Epson Perfection 1240U Photo
WHAT'S HOT: Thanks to its superior features and scan
quality, the Epson Perfection 1240U Photo remains the leader of the SOHO chart.
The model features 1200-by-2400-dpi resolution, 42-bit color depth, and three
quick-start buttons for scanning, copying, and performing custom tasks like
attaching a scanned image to a compliant e-mail client, such as Microsoft Exchange or Outlook.
In our scan-quality comparisons, the 1240U Photo delivered high
color accuracy, smooth tonal distribution (shadows, midtones, highlights), and
extremely sharp detail in both print and on-screen images. In performance
tests, this USB unit whipped through color and black-and-white scans, garnering
the best overall scores of all the SOHO chart models (when you take resolution
into account). When measured against similar scanners with a USB connection and
identical resolution, the 1240U Photo topped its competition in three out of
four tests (the 75-dpi color, maximum-dpi color, and 300-dpi line art tests).
The 1240U Photo also comes bundled with a transparency adapter (plus film
holders) capable of scanning material up to 4 by 5 inches.
WHAT'S NOT:
The
earliest shipping versions of the Perfection 1240U series require a software
patch (a free download at Epson's Web site) before you can use the scanner's
front-panel copy button with non-Epson printers. Epson doesn't offer an
automatic document feeder option for the Perfection 1240U Photo, which means the scanner can't handle stacks of documents for optical character
recognition jobs or for legal-size paper. Live technical support requires a
toll call.
WHAT ELSE: The ample software bundle includes two image
editors (Adobe PhotoDeluxe Home Edition 4.0 for casual users and the more
robust Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE for advanced users), ScanSoft's TextBridge Pro
8.0 (OCR software), and ArcSoft's PhotoPrinter and Panorama Maker for creative
projects. For $90 less you can have the Perfection 1240U (note the absence of
the word "Photo" after the name) without a transparency adapter; for $80 more
you can get the Perfection 1240U Photo Limited Edition, which offers a jazzier
case design (including a platinum-colored case and a midnight-blue
lid).
BEST USE: With its bundled transparency adapter, the
Perfection 1240U Photo capably targets small-office and home users who
regularly scan 35mm film and other translucent materials, as well as standard
photo prints.
| Buying Information | | Epson Perfection 1240U Photo
$269
USB, 1200 by 2400 dpi, 10.6 by 17.1 by 3.7
inches (width by depth by height), 6.2 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area;
includes transparency adapter; no optional automatic document feeder. One-year
warranty; toll-call technical support for 12 hours on weekdays; 24-hour,
toll-free automated support.
800/463-7766
www.epson.com
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