Color scans, now at bargain prices

Article Abstract:

Storm Technology's Easy Photo Smart Page Pro and Easy Photo Imagewave, plus Visioneer's Paperport Strobe and Paperport 3000, are color scanners that simplify placing color pictures into a user's PC. Each product offers 300 dpi optical resolution, connects to a computer's printer port and provides a pass-through port for the printer. The approximately $150 Smart Page Pro produces widely acceptable color scans, but users will need time to understand its problems with printers. The Easy Photo's basic scanning software does not respond particularly well, while its editing software is adequate. The approximately $100 Easy Photo Imagewave flatbed scanner adds an Adobe Photodeluxe version that prevents higher-quality scans The approximately $200 Paperport Strobe provides inferior quality despite its small size. One problem is its 24-bit-per-pixel capability, compared to the increasingly common 30 bits per pixel mark. The approximately $130 flatbed Paperport 3000 allows users to bypass Visioneer's software. The Paperport 3000 produces consistently accurate color scans.

Keypunch Devices, Scanning devices, Optical scanners, Hardware multiproduct review, Image scanner, Image scanners, Storm Technology Inc., Visioneer Communications Inc., Visioneer PaperPort Strobe (Sheetfed color scanner), Storm Technology EasyPhoto SmartPage Pro (Sheetfed color scanner), Visioneer PaperPort 3000 (Flatbed color scanner), Storm Technology EasyPhoto ImageWave (Flatbed color scanner)

---

A new lightweight portable printer yields some heavyweight results

Article Abstract:

Canon Computer Systems's $350 BJC-50 ink-jet printer is a lightweight and versatile option for business travelers who seek to print quality documents. The two-pound portable excels in printing color and black on documents ranging from plain and photo paper to T-shirt transfers. Users also can convert the BJC-50 to an adequate sheet-fed color scanner by replacing the print head with an optional Windows 95-compatible optical scanner head, which costs around $100. The BJC-50 can produce sharp and clear black text quickly, even on inexpensive paper. Turnaround time is around 15 seconds for black text and 30 seconds for color, while highest-quality documents require around 10 minutes. Printing requires users to feed sheets one at a time, plus a lack of input and output trays require extra space while in use. The Canon software handles assignments, but drawbacks include an inefficient interface and problems in attaining compatibility with a notebook computer.

Nonimpact Printers, Hardware single product review, Color printers, Inkjet printers, Ink-jet printers, Color inkjet printers, Canon Computer Systems Inc., Color Ink Jet Printer, Canon BJC-50 (Color ink jet printer)

---

If DVD is the next medium, when will future arrive?

Article Abstract:

Digital video disk (DVD) technology is expected to replace the CD-ROM because it supports multimedia applications, but when the revolution will occur is still in doubt. DVD stores audio, video and data in digital format and plays back full-screen video with television quality. A single-sided, single-layer disk holds 4.7GB, and a double-layered disk holds 8.5 billion bytes, while a two-sided disk doubles those capacities. Data transfer from disk to display occurs at 1.35 MBps, more than double the speed of a quad-speed CD-ROM. The DVD player attaches to a television set, and the players and hundreds of titles for them are expected to be released by Christmas 1997. Observers expect DVD adoption to be more rapid than CD-ROM adoption because consumer and computer products are growing more alike, reducing production costs. Consumers are also familiar with multimedia technology and eager to exploit it.

Computer Optical Eqp NEC, Equipment and supplies, Technology development, Digital video disk, DVDs (Digital videodisks), Digital video, Output devices (Computers)

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Looking around to find a new Internet home. Netcom to seek profitable niche: Internet access just for business
• Abstracts: Compaq, Dell and Hewlett-Packard gain market share while others lose ground. Price war puts powerful PCs closer to home
• Abstracts: Compaq delays using Intel's new chip after it proves too fast for some uses. A big bet made Intel what it is today; now it wagers again; it's on course to become most profitable firm; but there is a mystery; can demand grow so fast?
• Abstracts: Late-model tax software can accelerate filing. New software to the allocation rescue. At last, an adviser with nothing to sell
• Abstracts: Now playing on your neighborhood laptop. Low-cost portables with personality. As snug as a bug in the system

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.