Check out computer scanner vendors, covering everything from high-end commercial scanners to compact wireless scanners to complex 3D scanners.
Purchasing Resources for Computer Scanners
Easy-to-Use Scanners at Affordable Prices. Find and Compare Models at the Official Xerox Site Today.
Hi-Performance, Unsurpassed Image- Qualiy, Reliability, & Easy-To-Use.
Award-Winning Scanners, Industry Leading Service & Support. See How
Find a Wide Selection of Quality Printers at the Official HP® Site!
Fix, Clean & Speed Up Your PC Free Scan! (Recommended).
New ScanSnap S1100! Mobile & USB. Scan your paperwork anywhere you go
Compare Scanners Price Quotes and Save!
Download Computer Scanners White Papers
Computer Scanners
The right scanner can help your business manage documents and imagesBy Matt Alderton, Writer, Editor and Media Consultant Logolepsy Custom Content and Communications
Scanners have become a vital piece of technology for small and mid-sized businesses. New generations of optical scanners are transforming the workplace, helping businesses rapidly digitize photos and other graphics, photos, archive news articles, create backup files of important paper-based documents, duplicate printed forms and letters, send faxes and more.
But selecting the right scanner for your business and finding suppliers can be complicated. Your key considerations as you look for a business scanner include these:
1) The type of scanner you need, such as a flatbed scanner, handheld, oversize, or other.
2) The scan resolution you are looking for, whether it's low resolution for basic document filing, or high resolution for high quality images.
3) Other features you want to have included in the scanner equipment, such as fax capabilities, copying or printing.
4) The usage volume you expect; whether it is intended for light duty, medium duty or heavy use.
5) Specific brands you want to look at.
6) Your price range. Whether your budget is under $100, or you are looking for top quality in the thousands, there are many scanners to choose from.
Educate yourself on computer scanner specs
When buying computer scanners, pay attention to several specifications, including resolution, bit depth, type of sensor, interface and optical density.
Try:
Get up to speed on computer scanner dos and don’ts with buying guides from eBay, HP, HowStuffWorks, PC World and BuyerZone.com.
Choose the type of optical scanner you need
There are several types of computer scanners, including flatbed scanners, which can scan both flat and bound documents, and sheetfed scanners, which can only scan loose pages.
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If you just need basic functionality, consider all-in-one models, which combine a computer scanner with a fax machine and a photocopier. Find multifunction scanners and other basic models in the listings at Business.com or at BestBuy, Office Depot and CompUSA.
If you’re mobile, consider handheld scanners
Handheld scanners and portable scanners are smaller and more compact than regular optical scanners and are the perfect accessory for your mobile office.
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If you’re in the retail business, consider a different kind of portable scanner—a wireless bar code scanner—to cure the headache of taking inventory. You can find distributors of wireless scanners at Business.com and Barcode Inc.; among the most popular brands is Wasp.
Make heavy-duty printing easier with commercial scanners
Everyday computer scanners are fine for most people, but they can’t handle every job. In order to scan drawings, blueprints, maps and building plans, for instance, you’ll need a large format scanner. Drum scanners, which provide dramatically high resolution, are another popular choice for professionals.
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Browse manufacturers and distributors of industrial grade optical scanners and commercial scanners, and of large format scanners in particular, at Business.com.
Scan three-dimensional objects with a 3D scanner
If you want to scan more than photos and paper, consider a 3D scanner. Engineers and construction professionals use a 3D scanner—which scans three-dimensional objects and environments in order to replicate their shape on your computer—to create digital models and maps, while those in the entertainment industry use them to build virtual realities and realistic animations.
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NextEngine’s Desktop 3D Scanner is a leading—and affordable—3D scanner. Other popular, higher-end manufacturers include Z Corp. and Konica Minolta.
Outfit your computer scanner with software
Most computer scanners come equipped with basic—but generally weak—image-editing software; upgrading to a more advanced program can vastly enhance your capabilities. Consider buying optical recognition (OCR) software, too, as it will allow you to edit scanned text within your word processor.
Try:
Adobe’s Photoshop is the leading image-editing software while Nuance’s OmniPage is the top OCR program.
Browse computer scanner vendors for deals and discounts
Once expensive, entry-level computer scanners are now quite affordable at less than $200; be prepared to spend up to $1,200, though, for more advanced models.
Try:
Popular computer scanner vendors include Canon, Kodak and HP.
- Most computer scanners’ resolution is measured in dots or pixels per inch (dpi or ppi). Look for computer scanners with at least 300 dpi; the higher the pixels, the better the image.
