ARTEC ScanRom 4E PHOTO & SLIDE SCANNER $39 delivered

[ygreenkitty]

FEATURES:
24-bit True Color
High resolution: 400 dpi optical/4800 dpi interpolated maximum
Scans photo & slide perfectly without costly add-ons
Single-pass, high-speed, one-click fast scan
4" x 6" scanning size
Guided motorized tray provides precision scanning
Transparent cover secures and protects scan media
Dual cold cathode fluorescent lamp
Extra printer port to facilitate printing capability
No back-drop problem like the scan- thru photo scanners
Compact size design
Parallel port interface for easy installation

ACCESSORIES:
AC Adapter with Cord
Parallel Port Cable
Quick Installation Guide
User Manual Book
Diffusion Sheet
Warranty Card
Driver Floppy Diskette
ARTEC Multimedia Demo CD
Adobe PhotoDeluxe CD

Googlegear

I have ordered from them with no problems (except objections to the outrageous shipping!). So I added it into the price. If you can find some software you need, it brings the price down since they ship that free.

 

[ingenue007]

has anyone else bought this? is it an ok slide/negative scanner? the good slide scanners cost too much - several hundred dollars. any comments?

 

[czyz]

A 400dpi slide scanner would be all but useless, a slide is 36mm X 24mm, that's not many inches. All the good slide scanners are 2700+ dpi, and the cheapo ones (like the HP Photosmart that I've got) are 2400dpi.

So either "400dpi" is a misprint or relates only to scanning reflective media, or this device is not really a slide scanner.

-Z

 

[dimwit]

czyz, your HP Photosmart is only 300dpi optical, the 2400dpi is interpolated. This Artec is 400dpi optical, 4800dpi interpolated, so just looking at nubmers, the Artec is the better scanner. Too bad this Artec is parallel.

 

[czyz]

OK, did a little bit of research. On Artec's own web page for the scanner, the specs do indeed list 400dpi as max optical resolution (4800 interpolated is a joke. As long as you're creating pixels out of thin air, why not tout 200,000 dpi interpolated?). That means that this scanner would be all but useless for scanning slides.

There are sample print and slide scans available on Artec's page, and they look terrible. The slide scan has nasty artifacts, and in the print scan all the highlights are completely blown-out. Since these sample scans are supposed to sell us on the quality of the scanner, I'd presume they're the best it can do, and that the Artec folk were scanning actual photos and not color laser copies (or some other poor quality source that'd explain the lameness of these sample images).

I'd stay far away from this item.

On the other hand, if you're looking for a 4"X6" parallel port scanner for $19.95, I can't point you in the direction of anything else.

Artec's official page for that there scanner

-Z

 

[db]

I think this is a re-badged Polaroid PhotoMax
I've had one for a couple of years--got it at Walmart for cheap. These are around here and there online
for $19 or more.
I never could get Polaroid to tell me what the *actual* optical resolution is on this. I always wondered if it had capabilities (or was same) of their more expensive film scanners, but never tried those drivers to see if they worked. I've never tried to use it as a neg/slide scanner.

These never sold well.
Works ok, though nothing to write home about.

 

[czyz]

nope, the Photosmart is 2400dpi optical for negatives and slides, and 300dpi optical for prints. See the specs for details.

HP Photosmart 5100C specs

If I remember correctly, it was advertised as "up to 9600dpi interpolated resolution", which I found funny at the time. But I'd never have even considered purchasing it if it were 300dpi optical for transparencies, that'd be a complete joke.

-Z

 

[dimwit]

I stand corrected! I would avoid the Artec too, that slide sample looked terrible. And googlegear doubling the price by their s&h!