the scanner itself. This is contrary to the way most hardware devices are installed now-a-days. Usually you connect the hardware device, then install a driver. The manual warns you that if you do install the hardware first, the driver won't work at all. Bad design.
Then, after installing the driver, I scanned a couple of pictures. How disappointing. The colors were all washed out, and the detail, non-existent. Also, the scans were fuzzy, not sharp.
So, I e-mailed the tech support (they don't have phone support except by the minute) and they responded to reinstall the software. Why would that make a difference since I just installed it a couple of hours before I wrote to them? I am a computer person, and know what I'm doing.
Another problem, most of the time, the scanner light won't turn off, and there is no power switch. Tech support says that's fine, since the bulb is rated for 10,000 hours. By my calculations, that is just over a year of 24x7. My computer is on 24x7, so I could expect to replace the scanner in 1 1/4 years time.
After trying to resolve the image quality problems and the light being on, I finally decided to get a real scanner. I lived with this piece of junk for long enough. At least it only cost me $130, and I sold it for $50.
Check out my review of the Epson Perfection 1240U.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 130
Interface: USB
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Epinions.com ID:
skhong
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Location: Minnesota, US
Reviews written: 47
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
My short bio: woodworking, photography, trucks...
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