What’s Your Type?: 3 Types of Scanners
Basic Scanners
Let’s say that you already have a computer and a printer that you’re already happy with, but you’d like to convert all those family photo albums to a digital format every now and again. On the other hand, perhaps you have an occasional bill, invoice, etc., that you’d like to store digitally and shred the paper to save on storage space around the home or office. If these scenarios ring true, check out a basic scanner. Usually, basic scanners will cost anywhere from about $75 to $150, depending on what’s on sale, etc. Scanners in this range are not usually built for heavy usage, and they are also designed to produce a digital image with good resolution. Expect to see scanners in this price range with a minimum of 4800 dpi. It’s also important to note that basic scanners are usually designed to scan only one thing at a time.
Intermediate Scanners
If you plan on scanning documents or images on a weekly basis, take a look at scanners that run in the $150 to $300 range. In this category, you’ll probably see scanners that have anywhere from a 4800 dpi resolution to 6400 dpi resolution. Some scanner manufacturers will also throw in extra document feeders, the ability to scan 35mm slides and negatives, and who-knows-what else. Shop around, and you can probably find some good deals on scanners with a minimum of a 6400 dpi resolution and the ability to scan slides and negatives.
Advanced Scanners
If you have a need to scan lots of documents and/or images daily (as in hundreds or thousands), take a look at scanners in this category. Scanners that can handle heavy workloads will cost anywhere from $400 to the thousands. The more expensive scanners are designed to handle constant work on a daily business, and they are most often designed for small to large offices, departments, or companies. Scanners in this range usually scan the fastest, can scan large format documents and images (such as 11 x 17 sheets of paper), have 2 or more document feeders, etc. Some manufacturers split out their image scanner products from their document scanners. As a result, the document scanners that are faster most likely will have a lower dpi resolution. Make sure you check the dpi and other add-ons that you need before making a purchase.
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