So far, I'm pretty pleased with this CanoScan LiDE 600F scanner. After my old Epson 1200U scanner died, I started researching scanners again. I was somewhat depressed when I noticed that most of scanners sold these days are huge. Luckily, this scanner counters that trend. It's got a nice, small footprint and, best of all, doesn't need a separate power connection. Plus, Canon's web site has Vista drivers (as of this writing, version 12.1.2, released June 2007). Since I'm using my own applications instead of what comes with the scanner, all I had to do was download those drivers, install them, then plug the scanner into a USB port. Everything works fine (not the buttons, I haven't set those up yet). Some observations:
- I don't know why, maybe the scanner does some kind of automatic processing on the scans, but the scans I'm getting seem crisper and clearer (at the same resolution/color settings) than did those from my Epson.
- The driver is very good at finding the area I want scanned and automatically cropping it. I haven't had to adjust the crop area yet. With the Epson, I always had to adjust it.
- The speed is pretty much a draw. The physical scan (movement of the scanning bar up and down the platen) takes slighly more time than the Epson, but the transfer of control and data back to my calling program is faster.
- The sound isn't loud, but it has a rougher tone to it than the Epson.
- The only real negative I can find directly attributed to the scanner is the magnetic "latch" on the cover. In theory, it seems like a good way to keep the cover closed (especially when the scanner is in its space-saving, upright mode). But, in practice, the magnets just make it hard to open the lid. If there were more of a lip available for grabbing the lid, it might not be as bothersome. But, as is, I wish I could remove those magnets.
I do have one other problem with the scanner. But, I'm not sure if it's caused by my scanning software (Acrobat 7.0.9) or by the driver. Every time I tell Acrobat to go to the scanner and get a document, the scanner defaults back to Black & White mode. No matter what I do, I can't get it to stick across sessions in Grayscale mode. I'm going to have to try installing Canon's Vista Toolbox software and set up the buttons. Maybe I'll be able to do Grayscale scans from one of them. But, I'd much prefer working from within my application and calling the scanner instead of working within the scanner and calling the application.
Ignoring the difficulty I'm having with default settings (since that could be my fault), I rate this scanner at a Very Good four stars out of five. If I could get rid of those lid magnets, it would probably be very close to a five star scanner.
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