On Friday 25 January 2008, m. allan noah wrote: > > > I browsed through the sane listings last night. My scanner criteria are: > > - flatbed > > - automatic document feeder, duplex, >= 50 pages > > - costs under 1k$ > > > > I discovered that > > - There are many scanners on the market of this form. Here's an example: > > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16838104036 > > > > - Sane doesn't typically support current models. For example, every such > > model that is sold at Newegg isn't supported by sane. > > This includes the current offerings of HP, Canon, Fujitsu & Xerox. > > there is only 1 fujitsu matching those specs (fi-5015), and it is > probably an Avision OEM machine, so Rene might be able to support it. > > > - The models that sane *does* support are typically models that are no > > longer sold (e.g., if you check on Amazon). > > we usually do not remove support for no-longer sold models. > > > The one exception seems to be an Epson scanner, of somewhat lower > > resolution. Sane seems to be one generation behind, across the board, in > > this niche. Am I missing something? > > yes- you are missing that SANE is not generally a commercial > enterprise, but rather a loose group of volunteers writing drivers for > scanners in their spare time, usually with no help from the > manufacturers. If you wish to use a scanner under SANE, it is best > that you check for support BEFORE you buy, or be prepared to dig into > a potentially lengthy reverse engineering process. It is also best > that you put your money where you mouth is, and buy the machine not > only because of it's specs or price, but also because of the level of > support that the manufacturer gives to the community. > > to that end, i would personally buy a refurbished Fujitsu fi-5220C,
I think I'll keep that model in mind when I need to upgrade my SP15C, a refurbished model which I purhased from a scanning solutions vendor for ~$600, but which I could now buy on eBay for ~$100. The Fujitsu site recommends the fi-5220C as the replacement for the discontinued SP15C. I bought an old Ricoh IS450DE off eBay for $275 + $25 S/H + $100 platen cover. It's an old scsi-II interface and only 8-bit B/W -- but it's rugged and fine for scanning text, and although now discontinued, Ricoh says it will continue supplying parts for another 6 years. > ($1009 at pcnation.com). Fujitsu has been reasonable about providing > documentation to me, and has kept the protocol of their larger > machines pretty much the same for years. Something similar can be said > for Epson, though they seem to have more new machines with an unknown > protocol as of late. HP particularly is quite bad about changing > protocol with every single model. > > allan > -- > "The truth is an offense, but not a sin"
