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For such an inexpensive scanner the Colorado 2600U boasts an impressive specification. It has an optical resolution of 600 x 1200 which can be increased to 2400dpi via interpolation.
The 2600U has 42bit colour depth, although the image editing software supplied doesn't support 42bit colour. You need something like Photoshop for that so this option is switched off by default.
Installation is a piece of cake. You install the Twain software first, plug the scanner in then go back and install the rest of the software bundle. Paper documentation is conspicuous by its absence, except for a set-up sheet that walks you through the installation process. The user manuals are supplied on disc in Acrobat format.
The Colorado 2600U is strictly entry-level so, on this no-frills A4 flatbed scanner, you won't find luxuries like action buttons, nor are there sheet feeder or transparency accessories available. There are no copying facilities either. The lid hinges are slotted, however, allowing the cover to sit properly on thick original sources, such as books.
The Colorado 2600U comes with a bundle of competent software that complements the scanner. However, as Visioneer's reputation is partly built on its excellent PaperPort software, the omission of any sort of document management utility is a surprise.
In use, it takes about a minute to warm up the lamp, and scan speeds are slow but reasonable: an A4 True Colour single pass scan at 200dpi took 50 seconds and 135 seconds at 600dpi. Previews take about 15 seconds. The resulting scans are a little muddy and washed out with a hint of noise.
Overall, the Colorado 2600U is an average scanner that benefits greatly from the software that drives it. It may be cheap but there's plenty of stiff competition at this end of the market, so be sure to shop around.
CONTACT: Visioneer Europe
01483 445 480
www.visioneer-europe.com
See also:
All Scanners
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