Microtek ScanMaker i320 High-Resolution Flatbed Scanner

I'm a professional web site designer and as such I do a lot of scanning. Most of the scans I do are reduced in size and optimized for the web. While I don't need real high resolution scans, the image quality must be such that they can be reduced and yet remain sharp. This has proven to be a great scanner for this type of work. If you really need high end scans, you wouldn't be looking in this price range anyway. I am a Photoshop professional, but it takes time to correct each picture. The scanner's software cleans and restores color well enough to save me a considerable amount of time.
This isn't the scanner I'd pick if I did a lot of slide or negative work, but for general purpose scanning, it works fine. The software has a standard mode and an advanced mode. If you invest a little time learning how to enhance the scans, you will be amazed at the results you can get.

Please Note: I purchased a somewhat different model - 6100 Pro - over 1 year ago. I was unhappy with the purchase from the onset and have subsequently purchased a Canon 8400F ... a great scanner.

The Microtek took very good scans from photos and film (35 mm slides). However, it rarely worked. It failed to recognize my computer and when I finally achieved a good scan it just stopped. Eventually, I convinced Microtek to replace the scanner however, the same problem recurred. I tossed the Microtek and bought a Canon.

I could not recommend Microtek for a mid level flatbed scanner. In addition their customer technical service department is courteous, but they are almost impossible to contact.

If you want a flatbed scanner in the $250 to $550 range you should look elsewhere.

I purchased this primarily for quick document scans for our office. I've had no issues at all with the scan quality. The scan speed is a little on the slow side but is still tolerable. However, the software (at least for Mac OS X) seems very unpolished. So far I haven't found a way to save some key preferences from session to session. It would save a lot of time if I didn't have to reset the resolution, color depth, and file type every time I relaunched the program.

Two minor quibbles:
1) The noise is more high-pitched (and annoying) than other scanners I've used.
2) By default, the scan is oriented so that the top of the page is on the side opposite the lid hinge. This seems a little counterintuitive.

The scanner still does a great job for the price with some tradeoffs in efficiency.

This scanner takes really good quality scans, especially for LineArt. The software does lock up in OSX sometimes, but you can eliminate this problem by turning off the auto power save option in the Scanner Control setting (from the main scanning window). Just remember to quit the software and turn the scanner off when you're done, to save the scanner bulb from excess wear (otherwise it would never power off).

I installed this scanner and had it working maybe a month. Had the scanner kept working I'd be telling you that you would get better clearer scans from something else and also that the software and installation is really out of date.

Fortunately I don't have to go into much detail on that because this scanner just quit working for no reason. Something in the scanner itself, tried many computers and the USB port on the scanner is totally dead. The light on the machine does come on though.

This scanner is just a waste of your time and money.