Richard Jantz
HP Scanjet 5400c
The HP Scanjet 5400c provides 2400-dpi horizontal optical resolution, 48-bit color, and impressive scan quality overall. But this scanner stands out thanks to its 11 front-panel buttons--which make it seem more like a multifunction device than a desktop scanner. In addition to the common quick-start buttons, the 5400c has a power-save button and other buttons designed to make scanning directly to your printer easy, effectively letting you use the two devices together as a photocopier: From the scanner's control panel you can choose monochrome or color printing, as well as the number of copies. An LCD shows the number of copies and the specified quality of your printouts.In our tests the 5400c's monochrome line-art scans benefited from the unit's high maximum resolution, reproducing accurate geometric lines and test patterns. Color scans were generally sharp and accurate but not quite as bright and detailed as those from the top-ranked Microtek ScanMaker 4900.Tested using its USB 1.1 interface, the 5400c's overall performance was slower than that of many other small-office units we've tested recently. For example, the 5400c took 96 seconds to scan a 2-by-2-inch color photo at 1200 dpi, compared with 39 seconds for the Microtek ScanMaker 4900. Using the scanner's 48-bit color mode is somewhat daunting. Instead of including a simple selection for 48-bit color in its list of scan-mode options as some scanners do, the 5400c has you open the Preferences dialog box and choose Maximum Pixel Depth on the Scanner tab to activate 48-bit scanning.
The Scanjet 5400c has both USB 1.1 and parallel port connections. The installation CD includes a series of video clips that clearly demonstrate how to connect the scanner to a PC. The printed documentation is limited to an installation poster, though HP also provides an on-screen manual. Still, reading some printed instructions on how to use the front-panel buttons would be faster than relying on the on-screen-only info. The Scanjet 5400c does not come with a transparency adapter, but you can buy one that accommodates a filmstrip or three slides for $80. You can also buy a $249 automatic document feeder; if you know you want the ADF at the outset, however, you'd be better off buying HP's Scanjet 5490c for $399, which is the same scanner but comes with both the 25-sheet-capacity ADF and the filmstrip-size transparency adapter.The software bundle includes an easy-to-use scanning driver (HP Precisionscan Pro 3.1) that provides step-by-step instructions designed for novices. It also has built-in optical character recognition and a Scan-to-CD feature (which requires a CD-RW drive). Advanced features (such as color and exposure adjustment) are available through various drop-down menu options. Experienced users will probably find that using these separate drop-down menus is less convenient than having all the advanced options readily accessible from one screen, an arrangement that the advanced modes of other drivers (such as Microtek's ScanWizard 5) have. Other applications include Corel Print Office 2000 for image editing and printing, and ACD Systems' ACDSee (version 3.1) for image management.
It's not as fast as some other small-office scanners, but the HP Scanjet 5400c has a bevy of push buttons and an easy step-by-step scanning guide, which make it a great choice for novices.
| Buying Information |
| HP Scanjet 5400c USB 1.1 and parallel, 2400 by 2400 dpi, 13 by 22.5 by 6.5 inches (width by depth by height), 13.8 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area; optional transparency adapter and automatic document feeder. One-year warranty, free technical support (16 hours on weekdays, 7 hours on Saturdays; calls are not toll-free). $ 199 USB 1.1 and parallel, 2400 by 2400 dpi, 13 by 22.5 by 6.5 inches (width by depth by height), 13.8 pounds, 8.5-by-11.7-inch scanning area; optional transparency adapter and automatic document feeder. One-year warranty, free technical support (16 hours on weekdays, 7 hours on Saturdays; calls are not toll-free). http://www.scanjet.hp.com 800/722-6538 |