Cheap Microtek ScanMaker X6 USB Flatbed Scanner (Electronics) (Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 5, Windows XP, Windows) Price
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We set up the ScanMaker X6 without documentation to guide us: we plugged in the AC power and connected the USB cable to our PC. Then, with the scanner turned off, we installed the drivers, optical character recognition (OCR) software, and ScanSuite software from the CD-ROM. We restarted Windows and turned on the scanner, and Windows automatically completed the installation. The entire setup process was flawless.
To test the scanner, we placed a color photo on the scanner bed, started a paint application, and selected Acquire from the application's File menu. The ScanMaker driver software started automatically, allowing us to select the scanning options. We chose 600 dpi with millions of colors and clicked the mouse for a preview scan. The preview scan took only 19 seconds. We used the ScanMaker software to crop the preview image and then clicked the mouse for a full scan. The full scan took 50 seconds and contained unwanted moiré patterns.
We repeated the scan, this time specifying a descreening option. After 90 seconds, we were treated to beautiful results: the moiré pattern had disappeared entirely. It was impossible to distinguish this scan from a scan of the same photograph made on a much more expensive professional scanner.
To test the OCR software, we started ScanSuite, clicked the OCR button, and set the options for 300 dpi and for output to Microsoft Word. We scanned a high-contrast, multicolored promotional flyer overlaid with black text. The scan took 25 seconds plus eight seconds for OCR processing and conversion to Word's .doc format. We opened the Word file to mixed results. The OCR software had mistaken every red bullet in the original as "4m" or "4o," and it had placed line breaks in unexpected places. However, the software had read all the text, and there were no outright typographical errors.
Given the ScanMaker's easy setup, good scans of photographs, and friendly ScanSuite software, we think this is an excellent scanner for the price.
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Lightweight, durable design
- Good software suite
Cons
- Cumbersome to use with some applications
- OCR software produces mixed results
| PLATFORM: | Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 5, Windows XP, Windows |
| CATEGORY: | Electronics |
| MANUFACTURER: | Microtek |
| FEATURES: | True 36-bit color, 12-bit grayscale, True 600 x 1,200 dpi, 9,600-dpi enhanced resolution, FlexScan lid for scanning 3-D objects, Zero-reflection technology, PC and Mac compatible |
| TYPE: | Scanners, Mac - Macintosh - Apple, Microtech, X6USB, X, 6, Scan Maker |
| MEDIA: | Electronics |
| MPN: | ScanMakerX6USB |
| ACCESSORIES: | |
| UPC: | 793111080978 |
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Customer Reviews of Microtek ScanMaker X6 USB Flatbed Scanner
A useful tool with not enough instructions The Microtek Scanmaker X6 is a pretty sharp looking unit and the installation of the unit and its software were straightforward. It will scan in documents and pictures up to 8.5 x 11 inches quickly and with extremely high resolution. Once the picture is taken, the included software will allow you to manipulate the colors, add effects etc. just like a computer graphics expert (well, kinda). The only real problem I had with it stemmed from it being my first scanner. The unit comes with very few instructions. A simple pamphlet on how to scan in nice photos would have been extremely useful. I was able to quickly discern how to adjust the resolution and scaling so that the pictures I was scanning didn't turn out to be several hundred MB large, but I am not sure everyone will realize how to do that. Even now, I am not sure whether it is better to scan in a picture with high resolution and then scale it down with the software or scan it in with a lower resololution and scale it down less. . .see the kind of confusion I am talking about? On the upside, I have been able to augment my website with tons of pictures and scan in some important documents. The software will even allow you to use your scanner as either a fax machine or a photocopier (provided you have a modem and printer, respectively). Generally speaking, I recommend the unit to people who at least have some clue about how to use computers well. The real amateurs will probably never figure it out.
Good quality scanner, great pictures and easy to use...
I recently purchased this scanner despite being aware of the bad reviews at Amazon because so many other independent comparative reviews gave it top recommendations.
I found both the hardware and software very easy to install on my Dell laptop using Windows 98, and overall the scanner is well built with a tough aluminium case.
I could not fault the scanning quality, which produced a very clear, sharp image. However, I was a little disappointed in the fax software which, as far as I can tell, can only fax one scan in one call and seems to have to take two passes of each page. Also the word recognition omnipage bundle made too many mistakes (although it has to be said that if you are going to do a lot of OCR then you are probably advised to buy a specialist package such as Omnipage Pro V.9 rather than rely on bundled software that comes with any scanner).
Apart from these software limitations, the actual scanner is second to none. I think that Microtek have recently updated the installation software so that many of the problems encountered by other reviewers are now ironed out.
One annoying thing that I did notice was a faint ticking sound coming from the transformer when the scanner is switched off but still plugged in at the mains. Although this is, according to Microtek, perfectly normal, it can be annoying if you have sensitive hearing and work in a very quiet environment. Most people would never notice it.
In summary: the scanner output quality and build deserves 5 stars, whereas the bundled software, although easy to use, deserves 4 stars. Overall I will give it 4 stars because of the ticking sound which forces me to switch it on and off at the wall socket.
No problems at all
I got my scanner from Dell along with my computer. Itinstalled easily and has worked fine. I have had absolutely noexperience with scanners. Mine makes great scans in all modes but I normally use it in the scan to file mode. I have had no reason to try to reach the help lines or any thing like that. I like it.