HP ScanJet 3200C Color Flatbed Scanner

by HP

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 18.4 x 12.2 x 3.9 inches ; 10 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 12 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00000JPII
• Item model number: SJ3200C
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

This low-priced, entry-level, quality flatbed scanner includes Hewlett-Packard's Intelligent Scanning Technology and PrecisionScan software. The ScanJet 3200C has true 600 dpi optical scanning and 30-bit color depth for detailed scans with millions of vibrant colors.

Setting up the ScanJet 3200C was easy--we just followed the instructions on the setup poster. We plugged in the AC power supply, connected the parallel cable (included), turned on our PC, inserted the CD-ROM, and followed the HP setup wizard. After restarting our PC, we also installed Adobe PhotoDeluxe 2.0 and Caere OmniPage Pro (trial edition), which are included on the same CD-ROM.

To test the scanner, we started an image-editing application, selected the ScanJet 3200C as our source, and clicked the scan button. The HP PrecisionScan LT application started automatically, running in its own window, and displayed four easy steps for completing the scan. We followed each step as we scanned a magazine photo and exported it back to our image-editing application. The scan took 52 seconds and included unwanted moiré patterns (typical when scanning magazine photos). We were unable to find an option for filtering these unwanted patterns in the PrecisionScan software, but the scan was otherwise clear, bright, and true to the original. A similar scan of another color photo did not include the moiré patterns.

To test the OCR software, we placed a document on the scanner that contained both text and graphics. The text was white on a black background--a difficult test for many scanners. We started Microsoft Word and selected its Acquire Text command. The scan took 2.5 minutes, including OCR translation, and the result contained many typographical errors. The software also mistook much of the text for graphic elements. We repeated the scan with black text on a white background; the results were much better, but there were still several typographical errors.

Overall, the performance was fair and, considering the low price, we think the scanner did well.

Pros:

• Great value at a low price
• Easy to set up and use

Cons:

• No software filters to reduce moiré patterns
• Relatively large and bulky
• OCR software is trial edition

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

188 of 193 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This scanner has true digital features at an affordable cost, October 21, 1999

By 

Marc Fluet - See all my reviews

This review is from: HP ScanJet 3200C Color Flatbed Scanner (Office Product)

The HP ScanJet 3200C is one of the best scanners out on the market today. With its affordable price and true scan technologies it is on my top ten list of essential computer accesories. Not to mention it is easy to use, and an effective tool for all ages ranging from 8 to 80. With its 30 bit scans it is truly able to capture the brillance of colors of a scanning subject. Using the HP ScanJet LT Software you are able to scan text,pictures and much more. You can also send it to any program on your computer capable of viewing an image file. Or you can convert it into a domument file and view it anywere on your computer. Using there proportions tool you are able to cut out sections of a picture and and send only needed parts, cutting down the amount of space needed on your hard drive, zip drive, CD-R, or floppy disk. So in closing the HP ScanJet 3200C is an all around versitile accesory at a low down to earth affordable price.

104 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love it! Easy To Use... Professional Level Pictures., August 4, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Boston, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: HP ScanJet 3200C Color Flatbed Scanner (Office Product)

I've used this HP scanner to add pizazz to the pages on several professional websites and I am delighted with it. It was the easiest to install... follow the simple directions. Comes with Adobe PhotoShopDeluxe 2.0 image editor which also does a great job... and va voom... I am "pasting up" photos and graphics to spice up my site... and zooming up a photo album to share the news with family and friends accross the world

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad for beginners, February 29, 2000

By 

Extreme Guy (Portsmouth, New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: HP ScanJet 3200C Color Flatbed Scanner (Office Product)

I recently bought this scanner and was scanning within 10 minutes of opening the box! It seemed to work fine, but the color quality was dull. I printed a few pictures and they didn't look like the originals, they seemed "washed out". The scanned in images came out lighter than the original picture.