Acer 320U Flatbed Scanner
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- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Scanner Type: Flatbed Scanner
- Optical Resolution: 300 dpi
- Max. Resolution (Hardware): 300 x 600 dpi
- Platform: PC
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All most people will need in a scanner
Pros
Fairly fast, acceptable resolution, does an adequate job
Cons
Not a high end pro model.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
It is easy to use, meets the needs of most home users, and is a good value. It is a great "starter" scanner and should last a long time.
The resolution of a web page is only 72 DPI. Therefore, why buy a scanner with a resolution of 1200 DPI if you are mostly scanning things for a web page?
That question is really one of the deciding factors on whether you will like this scanner. I use three basic criteria when evaluating whether a scanner will fit someone's needs: is it easy to use, does it do the things they need done, and is it a good value? I will use the same factors in this review.
Ease of Use - In the simplest sense, it is very hard to mess up the installation of this model. The "U" in the model number refers to USB (that small rectangular connector found on most newer computers). USB cables are "keyed" which means they will only allow you to insert them in the correct direction (just like a phone cord). The only other cord is the power cord and it is impossible to confuse the two. If you have Windows 98, ME, or any more advanced operating system it will automatically recognize the scanner and auto-install the "drivers" (software that talks to the scanner). This is another benefit of the USB interface. Also, with the USB interface, you can "hot swap" (plug and unplug things from the computer even when they are turned on, something that would destroy a machine or the computer with other interfaces). The only other thing that is left to do is to put something in the scanner (it works just like a copy machine) and then run an imaging program (there is one free in Windows) to actually "capture" the image. Editing the image can be done either through this program or through a more complex program.
Meeting your needs - You need to analyze what you really want to do with the scanner. Most people just want to put things on web pages (like photos on your home page or pictures on Ebay). As noted above, web pages only show images at 72 DPI so this scanner (at 300 x 600 DPI) is more than adequate. Also, many printers are only 300-600 DPI so scanning at a higher resolution is overkill. If you are retouching photos and then want to use them in a magazine, this is not the scanner for you. If you are a professional printer, this is not the scanner for you. If you are an average home user, this is a great scanner to get you started.
Good value - If you shop wisely and use rebates and coupons, you can get this scanner for under $40. At that price, it is an unbeatable deal. Considering that this scanner is close to the same quality that you will find in your local copy shop, the $40 should pay for itself in the first month. Mine has lasted more than a year and I see no reason for it to not last another 5. If you tried to resell this scanner you could easily get $20-30 minimum for it. Therefore, if you bought it and changed your mind, you wouldn't really be taking any sort of risk.
Basically, if you are a regular home user and need a good, solid scanner, this one is a great choice.
That question is really one of the deciding factors on whether you will like this scanner. I use three basic criteria when evaluating whether a scanner will fit someone's needs: is it easy to use, does it do the things they need done, and is it a good value? I will use the same factors in this review.
Ease of Use - In the simplest sense, it is very hard to mess up the installation of this model. The "U" in the model number refers to USB (that small rectangular connector found on most newer computers). USB cables are "keyed" which means they will only allow you to insert them in the correct direction (just like a phone cord). The only other cord is the power cord and it is impossible to confuse the two. If you have Windows 98, ME, or any more advanced operating system it will automatically recognize the scanner and auto-install the "drivers" (software that talks to the scanner). This is another benefit of the USB interface. Also, with the USB interface, you can "hot swap" (plug and unplug things from the computer even when they are turned on, something that would destroy a machine or the computer with other interfaces). The only other thing that is left to do is to put something in the scanner (it works just like a copy machine) and then run an imaging program (there is one free in Windows) to actually "capture" the image. Editing the image can be done either through this program or through a more complex program.
Meeting your needs - You need to analyze what you really want to do with the scanner. Most people just want to put things on web pages (like photos on your home page or pictures on Ebay). As noted above, web pages only show images at 72 DPI so this scanner (at 300 x 600 DPI) is more than adequate. Also, many printers are only 300-600 DPI so scanning at a higher resolution is overkill. If you are retouching photos and then want to use them in a magazine, this is not the scanner for you. If you are a professional printer, this is not the scanner for you. If you are an average home user, this is a great scanner to get you started.
Good value - If you shop wisely and use rebates and coupons, you can get this scanner for under $40. At that price, it is an unbeatable deal. Considering that this scanner is close to the same quality that you will find in your local copy shop, the $40 should pay for itself in the first month. Mine has lasted more than a year and I see no reason for it to not last another 5. If you tried to resell this scanner you could easily get $20-30 minimum for it. Therefore, if you bought it and changed your mind, you wouldn't really be taking any sort of risk.
Basically, if you are a regular home user and need a good, solid scanner, this one is a great choice.
