Umax Astra 2010u Usb 36bit Scanner $40 - $30 Rebate = $10 (New); (Update : Deal dead)

[jbaj007]

airmax, I got the same and I ordered on the 25th. Not looking good. Those who are posting that they received theirs, please include order date and approx. time or # remaining when you ordered. Deal is off Insight's page for now. 09:30 PDT

 

[subpar]

I ordered on the 25th and I checked Insight's order status. It shows package is in transit with UPS now. I ordered around 8:30pm that evening.

Hope that helps....


subpar

 

[airmax]

I ordered on monday 25th around 5:30pm

 

[SimMike2]

I just got this scanner from Insight. First impression is that this scanner is dog slow. Let's not stop there. It is turtle slow. It is snail slow. You would probably need a time-lapse camera to catch it in action. Most people expect a USB scanner to be faster than LPT1. Well this one turns back the clock in that respect. In addition to being extremely slow, preview is also slow. It wants to "warm up" before every scan. It doesn't free up the scanner until the scanner head slowly returns to the home position. As it scans, it backs up quiet often and goes over the same section.

On the plus side, the scanner is cheap after the rebate. The quality of the scans is pretty good, probably better than the Canon I am thinking of trading from. If you have the choice, without a fricking doubt, get the Acer 640U at OfficeMax. This is ten times the scanner of this Umax.

 

[SimMike2]

BTW, I am using Vistascan 3.7 drivers which I got at the European website. I didn't even try the 3.54 drivers that came with the scanner. 3.7 are the latest official drivers, which I suspect are also the fastest and most stable. Not sure if the word "fastest" can apply to this scanner.

As for the rebate, Insight is very similar to Buy.com, in that the packing list makes no mention of price or other important details. I will do what I usually do with Buy.com and rebates, which is print the billing details from within my Insight account information and also include a copy of the packing list.

Considering the slowness of this scanner, I certainly hope this rebate comes through with little problems.

Mike

 

[ygreenkitty]

Ordered mine the 26th.


<< Sep 29, 2000 3:17 P.M. CACH, IL, ARRIVAL SCAN
Sep 27, 2000 7:26 A.M. US PICKUP MANIFEST RECEIVED
Sep 26, 2000 9:41 P.M. SAN BRUNO, CA, DEPARTURE SCAN
5:19 P.M. SAN BRUNO, CA, US ORIGIN SCAN
>>



Should be here Monday!

 

[SimMike2]

I don't recommend this scanner. It is slow and the drivers are buggy. It refuses to work with graphics programs that worked fine with other scanners (Paperport and MS Photoeditor among others.) It is possible that my system has some configuration problems from previous scanner installs (I did my best to clean up these problems), but from one days experience, this scanner has caused hundreds of illegal instructions and other problems. When it crashes, the whole system becomes unstable. I don't think the Umax driver install and/or uninstall utility works properly. This will cause problems on all but the plainest of plain systems. This is one of those install and driver programs that gives Windows a bad name.

One other thing, Windows 98 identifies this scanner as a Umax 1600U, not 2010U, or even 2000U.

 

[SimMike2]

Sorry to be keeping this thread alive all by myself, but I thought I should update my driver problems. Ends up the worst of my problems were created by using the 3.7 vista drivers that were at the UK Umax site. If I use the drivers that come with the scanner, 3.54, the system works pretty stable with Win98 SE. It still doesn't work with all programs and it is still slow, but the quality of the scans is pretty darn good and the software package is outstanding, especially considering the price. For people who haven't used a real fast scanner before, the speed will probably be acceptable.

I promise not to post anymore comments.

Mike

 

[subpar]

SimMike2,

Actually, thanks for posting your comments. I won't be receiving my scanner for another week, but it'll be good to know just what to expect. The information that you posted about the software drivers is particularly useful. As long as this scanner has a TWAIN driver, I'll be happy as then I can scan from within Photoshop.

Cheers,

subpar

 

[Jindan]

got mine today, but was unable to get it work under w2k, any hint?

 

[Ape]

Got mine yesterday. Works great. The speed is good. Software is easy and scans are sharp. Ciao for now. Ape Out.

 

[spec411]

HAVE A QUESTION!!

I just got it too, the box was open right where it says (do not accept if opened!) well the guy just left it at the door!

It onyl has 2 cd=roms in it, a UMAX one and some photo program (i dont have it handy) IS THIS THE &quot;Software Bundle&quot; everyone got?? I though we were supposed to get more software!

PLEASE LET ME KNOW!! I may need to talk to UPS or Insight about this, Insight says all the programs might be on the 2 cds!

PS YGREENKITTY...we are practically neighbors, Im in SSF!

 

[bubba]

Box includes:

2 CDs (Umax &amp; PhotoDeluxe)
1 USB Cable
1 power converter
1 scanner

Says so right on the side of the box.

