Hewlett-Packard has come about as close as you can get to the legendary "toaster" interface for a computer peripheral: pop in a document, press a button, and the ScanJet 7450c does its stuff with a minimum of user intervention. An intelligently designed front panel makes it easy to choose options and launch the most commonly used functions with the press of a few well-labelled buttons.
Setup was a breeze with this USB/SCSI unit, although HP asks you to install the scanning software before connecting the scanner, which is the reverse of most Plug-and-Play devices. It turns out that the scanner's driver is in fact installed as a final step once the device is finally connected and powered up.
The pioneering 7450c uses two different sensors, a 2400dpi array with staggered pixels that gives optimal high-resolution results, and a 600dpi linear pixel sensor that offers extra performance in lower-resolution applications (such as scanning to fax), including a productivity-boosting 4-second preview scan. Although fastest on a 1-bit text scan (which makes this 50-sheet ADF-equipped unit ideal for OCR applications), it was only a step behind in full colour performance.
The results look good, too. In our tests, the 7450c produced sharp, vivid scans with very little colour noise and a good dynamic range. Line scans benefited from excellent horizontal and vertical resolvability. In fact, it was the only scanner tested to actually exceed the limits of our lab's horizontal resolvability test.
Although a front panel studded with 10 buttons and LCD display may sound daunting, HP has organised it well. Icons and text labels in a readable dark-grey-on-beige surface mark separate buttons for email, fax, copying, document management, image capture, and OCR functions. An option button allows you to email a picture or a document, and an LED indicates which mode has been selected. Another button/LED combination shows whether copies will be directed to a colour or monochrome printer. From 1 to 99 copies can be specified by pressing a rocker button for increasing or decreasing the number required; the copies shown (and other options) are displayed on an LCD panel.
The ScanJet 7450c's chief weakness is a paddle-like transparency adapter, which is actually a light source that sits on top of slides, negatives, and transparencies placed on the generous 11x14-inch glass platen. Although not as easy to use as a light source built into the scanner lid, HP's configuration does make it possible to use the adapter without detaching the automatic document feeder.
The 7450c's software bundle is all business. In addition to the HP PrecisionScan Pro scanning application (which has OCR capabilities of its own) and the HP Remote Scanning software (for sharing the scanner over a network), the package includes Corel PrintOffice, Caere OmniForm, and the ReadI.R.I.S OCR package. HP sweetens the deal with Cardiris business card management software, eFax Messenger, Boomerang's WebShop 2000, and the Emotion Web 3D Edition graphics animation toolkit.
With the ScanJet 7450c, HP demonstrates that a single scanner can combine the most needed features with ease of use, top-notch image quality, excellent performance, and all the software tools you need in order to get the job done.
HP ScanJet 7450C
Company: Hewlett-Packard
Price: AU$1,599
Distributor: Hewlett-Packard Australia
Phone: 13 13 47
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