The problem with this approach is that you have to memorize which number goes with which scan profile. To scan, you use buttons on the control panel to scroll through the numbers, stop at the number you want, and then press the Scan button. The PS506U's front panel includes a one-character LED display that can show a single number, 1 through 9, with each number assigned to one of the nine scan profiles you can define. The bad news is that finding the right profile to use for any given scan isn't as straightforward as with most scan utilities. You can also define profiles to save scans to image PDF, searchable PDF, or JPG format send them to PageManager, MS Paint, or Windows Photo Gallery to open them turn them into editable text files or send them to your printer, to an FTP server, or to your email program as attachments. The good news is that you can customize the profile definitions, and you can use the utility to handle most scanning tasks. Scanning Unfortunately, scanning with the Plustek utility is harder than it should be. It also comes with a utility that can scan directly to most common formats-including image PDF, searchable PDF, and editable text files-and which I used for all of our standard tests.
In addition, the bundled disc includes Twain, WIA, and ISIS drivers which, together, will let you scan from almost any program that has a scan command. The scanner comes with Abbyy FineReader Sprint 9.0 for optical character recognition (OCR) and Presto PageManager 9.37 for document management.
To set it up, you plug in the power cord and USB cable first, wait for Windows to ask for a disc, and then install the scan drivers and assorted programs. It weighs just 5 pounds 15 ounces and measures 9 by 12.6 by 9.1 inches (HWD), making it small enough to keep on your desk.įor my tests, I connected the PS506U to a Windows Vista system.
Setup and Software The PS506U follows a common design for desktop scanners, with the input tray at the top rear, the output tray at the bottom front, and a front panel that slopes backwards from bottom to top. That's more than enough to keep it firmly in place as our preferred pick.
On our tests, however, using the default settings for scanning in each case, the Kodak i2420 turned in somewhat better speeds for scanning to image PDF files and was significantly faster for scanning to searchable PDF format. The PS506U has a larger capacity than the Kodak model's 75 sheets and also a faster rating. One point of comparison for the PS506U ($499.00 at B&H Photo Video) is the Kodak i2420 Scanner ($299.00 at Amazon), our Editors' Choice low-end, small-office document scanner. In short, if you need a workhorse scanner for a small-office or workgroup, it's worth a look. Its 100-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) lets you scan relatively large stacks of paper, it delivers excellent text recognition, it includes conveniences like ultrasonic multifeed detection to catch double feeds, and-for medical offices and others that need to scan long documents, like EKG printouts-it can scan individual pages as large as 8.5 by 200 inches. User experience indicates that the 750 rivals the Nikon LS5000 (no longer made) for 35mm film scans at a fraction of the cost.The Plustek SmartOffice PS506U document scanner ($749) isn't particularly fast (it was slower than its rated speed on our tests), and its scan utility isn't that easy to use, but it offers enough to get the job done. In addition to it's superb print scan capabilities, it will batch scan 12 35mm slides or 24 35mm negative frames at once at up to 6400 dpi as well as handle all film formats up to 8x10. The V750 may be the best flatbed scanner out there
Manual feed means scanning one frame at a time. It uses infrared, not just software to remove dust and scratches. $729.95 includes free shipping (as of 2/3/12)ĭespite the low price, this is a serious 35mm film and slide scanner, capable of great results.