Guido, Thanks for this info. With the speed and brightness control, I'd rather purchase the 3170. I have experience with the 3170 and find it quite fast--not as fast as 1660 but slightly faster than a 1650. With a 36000 page cycle, it's worth it. Pratik Pratik Patel Interim Director Office of Special Services Queens College Director CUNY Assistive Technology Services The City University of New York ppatel@xxxxxx _____ From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Guido Corona Sent: Saturday, December 25, 2004 12:07 AM To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: scanner recommendations? Not sure about Epson 2400 any longer Pratik, I just looked at the Kurzweil site. Under Epson 2400 there is a note stating that with this scanner there is no brightness control possible. I am not sure if this is true, but until Stephen baum or other authority at Kurzweil clears this up, I suggest that this scanner should perhaps be avoided. According to the same site 3170 is faster than 2400, although no actual speed in seconds per page are given. Guido Guido Dante Corona IBM Accessibility Center, Austin Tx. Research Division, Phone: 512. 838. 9735. Email: guidoc@xxxxxxxxxxx Web: http://www.ibm.com/able "Pratik Patel" <pratikp1@xxxxxxxxx> Sent by: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 12/24/2004 10:30 PM Please respond to bksvol-discuss To <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> cc Subject [bksvol-discuss] Re: scanner recommendations? Guido, I've not had any personal experience with Perfection 2400 in terms of its speed. How would you compare it with the 3170? Pratik Pratik Patel Interim Director Office of Special Services Queens College Director CUNY Assistive Technology Services The City University of New York ppatel@xxxxxx _____ From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Guido Corona Sent: Friday, December 24, 2004 7:52 PM To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: scanner recommendations? Stick to the Epson brand. I suggest the Epson 3170, which is the fastest scanner in the current lineup and should retail new for $179. It is rated at 36,000 pages between mean failures. See: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=ye s&oid=35836301 Avoid the cheaper 2480 and 2580, they are both a lot slower and are rated at only 10,000 pages between mean failures The 4180 at $199 is also very good but significantly slower than 3170. Other scanners in the Epson brand are alot more expensive: ignore them. On the EPSON refurbished online store you can find currently the following good scanners: Epson 2400 for $75. An excellent slightly older model with a 30,000 page duty cycle. See: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=ye s&oid=31061924 EPSON 1640. Older than 2400 but very robust. Uses both SCSI interface and slower USB 1.1. Newer models use faster USB 2.0. The difference shows up when you scan with dynamic threshold or grayscale. This scanner will hickup (i.e. start/stop continuously during scans, no matter how fast your computer is. But if you need to use a SCSI interface, this is the device for you. $99.00. See: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/ProductQuickSpec.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&o id=8918539&category=Clearance+Center Refurbished 3170. $124. See: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=ye s&oid=45471984 Bottom line is: If you want to get the biggest bang for the buck get the refurbed 2400 at $75: I have tried this creature and it is excellent. Kurzweil had approx 50 units in house for internal use until mid 2004. A real workhorse. The 3170 refurbished at $124 is also an excellent unit, especially if you think to add a document feeder in the future, because the 2400 does not support a document feeder. Finally, if the 90 days warranty on refurbished equipment is not enough for you, get the 3170 as a new unit for $179, which will come with a 1 year warranty. By the way, the 1660 is no longer available. Avoid other refurbished models: they are either too expensive, or under par, or both. Hope this helps. Guido Guido Dante Corona IBM Accessibility Center, Austin Tx. Research Division, Phone: 512. 838. 9735. Email: guidoc@xxxxxxxxxxx Web: http://www.ibm.com/able Shayla Parker <shayla@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent by: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 12/24/2004 05:01 PM Please respond to bksvol-discuss To bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx cc Subject [bksvol-discuss] scanner recommendations? Hi all, I'm in the market for a scanner, and seeing as I haven't used one in nearly four years I could use some recommendations. What's good and what's not? What specifications should I look at when I'm shopping? Obviously, I'd rather spend less than more, but if there's something really great out there I'd love to know about it. Thanks, Shayla Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind; Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned. -- 'Dirge Without Music', Edna St. Vincent Millay Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in. --Leonard Cohen