Umax Astra 2000U Flatbed USB Scanner (PC/Mac)

I got this scanner as a gift a few years ago, and it served my purposes then when my computer's operating system was Windows 98. It did a decent job scanning my pictures and I was satisfied with it. Since then I have gotten a new computer with Windows XP, but the Umax Astra 2000U isn't compatible with it. Windows XP isn't able to locate the TWAIN driver, it keeps saying there are missing dll's, trouble with the OCR...plus a lot of other things. I'm not a technical person, so I really couldn't tell you exactly what else was missing or whatever. You can get updated software for these problems, but only if you're willing to shell out money for a CD-ROM or download it from a link on their site. Either way it'll cost you. So even though I won't be throwing it out, I will certainly be shopping around for a better quality scanner that is compatible with XP. This one, I'll give it away to someone who is still using 98 SE, 98 or anything below it, but I doubt if I'll be able to find anyone who still does.

The UMAX 2000U scanner itself is adequate, like so many scanners out there, and you'd expect this major name would offer better support. Made in 1999, it lacks the speed or image handling capabilities of its current competition. Features in, say, the current Epson models (which include smart-scanning an image, so you don't have to crop) are absent here.

Unfortunately, a scanner is often no better than its software, and UMAX has left Mac OS X users out in the dark. This scanner only works with Windows and OS 9; UMAX refuses to release a software update for Mac OS X. Moreover, apps like the esteemed Silverfast -- meant to fill in the software gap -- only make drivers for OS 9.

In effect, by purchasing a UMAX scanner, you risk signing up for a product that will require you to buy new hardware or software down the line. Even its OS 9 software suffered from performance glitches, like impaired scanning with the free software updates. I've been forced to upgrade (but not to a UMAX product; I've learned my lesson). That's the reason so many of these are available on internet auctions and the like.

Given its archaic performance even under Mac OS 9, you have to decide for yourself whether it's a good investment to get a product with impaired short and long-term usabiliy.

The dumbest scanner I have ever seen you shoud check out the software old and slow.

I've had this unit for almost 3 years now and it has given me GREAT service!

do not buy umax products... it is a total waste of money.
most of the time the drivers and software provided by the company does not work with the operating system you are using. in order for it to work properly you must go to their web site and download a patch that supposed to fix the problem but instead the patch conflicts with other softeware such as camera software or even the operating system (one more thing the drivers and patches at their website are not free).
I wrote to umax and they have never responded to any of the emails i have sent to them. I decided to call the support center and I was refered back to the website to download another patch. (very bad customer support)