The duplex scanner is one of the most useful devices in a modern office environment. In many offices they have taken the place of the “copy machine,” and they have gone a long way towards creating the paperless office that computer tycoons predicted in the 1980s.
The benefit of duplex scanners is, of course, that they image both sides of a document. Some do this automatically, while others claim to be a duplex document scanner but then actually require you to run the document through twice before printing. These types of devices are more hassle than they are worth and should be avoided. There’s no reason you should have to feed a document through a scanner twice when nearly 90 percent of the duplex document scanners on the market today will do so automatically.
When you are shopping for a duplex scanner, ask yourself the following questions:
What file format does the scanner use? Some scanners create only PDF image files, while others create PDF documents that are editable with OCR software. Some scanners also allow you the option of saving the resulting file in one of several formats, such as PDF, TIF or BMP.
Is the device only a duplex sheetfed scanner, or will it function as a duplex flatbed scanner as well? Although this may seem like a pointless concern, you will rue your dismissal the very first time a signed document or valuable photograph jams and tears upon extraction. Flatbed scanners are also invaluable when scanning images of thick objects, or small objects like driver’s licenses or insurance cards.
How many pages will the device accept? A modern scanner should allow you to stack at least 30 pages and walk away, confident that the pages will feed through without jamming. If your scanner requires you to feed sheets through one at a time, then you need a different scanner!
How large can the scanned file be? The device should have no trouble storing a 30 page document. It should also pause at the end of the feed, to ask you if there are additional documents, before creating the file. In this way you can feed larger jobs through the scanner, 30 pages or so at a time, and still have a single file for the document.
Does the scanner allow you to select the resolution? This is a valuable option, because the higher the resolution, the larger the resulting file In many cases, you don’t need high resolution. For example, to copy this page at a good readable quality, 300 dpi is plenty. But, if you will be copying something with fine print, or when you wish to capture fine detail in, for example, a schematic drawing, then you will want a higher resolution.
Is the scanner color, or black and white? Even if all you ever copy are letters, it is good to have the option of selecting color. To save on ink costs you might select to run the scanner in grayscale mode, but the color feature will be available when you need it.
The duplex scanner is one of the most useful devices in a modern office environment. In many offices they have taken the place of the “copy machine,” and they have gone a long way towards creating the paperless office that computer tycoons predicted in the 1980s.
The benefit of duplex scanners is, of course, that they image both sides of a document. Some do this automatically, while others claim to be a duplex document scanner but then actually require you to run the document through twice before printing. These types of devices are more hassle than they are worth and should be avoided. There’s no reason you should have to feed a document through a scanner twice when nearly 90 percent of the duplex document scanners on the market today will do so automatically.
When you are shopping for a duplex scanner, ask yourself the following questions:
What file format does the scanner use? Some scanners create only PDF image files, while others create PDF documents that are editable with OCR software. Some scanners also allow you the option of saving the resulting file in one of several formats, such as PDF, TIF or BMP.
Is the device only a duplex sheetfed scanner, or will it function as a duplex flatbed scanner as well? Although this may seem like a pointless concern, you will rue your dismissal the very first time a signed document or valuable photograph jams and tears upon extraction. Flatbed scanners are also invaluable when scanning images of thick objects, or small objects like driver’s licenses or insurance cards.
How many pages will the device accept? A modern scanner should allow you to stack at least 30 pages and walk away, confident that the pages will feed through without jamming. If your scanner requires you to feed sheets through one at a time, then you need a different scanner!
How large can the scanned file be? The device should have no trouble storing a 30 page document. It should also pause at the end of the feed, to ask you if there are additional documents, before creating the file. In this way you can feed larger jobs through the scanner, 30 pages or so at a time, and still have a single file for the document.
Does the scanner allow you to select the resolution? This is a valuable option, because the higher the resolution, the larger the resulting file In many cases, you don’t need high resolution. For example, to copy this page at a good readable quality, 300 dpi is plenty. But, if you will be copying something with fine print, or when you wish to capture fine detail in, for example, a schematic drawing, then you will want a higher resolution.
Is the scanner color, or black and white? Even if all you ever copy are letters, it is good to have the option of selecting color. To save on ink costs you might select to run the scanner in grayscale mode, but the color feature will be available when you need it.