- Computer scanners pick up a specific number of “bits” per pixel in an image; look for a scanner with 24 bit depth for a high-quality scan of text, 30 bit depth for slides and negatives, and 36 bit depth for photos and color graphics.
- Pay attention to how an optical scanner connects to your computer. Some computer scanners connect via a parallel port—which tends to have a slow connection—but most models should connect via either USB or SCSI, which are much faster.
- Look for scanners that use a charge-coupled device (CCD); CCD scanners aren’t always as durable as other options, but tend to produce higher quality images.
- If you need truly high image quality from your computer scanner, pay attention to models’ dynamic range, or optical density (OD). Most optical scanners have an OD of about 2.8 or 3.0; look for 3.2 or 3.4, however, if you need images with more depth.
Hi-Performance, Unsurpassed Image- Qualiy, Reliability, & Easy-To-Use.
Award-Winning Scanners, Industry Leading Service & Support. See How
Find a Wide Selection of Quality Printers at the Official HP® Site!
Fix, Clean & Speed Up Your PC Free Scan! (Recommended).
New ScanSnap S1100! Mobile & USB. Scan your paperwork anywhere you go
Bell & Howell Imaging Components
Manufacturer of imaging components for capturing information for businesses in paper-intensive industries such as banking, insurance, healthcare, legal services, transportation and government.
Provider of engineering copiers, scanners, plotters, printers and reprographic systems.
http://bigwalnutservices.virtualave.net/
International distributor in the field of computer components and computer systems including motherboards, CPUs, sound and graphic cards, scanners and more.
Official home page of Canon in the UK, providing information on scanners, printers and other business products and solutions.
Developer and designer of professional and consumer imaging equipment and information systems.
Manufacturer of wide-format scanners, microfilm aperture card scanners and software of those products for companies and public agencies in the architecture, engineering, construction and manufacturing industry.
Manufacturer of instruments for three dimensional scanning, standard and custom design laser scanners for industrial design, animation, anthropology and medicine applications.
Designer and manufacturer of electronic interface cards for document scanners.
Manufacturer of scanners used for graphic and scientific applications.
Manufacturer of high resolution black and white flatbed scanners and laser image setters. Parent/holding company with a high-tech unit involved in laser scanner systems and components for high resolution scanning. Products are sold to the publishing, pr
Developer and designer of semiconductors, communications systems, and electronic devices. Computer peripherals.
Supplier of image capturing and processing products including scanner controller and capturing software.
Manufacturer of brand-name Genius products, including mice, scanners, tablets, multimedia and ethernet networking.
Custom and standard manufacturer of electronic imaging products, instrumentation cameras and precision film transports for use in analysis and data recording. Cameras and mechanisms to move film are used in computer-driven systems for a variety of defens
Manufacturer of digital imaging peripherals for personal computers.
Manufacturer and supplier of document processing equipment used in the document security, check printing and business form markets.
Parent/holding company with a high-tech unit involved in the manufacturing of plotters, digitizer tablets and digitizers. This company was capitalized by private investment.
Designs and develops a line of scanners, printers and modems.
Independent distributor of peripheral equipment, including printers, scanners, displays and cash drawers.
Manufacturer of computer peripherals including flatbed and page-fed scanning systems, digital cameras, digital audio recorders, and personal computer cameras.
Manufactures imaging products used to scan photographs and documents into computers.
Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Computer Scanners
Computer technology has become such an essential part of doing business that many of your clients and partners expect you to have certain types of hardware and software. Computer scanners, for instance, have become popular because they allow individuals to scan images and manipulate them with software. If you are interested in finding a scanner for your computer, then you will want to explore your options before making a purchase.
While you explore the various types of equipment, you will likely learn that some computer scanners offer a wider range of features than others. They might, for instance, have the ability to scan high resolution images, print copies, and even fax the ... more
Computer technology has become such an essential part of doing business that many of your clients and partners expect you to have certain types of hardware and software. Computer scanners, for instance, have become popular because they allow individuals to scan images and manipulate them with software. If you are interested in finding a scanner for your computer, then you will want to explore your options before making a purchase.
While you explore the various types of equipment, you will likely learn that some computer scanners offer a wider range of features than others. They might, for instance, have the ability to scan high resolution images, print copies, and even fax the images to recipients. Other scanners, however, offer fewer features. They might, however, cost significantly less than more advanced pieces of equipment. The option you choose often depends on what you need the scanner to do and how much money you can afford to spend.
Business.com makes it easier for you to explore your options. You can start searching for a scanner by visiting the websites that have been listed on the left. These websites will help you make an informed choice so that you can buy a scanner that meets your needs and budget restrictions.