Richard Jantz

HP ScanJet 2200C

The wait is over for budget-minded buyers. At $79, the HP ScanJet 2200C ranks as one of the lowest-cost flatbed scanners we've reviewed to date. Characteristic of 42-bit color capability, the 2200C produced fine-quality print and on-screen images. In our color tests, for instance, the 2200C's images displayed sharp focus and accurate, well-saturated colors, in both shadows and highlights. The scanner driver, HP PrecisionScan LTX, includes an integrated scan-to-Web option that automatically scans images and uploads them to one of three free photo-sharing sites that Hewlett-Packard supports. Thanks to its easy USB installation and simple step-by-step scanner driver, the 2200C should provide a hassle-free scanning experience, especially for novices.
The 2200C's meager software includes Adobe ActiveShare (version 1.5), which has minimal image editing features such as red-eye removal, trim, and rotate. But it lacks composite image tools, special effects, filters, and other features found in more-robust image editors such as Adobe PhotoDeluxe, Adobe Photoshop LE, and Corel PrintHouse, which are bundled with just about every chart-making SOHO unit. Although the HP PrecisionScan LTX driver has integrated optical character recognition, it doesn't offer as many options as you'd find in a separate OCR application such as ScanSoft Omnipage or ScanSoft Textbridge. Free technical phone support is limited to 90 days, as is the parts warranty period; after that, you'll have to pay to speak to a technician.
The ScanJet 2200C is one of the most compact charge-coupled device scanners on the market, with a trim height of 2.4 inches and a weight of only 4.7 pounds. Except for the Canon CanoScan N1220U, which is a contact image sensor (not CCD) scanner, the diminutive 2200 is smaller and easier to transport than all of the models on the SOHO chart. Though the 2200C has two quick-start buttons (for scanning and copying), the majority of SOHO chart scanners now have three or more buttons. Although the 2200C's overall color quality was above average, its results when performing gray-scale and line-art scanning were more typical, producing images that lacked some of the finer details in highlights and shadows. Speed scores on each of our four scan tests fell in the average range for a unit with an optical resolution of 600 by 1200 dpi and a USB interface. No optional transparency adapter or automatic document feeder is available for this scanner. But for this price, that's hardly surprising.
With its low price, the entry-level ScanJet 2200C aims to attract budget-conscious home users. If you're looking for an affordable model that scans almost as well and offers more extensive image editing tools or other more advanced features, consider the similarly priced Visioneer OneTouch 5600 USB.

Buying Information

HP ScanJet 2200C USB, 600 by 1200 dpi, 11.0 by 18.4 by 2.4 inches (width by depth by height), 4.7 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area, no optional transparency adapter or automatic document feeder. 90-day warranty; free toll-call technical support available for 90 days, 16 hours on weekdays, 7 hours on Saturdays; after 90 days, only fee-based toll-call technical support available. $ 79 USB, 600 by 1200 dpi, 11.0 by 18.4 by 2.4 inches (width by depth by height), 4.7 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area, no optional transparency adapter or automatic document feeder. 90-day warranty; free toll-call technical support available for 90 days, 16 hours on weekdays, 7 hours on Saturdays; after 90 days, only fee-based toll-call technical support available. http://www.scanjet.hp.com 800/463-7766