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CNET editors' review
- CNET editors' rating: stars Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 03/06/2002
- Updated on: 01/09/2003
Hewlett-Packard's latest scanner is a midpriced system that should appeal to families and small businesses alike. The ScanJet 5400c is easy to use and captures attractive, high-quality images at 2,400x2,400dpi (dots per inch) in 48-bit color. With extra-cost options, you can expand this scanner's repertoire to include a transparency adapter for scanning negatives and slides, as well as an automatic document feeder for handling large stacks of documents. Unfortunately, the ScanJet 5400c's biggest drawback is its somewhat tepid scanning speed.Hewlett-Packard's latest scanner is a midpriced system that should appeal to families and small businesses alike. The ScanJet 5400c is easy to use and captures attractive, high-quality images at 2,400x2,400dpi (dots per inch) in 48-bit color. With extra-cost options, you can expand this scanner's repertoire to include a transparency adapter for scanning negatives and slides, as well as an automatic document feeder for handling large stacks of documents. Unfortunately, the ScanJet 5400c's biggest drawback is its somewhat tepid scanning speed.
Easy start-up
Getting the ScanJet 5400c to run was a breeze. HP doesn't provide a printed manual, but you do get a setup poster and an electronic PDF manual, which cover the scanner's installation and software adequately. The ScanJet 5400c supports Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, Me, 2000, and XP, as well as Mac OS 8.6 through 9.1 (support for OS X remains under development). The included CD-ROM contains the scanning software and other image-editing applications, plus brief visual demonstrations on connecting the scanner.
A few nice touches grace the ScanJet 5400c, along with a slight design problem. Though the scanner is only 12.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches high, it's so long (22 inches) that in order to open the lid, we had to rearrange our workspace. In a tight office cube, it might not fit under your shelves. The lid raises on its hinges to make room for thick documents and lifts off completely for really bulky objects. Also, HP designed a simple shield that blocks the power port until you unlock the scanner--saving hasty new users from damaging the motor. The ScanJet 5400c's engine has two arrays of image-capture elements, one for scanning at resolutions up to 600dpi and another for scanning at higher resolutions. The dual-array design is intended to speed low-resolution scans because it has fewer pixels to capture. Rounding out the scanner are one-touch buttons along the front edge; you can use these to send scans directly to your e-mail, printer, Web site, or HP's PrecisionScan Pro software.
A laundry list of software
HP provides a good software bundle with the ScanJet 5400c. It begins with HP's PrecisionScan Pro, which lets you resize scans, adjust the resolution, and change the color settings. It also provides fairly comprehensive image-correction tools, such as exposure and gamma controls. The program then allows you to send the completed scan off to a graphics program, the built-in OCR engine, or another application. Other image-editing tools include HP's Photo Printing 2.6, for creating prints or albums, and ArcSoft's PhotoFantasy 3.0, which is designed for combining scanned faces with wild background scenes. Rounding out the bundle is ACDSee 3.1, for storing scans; Corel's Print Office 2000 5.0, for small businesses; eFax Messenger Plus 2.0, for send-only faxing; and the Trellix Web-site builder.
HP also sells various options for the ScanJet 5400c that expand its appeal. For $80, you can add a transparency adapter for scanning slides and negatives; an extra $250 buys you an automatic document feeder, which should keep the paper flowing in any small office.
Mixed results
The ScanJet 5400c was a bit slow in CNET Labs' tests. It took the device 33.3 seconds to scan a full-page color document, whereas the Epson Perfection 1650 whipped out the same scan in only 17.1 seconds. The spread on grayscale scans was less dramatic; the ScanJet 5400c took 18.5 seconds, compared to 16.5 seconds for the Perfection 1650. Continue reading
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