While all three products qualify as desktop flatbed scanners, the similarities among them end there. Still, the ultrathin CanoScan deserves kudos on its own merits. It's ideal however, for Web designers or just about any Mac user on the go who needs to quickly capture a printed image. ScanSoft's TextBridge Pro OCR software is included with the product, as are a host of proprietary Canon image-handling applications. Express yourself Epson's new Expression 1600 flatbed scanner is of a more traditional size and represents a step up the ladder from the portable CanoScan.
Dual ports enable simultaneous in and out connections for network environments.
The Dmax is specified at 3.3, sufficient for capturing accurate shadow detail. The scanner includes a film holder and dual-focus mechanism designed to eliminate troublesome Newton Rings when scanning transparencies. Batch-scanning software is included. The HiD has a maximum optical resolution of 1,000 x 2,000 dpi, interpolated to 4,000 dpi. The HiD's glass-free scanning reduces distortion and eliminates Newton Rings.