 

[Pretty Cool]

Jindan:Have you tried Vistascan 3.7? Version 3.7 supports Windows 2000
Vistascan 3.7

 

[Ape]

You got the right stuff. The UMAX CD has all the oter software on it. The ADOBE should be the other. Ape Out.

 

[AirJames]

Got mine. Seal broken but everything works.

 

[FrontlineWarrior]

difference between umax 2010u and 1600u

What is the difference? I looked at the specs and I can't tell the difference. Does anyone have any idea?

BTW I have the 2010u and I'm pretty pleased with it, although it makes fart sounds and take a while, for $20 it was a great deal. Now someone I know wants the same deal, but the 2010u is sold out, and 1600u is selling for the same price.

 

[bubba]

Damn, the CDs are so warped that I am having big troubles installing the drivers. Anyone else having troubles reading the discs???

 

[gurgenpb]

Hey PrettyFCool

thanks for the link. i hoep this works with Win2K

 

[VijayT]

I got this scanner a few days ago. I agree, slow but good quality. Anyway, after hours of stuggling with different drivers, the ONLY one I got to work with Windows2000 is the UMax Astra 1220U (MS certified) driver that I found in my OS (it may be on the original Win2K disk or SP-1 - I'm not sure since I ran the SP-1 update a while back). It works perfectly now.

 

[gurgenpb]

Thanks Vjai

3.7 drivers did load on Win2K, but it crashes Win2k with the blue screen of death (text screen), This driver has got to me major unstable to do that.

I am gonna try the native 1220U driver now.

This sucks!

 

[dman]

Well, Just received the scanner today. The box arrived unsealed, but, it looked clean inside. The USB Cable was still in it's own sealed package as was the scanner and other items. If someone did use it / return it, it was put back together very carefully and I am none the wiser.

First impression: It is definitely put together cheaply--you get what you pay for! I say that because the plastic case feels flimsy as I maneuvered it about. Not that people are moving their scanners that often, but, hey--it felt cheap. I also peered beneath the glass to see what I could and noticed a rather large RUBBER BELT that moves the imaging device (front to back). Well, so much for longevity! For comparison, my MUSTEK 800iisp uses a harder plastic shell, the innards are on a metal frame and the imaging device is moved via steel wires (no belts).

So, next step, install the scanner. Went rather smoothly, plugged in USB Cable, turned on PC, booted up, W98SE detected it right away. FYI, Windows 98 detects it as the *610u model but the drivers install from the 1220u inf file.
Anyway, I put the CD in and it installed the appropriate driver. I then manually {I don't use AutoInsert Notification} installed the Vista 3.54 software and went through the mandatory reboot.

Upon restart, I used PaintShop to scan some images. I must say, I agree with the above folks, it is slow. However, for the price it is acceptable. The image quality was fine and the included software is leaps and bounds above what is obsolete with my Mustek 800ii sp.

UPDATES: VistaScan US Software Downloads (Versions 3.5x ... 3.7x)

Also:
European Support Page

For your viewing pleasure I have scanned the same image on the 2 scanners and merged them together just for kicks. The left half is from the UMAX 2010u scanned using 300dpi and otherwise default settings. The right half is from an old Mustek 800ii SP (SCSI). The MUSTEK is a much brighter image on default so I actually lowered the brightness and scanned it again and it's still brighter.

I noticed that the UMAX got rid of the jaggies (&quot;Anti-Aliased&quot much better than the 'ol Mustek does. You will also notice that the images don't align perfectly, mostly because I didn't have the image straight on the second scan.

Speed wise, they were both about the same to scan the image, taking about a minute or so to scan the 4x6 photo in 300dpi. Anyway, there really is not much to see, but, if you are curious and have decent bandwidth, here's the link:
Large (1.2MB) File with comparison between UMAX 2010u and Mustek 800iisp

N-Joy.

 

[gurgenpb]

Hey dman

These are exactlythe results i get. I think your old scanner is better. teh quality on this really sucks! Dark, loss of vibrancy in colors (dummer), loss of sharpness.

I gues if you want a good scanner, get the Epson Perfection 636U or the 1200U. If you want the fastest scanner, get the FireWire UMAX Astra 3400 (299retail incl. firewire card).

I am just waiting for firewire Epson (who is unsurpassed in quality) to come out. i don't wanna deal with SCSI, though i have the card.

gurgen

 

[vtrac]

Can someone scan their Insight invoice? I didn't get it from Insight but I'd like the rebate, if possible.

 

[SimMike2]

I got an invoice one week after the scanner arrived. I didn't know this invoice was coming, so I mailed the rebate a few days before. I printed up the finalized order from Insight during the ordering process. (This has always worked with Buy.com.) I also sent a copy of the manifest that actually came with the scanner. This manifest didn't have price information, but it did have serial number and other stuff. This combo, plus the cut out from the box, better be enough for this rebate. I had no way of knowing Insight sends out actual invoices.