WHAT'S HOT: Aggressively priced at $149, Acer's 1240UT is
the most affordable two-in-one model that scans both reflective material and
transparencies right out of the box. The double-duty 1240UT also boasts
a generous software bundle to match its 1200-by-1200-dpi resolution. Acer is
the only company on the chart that offers live technical support 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.
WHAT'S NOT: Among the models in the Top 10, the 1240UT's
overall scan quality falls short compared with other two-in-one units, such as
Agfa's SnapScan E50. The 1240UT's colors were a bit dull and undersaturated on
the maximum resolution test. Its speed was also a bit behind the competition:
In fact, at its maximum resolution the 1240UT was by far the slowest 1200-dpi
scanner on the chart. The 1240UT lacks push buttons, and it has no automatic
document feeder option.
WHAT ELSE:
You can
use the scanner's MiraScan TWAIN driver to save color scans as 48-bit
(software-enhanced) or standard 42-bit images. The 1240UT's transparency
adapter handles positive and negative films up to 5 by 7 inches and includes a
sturdy template for scanning up to six 35mm slides at a time. The software
bundle includes a pair of image-editing packages (Ulead's capable PhotoExpress
3, which supports 48-bit images, and Kai's more fanciful Photo Soap 2), a
proficient optical-character-recognition application (Abbyy FineReader Sprint
4), and a handy document-management tool (Presto PageManager Deluxe 4).
BEST USE: This is a worthy choice for budget-minded users
who want the lowest-priced unit capable of scanning both transparencies and
reflective materials. For $30 more, however, you can get faster performance and
better-looking results with the Agfa SnapScan e50, which also handles both
kinds of materials.
| Buying Information | | Acer 1240UT
$149
USB, 1200 by 1200 dpi, 12 by 18 by 4 inches
(width by depth by height), 9.5 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area,
included transparency adapter, no optional automatic document feeder. One-year
parts-and-labor warranty; free, toll-free, unlimited 24-hour support.
800/733-2237
www.acerperipherals.com
|
|
