HP Scanjet 3970

CNET editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 6.4 (3.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Jasmine France
• Reviewed on: 11/18/2003
• Released on: 07/14/2003

The HP Scanjet 3970 may need an updated design, but with a price tag hovering around $100, plus a good selection of features and the ability to produce quality images, this is a great utilitarian scanner for a first-time user or a student.

The Scanjet 3970 avoids looking too bulky, but it's a bit boxy and could use a more streamlined, stylish design. The convenient, sliding hinges on its lid accommodate books or albums; they feel a little more stable than those of its sibling, the Scanjet 3670. Handy features include the built-in Transparent Material Adapter for scanning slides and 35mm negatives, and the four one-touch buttons lining the front for scanning, printing, image-sharing, and creating photo CDs.

A clear, step-by-step instruction sheet makes it easy to set up the Scanjet 3970. Like most HP scanners, the 3970 comes with HP Photo & Imaging software, a no-frills photo- and image-editing app. You also get Hemera's Greeting Card Creator software, a fun little addition for creating and printing cards. What you don't get is a great service package: the scanner comes with an unimpressive 90-day limited warranty.

We were pleased when we tested the Scanjet 3970's image reproduction on our 19-inch Samsung SyncMaster 957MB flat-screen CRT. The scanner picked up the most minute details--though it created a slightly grainy quality in photographic images--and it accurately reproduced the colors of the test document. It also delivered clear, legible text down to 3-point font. Overall, its scans were clean and of good quality.

Editor's note: We have updated the ratings of this product to reflect changes in this category.

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Recent user reviews

• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 34 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars Write review

• Showing 3 of 34 user reviews

• 1.0 stars

  "Makes scanning a four letter word"

  by jaun0069 on March 25, 2008

• 1.0 stars

  1 out of 1 people found this helpful

  "this scanner stinks"

  by amyfish00 on July 5, 2007

• 3.5 stars

  "Easy to install.Worked OK for me."

  by harry71 on December 22, 2005

• See all 34 user reviews Write review

Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest

• alaTest.com

  Editors' rating: 80

  Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 166 reviews of HP Scanjet 3970 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 75/100 and users 56/100. Comparing these reviews to 35737 other Scanners reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 80/100 = Very Good.

  Read full review

• maxpc.co.uk

  Editors' rating: 67

  Summary: Overall, we were hoping for better results from this scanner.