Customer Reviews

Canon CanoScan N656U USB Flatbed Scanner

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been putting off getting a scanner because they seem to be one of the most problematic peripherals that one can attach to a PC. .... I ordered the CanoScan 656, and so far, have been very happy with the results.

First, setup on my 1 Ghz P-III running WinME was fast and easy. The supplied software is not bad, though if you already have a good image editor like PaintShopPro you might want to use that for acquiring and editing your scans. I have had a few unexplained software crashes, but nothing (so far) that would make me dissatisfied with the scanner. If the problems continue, I will switch to PSP or MS Picture It for acquiring my scans, but if you don't have alternate software, be aware that there could be difficulties with what comes in the box.

The USB cable fits the PC fine, but the plug into the scanner is not very secure, so you have to be careful to not let it get inadvertently bumped out of place (I read in a review of a similar Canon scanner that the owner pushed the back of the scanner up against the wall to keep the plug from sliding out). It's great to not have to fool around with the parallel port, and even better to have the scanner powered via the USB connection.

I'm only giving it 4 stars due to the loose plug and the software, but the quality of the scans is excellent, at least for my purposes. My first scan was a small wallet-sized picture, and at output of 200 dpi, I got a great image that I was able to enlarge to 5x7 and looked even sharper than the original. I also have scanned several full-page photos from magazines.... and got a warning from the software that I needed to make an adjustment or I'd get distortion. I ignored the warning and sure enough, got the predicted distortion. Second time, I made the recommended change and got outstanding results. So the software does have some redeeming features.

For ease of use (regardless of what software you end up using), nice sleek thin case, and great price, I'm very pleased with my first scanner and would recommend it.

Although this scanner uses lower-cost CIS instead of CCD sensors, its output quality is very good. Where it lacks a little is in the dynamic colour range; for greyscale and B/W, I cannot tell the difference from consumer-grade CCD units. I like its thinness, and to Canon's credit, the bottom of the scanner is also fairly smooth so that it won't snag on anything when you insert it into your briefcase. Yes, it has a small footprint in addition to being thin. One nitpick I have is that it sometimes draws so much current when it is first connected (large inrush current), that it may turn off the hub because has a large initial current draw (I use Belkin and other brand hubs, and all have the occasional effect). Because of this, I usually plug it into a separate hub of its own, so that if that hub goes down, I can reset it easily without affecting any other USB devices. Only twice so far has the N656U surprised me when it triggered the laptop's USB current protection when I plugged it into the laptop directly without using a powered hub to isolate it from the laptop.

Setup was a breeze on Windows ME. The USB works flawlessly. I can move it around between the USB port on the back of my PC and my powered hub and it is always recognized and ready to go. It's a pleasure to use. The twain drivers work great from all of the applications I have tried.

I love it even after a year of use. I did have a few initial problems with software installation but I love the Arcsoft photo studio. I use it for editing my scanned photo's and I am very pleased with the results. I even managed to scan a very old photo (sepia) that my daughter had drawn on. I edited it with the Arcsoft program and you can't tell it was ever damaged. The results are fast and quality. The usb plug in is also a dream come true. I had no more plugs left behind my computer and my strips were full.

Those looking for an inexpensive but versatile light-duty scanner need look no further than this CanonScan N650U device.

Some time back, I had been looking for just such a scanner for "occasional" use, and comparisons among those available were easily narrowed down to this unit.

The CanonScan 650U is a "universal" (PC/Mac) device using the now-ubiquitous USB interface. The bundled software (on CD-ROM) is easily installed, and provides a great deal of flexibility to how the scanner is used, the image-file formats in which scanned images may be saved, and the color (or gray scale) depth, resolution and sharpness of scanned images. The menu-driven features are largely intuitive for anyone not a total "newbie" to scanners, but the bundled software also includes very detailed and comprehensive documentation (in the form of Adobe Acrobat pdf files).

Results, in the form of scanned (and printable and/or transmittable) images, are superb, with excellent detail and resolution and accurate rendering of tonal and color scales. The design of the cover, with its clever "Z" hinge, permits scanning of pages of fairly thick books, if need be. A button on the front of the scanner, when pressed, will automatically launch the program so that a scan (or a "preview") can be made; alternatively, the program can be launched manually using a desktop alias or shortcut.

The image-manipulation menu allows for a very wide degree of control over how the scanned image can be "finalized." Tonal and color scales and image contrast can be extended or compressed, or distorted for special effects. Sharpness (separate from choice of resolution, in pixels) can be enhanced by degrees, or even thoroughly "customized." (A mild word of caution for those using these enhancement features when scanning half-tone images: It IS possible to create Moire patterns [fringing] if some of these adjustments are overdone. Some practice may be required, and then the best results saved as a template for future use.)

I wouldn't necessarily characterize the CanonScan 650U as a "frequent-duty" scanner. It is likely to be too slow for professional use. It is hardly as quick as a photocopier. But, if you, like me, need such a device only for occasional use and moreover need the image-manipulation capabilities that only a full-featured software program can provide, I can recommend this unit highly. It is very inexpensive for what it does and for the features it provides.

All of the above is provided in the context of Macintosh installation and use. Results for PC platform use should be expected to be the same, but installation and access and use of the features may differ slightly. I suggest that PC users interested in the CanonScan 650U read other reviews on this product page for a sense of what PC users have to say about this scanner.

Bob Zeidler

I got one of these for Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

Setup was easy, but the scans are a bit slow. It does a good job of scanning photos for me.

The OCR output is about 93%+ for most documents. Books with tight bindings are sometimes difficult to scan accurately, but I haven't found any thing that does a better job in these situations. The image quality is very good, so it is generally easy to make out the correct 'reading' when the OCR can't make out the source. The OmniPage OCR is perfect for my purposes.

I actually own the HP ScanJet, but this is a close second. They essentially scan at the same speed and resolution, but this one is a bit thinner than the HP ScanJet. But for that privelege you have to pay an extra $30. Other than that, they are the same - speed, resolution, USB conncetion.

Go take a look at the "Hewlett Packard C7682A ScanJet 3300Cse Scanner" for $79. You and your wallet will be glad you did.

One of the most used appliances in my entire home is still working just as flawlessly as it did the day I brought it home. I'm very impressed. She's outlasted 4 computers, 3 printers, 2 versions of "The Office" television series from both sides of the Atlantic and 1 never ending college career.

This scanner is very easy to install. It outputs more than enough resolution for any of my needs. From restoring 100 year old photographs to creating photo montages to scanning pages in old books using OCR to post online, I've never encountered any obstacles. This machine only facilitates my needs and is never the burden that nearly every other piece of electronic equipment ends up being. I love it.

This has been a wonderful scanner and works perfectly for anyone who is looking to scan family photos, documents or other items into their computer. I have been very impressed with this scanner and it has served me quite well!

I had difficulty setting up my scanner and had to call technical assistance three times at my own expense (no 800 number), but I finally got it set up with the help of cordial, patient technicians. The main thing I don't like about the scanner is that to copy text to my Microsoft Word, I have to go through several steps to convert the text. It would so much simpler if I could scan it directly. Also, the directions for use are on the enclosed disk. I would prefer a manual. I love the quality of the pictures. Excellent. Also the price was very affordable. I also like the small size and light weight of the scanner. I have no regrets on this purchase.