HP Scanjet G4050 user reviews

Pros None, as fas as I can tell

Cons It's HUGE! seriously, way too big, takes most of my desktop
It's SLOW! More than 10 minutes for 1 negative
AWFUL scanning quality
TERRIBLE software!. You need to spend then $40 in VueScan
No Linux support.

Summary I have returned it and bought an Epson V350 instead, which produces much better quality scans, in a fraction of the time, it is much smaller, supports any OS and is cheaper!

As far as the software. Ok, it's 2009 already and Linux covers now more than 4% of the world market. Linux users outnumber Mac users. HP, don't you get it?

Bottom line: If you run Linux, you will have to look for another scanner.

Now, if closing the software of your scanner would give customers better software... but this software is plain stupid. It makes always the wrong decisions, it doesn't let you choose and this always translates in terrible scans. It doesn't even support black and white scanning !!! It assumes it is color and ruins all your contrasts and shadows. You definitely need to buy another scanning software for this.

Pros NONE / kinda of like the existance of the drivers

Cons The opinion of the C-Net reviews / you should have tried this on a XP system

Summary I am not new to computers, and I typically will take a product review with a grain of salt and be able to work my way through someones elses bad experience. I have tried installing, re-installing, different usb ports, different usb cables and removing potential confilting hardware and while I run an XP media center system the only way I could get the solution center to recognise the scanner was to install using the vista disc.
Even then when I hook up the scanner, it throws a usb connectivity issue ( which happens whatever I do) and windows states that there is no driver installed.
This by far is the worst HP product I have had the misfortune to own.
As well as HP's Lack of connectable support after 6:00pm in Canada.
Do yourself a favor, don't think "Hey this guy just doesn't know how to install "
save yourself the grief, do not buy this HP product.
p.s I bought it for my wife for christmas, spent most of Jan in and out of the hosp so I missed the 30 day return, So I can't even take it back.

Pros looks cool

Cons lousy drivers

Summary Always shows fatal error while installing drivers, MSI. hpproductassistant or SolutionCenter can not find or read, such and such... There is no support on HP website to solve the problem. The new drivers is not for free upgrade on HP website. Gave up after tried more than 10 times. Returned it. DO NOT BUY IT.

Pros None for Vista

Cons Not Vista compatible

Summary After hours of trying to resolve problems with Vista the HP G4050 id going back. HP should not tell people the scanner is Vista compatible, it's NOT.