Microtek ScanMaker 3600 USB Flatbed Scanner (PC/Mac)

by Microtek

Product Details

Product Manual [89kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 18.1 x 11.4 x 4.5 inches ; 7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000488VU
• Item model number: 3600
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The Microtek ScanMaker 3600 USB is a solid, easy-to-use flatbed scanner that delivers high-quality results with very little setup and image tweaking. As such, it's perfect for a home or small office, or for a novice user. With its lightweight, trim design, it fits easily into a small workspace. Setup takes just a few minutes, and the software, consisting of five applications, installs easily.

A quick reference guide outlines all of the basic functions of the scanner. More in-depth information is found in the driver software's online help. Besides the Microtek scanning program itself, the additional bundled software takes care of tasks ranging from image enhancement and web preparation (PhotoDeluxe and Photo Impact) to file management (PageKeeper). The latter program is useful for organizing large sets of scanned documents, and lets you easily add annotations to graphic files.

Novice users will want to start using the small range of preset image settings and move on to customization as they gain experience. To use the presets, you select the purpose for which you are making the scan, and each profile has its own default resolution setting. Using the presets, we found the results to be quite professional.

The scanner software lets you view the results on screen, set the print quality, create a fax, or perform text recognition (OCR) scans. Text recognition uses the included OmniPage OCR program to turn pages of text into editable text files.

Although the default settings work well for most needs, more advanced users can also vary the scan quality itself. For example, a very dark original can be lightened before, rather than after, scanning. --David Greenberger

Pros:

• Fast and easy setup
• Good results using presets

Amazon.com Product Description

Plug in the Microtek ScanMaker 3600 to the USB port on your Windows or Macintosh computer and enter the world of digital imaging. Scan 42-bit color images at optical resolutions up to 600 x 1,200 dpi using Microtek's new ScanWizard 5 software. E-mail scanned photos to friends and family, make color copies on your printer, or follow one of the guided activities in Adobe PhotoDeluxe to create a memorable photo keepsake. Automatic color calibration provides true-to-life color reproduction, and the ScanWizard TWAIN software makes digitizing photos easier and more convenient than ever.

The ScanMaker 3600 provides affordable high-resolution 42-bit scanning in a compact, easy-to-use flatbed scanner. This USB model ships with software and drivers for USB-equipped Windows 98 systems as well as Power Macintosh and iMac systems with USB ports.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars no support from company, August 11, 2000

By 

Virginia S. Moe (Rock Hill, SC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microtek ScanMaker 3600 USB Flatbed Scanner (PC/Mac) (Office Product)

This scanner and the software were easy to set up and mostly worked fine. Unfortunately on the relatively little bug in the software I can get NO REPLY from the company to my questions. Amazon has been great, but after spending over ten hours trying to get help from Microtek, reading everything pertinent (and a lot that's not) on their website, sending three emails to the place they tell me to send them and waiting over two weeks for any reply at all, I'm not very happy. I will not buy anything from this company again because I'm afraid if it DOESN'T work I won't get any help.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Problems Since We First Got the Scanner, January 2, 2001

By 

"urchincat" (Tampa, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microtek ScanMaker 3600 USB Flatbed Scanner (PC/Mac) (Office Product)

We have had many problems with this scanner. Please be aware that they do NOT have a toll-free phone number, and when we called their "technicians", we had to pay the long distance phone bill. Not to mention that the "technicians" told us that they didn't know what was wrong, but we still have to pay a 30 min. phone bill. Plus, if we want to get it repaired, the product must be shipped to California and THEY WILL NOT PAY SHIPPING. Also, in order to get the light bulb replaced, you have to send the scanner to California. The product does not allow you to replace the light bulb yourself. We will never own another Microtek scanner.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars repaired once, and now broken again, January 17, 2001

By 

"jcollard" (Lawrence, KS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microtek ScanMaker 3600 USB Flatbed Scanner (PC/Mac) (Office Product)

I bought this scanner about 15 months ago. The bulb broke after 8 months of light use, and was replaced under warranty. (I paid shipping.) Now, the bulb has gone out again, and the product is no longer under warranty. Microtek says it will be $80 - $100 (plus shipping) to fix. Might as well buy a new scanner. I don't recommend buying this scanner.

I do like the software. All settings are customizable. The software has many more features than HP scanners I have used in the past. Plus, it is switchable between basic and advanced user interfaces.

Bottom line, don't buy this scanner.