Customer Reviews

Visioneer One Touch 8100 Scanner

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I purchased the 8100 about 18 months ago. My OS was windows 98 and I had no problems installing the scanner software drivers. The scanner worked like a charm. The Paper port software allowed me to link to graphics, fax, and word packages. I updated my OS to windows 2000 and downloaded the scanner update off of the Visioneer site. Once again, the scanner works great. I read the reviews from others who purchased this scanner and was amazed that they were not happy with their purchase. Let me tell you a secret to getting this scanner to work. You must load the software "BEFORE" you plug the scanner into your USB ports. If you use Windows 2000, download the scanner update, run it, reset the computer, plug in the scanner and turn it on. Windows will see you have added the scanner and the drivers you downloaded from Visioneer will load. That is all it is to it. For the price, you cannot get a better deal on a scanner. I'm telling you, it works great.

Got this scanner after having problems with my Microtek. Took one look at it after taking it out the box and couldn't find the usb port (low and behold, it was hiden behind a little door). Set was simple and without problems, installed all the software in just minutes, and after only 20 minutes I was scanning my heart out. Reviews I've read stated that one-touch buttons didn't work. After fooling around for several minutes with the buttons and software, finally got them to work, it's tricky though. Each button has to be confirgured for a specific type of task and can be modified at your own preference. After figuring out the buttons, using the scanner and software was quite easy. Scans text better than previous scanners I've own, and with less editing to documents once complete, plus it works great for pictures with matte finish. Doesn't quite work too well with glossy prints. If the print isn't clear or if they're a little too glossy, the image comes out kinda fuzzy, but nothing a good photo editing software can't fix. And the scan to email feature worked in a breeze. All and all, it's great as a first time scanner for someone who isn't computer rookie.

Pros:
- easy setup and installation
- One-Touch buttons allows for quick scanning
- great for scanning text and images
- scans faster than most scanners priced higher

Cons:
- scanner sometimes doesn't detect when computer is booted
- the lamp needing to warm up after being off or not in use for some time
- pictures with glossy finish and polaroids are sometimes not too clear

I have an AMD K-6 233MHZ computer...Windows 95...this scanner has to be the best value for the money that I've tried....was a cinch to install and it's fast enough for me...I like the sideways layout much better...it fits on my top shelf...scanning results are.....superb...if you're a pro like me the editing software is OK but I prefer others...the text recognition software is good though....you can scan a spread sheet and load it into works and make your own template! When I first tried it out I scanned 20 3 by 6 photos in about 10 minutes....other scanners it would take double the time if not more...and no system lock-ups....the lamp shut-off is controlled by your settings and not on all the time like others...I have to use the parallel port connections because I have Win 95....NOTE, Win 95 users have to use the parallel connections and not the newer USB type unless you upgrade to Win 98! I had no reason to upgrade so this scanner was perfect for what I needed. Now we'll see how long it lasts....my others lasted a couple of years with minor use...good luck!

My 8100 is about a year old. The scanner goes through the pre scan then gives a error message to unlock the scanner and stops the scan. It is not locked. After several calls to tech support at my expense (no toll free #) I finally got to talk to a rep. They gave me some basic things to try that didn't work. sense that time I have not been able to get anyone to answer the phone at tech support. I have went through the lengthy automated trouble shooting system again at my phone expense. I have spent about 25 dollars on phone calls (On hold one time for 1 hour) If you buy this scanner and need support of any kind GOOD LUCK. I will have to trash a scanner that has been used only a few times because of need for tech. support with the software. Kind of a helpless feeling.

This is one nice scanner. It has connections for a parallel an USB ports. It comes with Paper Port, Photo Suite 3, and lots of other software. It has great resoulion too (up to 1200 dpi). But you need a fast computer. It says it needs a pentium 133 w/ 16 megs of ram, but I would recomend a celeron 466 or above w/ AT least 32 megs of ram. I have a Pentium 3, 700mhz with 128 megs of ram and it runs nice.

i just bought this scanner about 6 hours ago and so far i love it. i chose it based on the reviews here and the features, and after checking out a lot of other similarly-priced scanners the same way. the set-up was mindless and the software install went without a hitch. i made my first scan about a half hour after i started -- and this is my first scanner and first ever experience with one. i got it primarily for business scanning of text documents -- for faxing and copying using my lazer printer and fax modem software. it's perfect for those uses. it scans a text document in about 10 seconds (for both faxing and copying) which is almost as fast as a good quality fast-scan fax machine. just what i wanted. the copy button works perfectly for making copies that are virtually indistinguishable from the original. as for the fax ("custom") button, however, i found a problem there. i think the problem is actually with my pic win95 fax printer, which is where the fax (custom) button sends the scan to be converted to a fax document. but that problem was easily solved by using my fax software "scan" function instead, which gives a high quality fax document with no glitches. i haven't tried scanning a photograph yet, or the ocr software that came with the scanner, but for 100 bucks you can't beat this machine which is now doubling as a fax machine and copier, both of high quality product. also, the lamp normally stays on but can be set to turn off after 15 minutes (but not less). it only takes about 50 seconds for the lamp to warm-up after being off, which is great. so far, i highly recommend this scanner -- i just hope it lasts awhile. hope this review was helpful.

If this scanner Installs without problems on the first try, you are lucky. Keep it and enjoy. If it does not, take it back to the store right now and get your money back because five days of trying with Visioneer tech support help will not make it work. Trying to make it Install is a complex nightmare that will send you wandering into your computer's guts to no avail and with much frustration. When you buy be sure your vendor will take it back for something that will work.

I bought this scanner because of the low price and one-touch features expecting to upgrade in the future.Was I surprised! The set-up was a breeze and it is so easy to use. The editing software does a great job. I have no need to upgrade. I recommend this to any first time scanner buyer.

When I first hooked this scanner up I had some problems, so I called for help. The assistant on the other line was rude, and seemed to be in a hurry. I have installed this scanner on my BRAND NEW computer, and oops, mouse slows down, commands slow down, everything slows down and doen't respond. I did a system restore. Installed the scanner again, same problem. Yes, you guessed it I tried a third time. That's it I am returning this product. How could a company sell a product like this. Also, another customer had mentioned that he had Windows ME (2000) and thought that maybe the CD wasn't compatable, I also thought this, but certainly a good company would have updated their software by now. Or let me know when I was on the phone, that some customers may experience system problems. Do not buy this product, don't let the low price fool you.

I PURCHASED A VISIONEER 8100 APPX. 6 MO. AGO. AT THAT TIME I HAD A COMPUTER USING WINDOWS 98. I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE INSTALLING THE UNIT, BUT ONCE INSTALLED I THOUGHT THE SCANNER WAS EXCEPTIONAL. I SINCE HAVE PURCHASED A COMPUTER WITH WINDOWS XP. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE COMPUTER TO RECOGNIZE THE SCANNER DESPITE DOWN LOADING SOFTWARE AND FOLLOWING COMPLICATED INSTRUCTIONS FROM VISIONEER'S FAX LINE HELP PROGRAM. MY ADVICE IS DO NOT PURCHASE THIS UNIT IF YOU ARE USEING XP OR ARE CONSIDERING GETTING WINDOWS XP.