Canon CanoScan LiDE 100 Flatbed Scanner
Why it's best:
One of the few flatbed scanners that's small and light enough to consider portable, the Canon CanoScan LiDE 100 is a mere 3.5 pounds and is just barely big enough to avoid getting lost under a stack of papers with its 9.9- by 14.6 inch footprint and a height of just 1.6 inches. It's also one of the few flatbeds that gets its power over the USB connection, which means you can plug it into your notebook computer to use anywhere, without worrying about finding a power outlet. On the other hand, you have to remember to lock the scan mechanism to protect it from harm before you move the scanner, which is one indication that it's not really intended to be portable.
Having a flatbed gives the LiDE 100 the distinction of being suitable for scanning photos as well as book and magazine pages without copying them first and then scanning the copies -- something you can't do with a sheet fed scanner. Even so, the 2400 pixel per inch (ppi) optical resolution is far more than you need for either photos or documents, unless you plan to enlarge the photos tremendously.
The only programs Canon supplies with the scanner are a photo editor and Canon's own scan utility. The utility will let you scan a text document and save it as a searchable PDF file. If you want a full-fledged optical character recognition (OCR) program, you'll have to buy it separately, but you may consider it worth spending extra for software to have a flatbed scanner this small and light.
Manufacturer Description: This is simple, high-performance scanning at its best. Four easy buttons automate the entire process, and the Auto Scan mode makes it even easier: It actually detects the type of original you're scanning a photo, business card, notebook or form automatically adjusts settings for the optimal results, then scans and saves the image.
OS Compatibility: Windows...read full description
Average Customer Rating:
(147 total reviews)
Canon LiDE100, November 8, 2008
Bought this scanner to replace my failed Epson Perfection 1650. I like its compact size and quietness, and find the operating speed close to that of the 1650. The software is ok, and scanner operation is as convenient as that of the 1650, but there is less flexibility to allow altering color satuation, hue, etc. I found image sharpness...read full review
Great scanner for generic everyday jobs, November 8, 2008
I needed a scanner to scan an occasional document, receipt, or magazine page. Image quality needed to be decent and other than that I wanted a device that just did the job and didn't need a lot of hand-holding.
So far I'm satisfied to impressed. Take it out of the box, plug in the USB cable (big plus it doesn't add yet another power...read full review
Works Great and 4 at a time is AWESOME!, September 19, 2008
I bought this with the intention of scanning old photos to jpg files. It works great! The software is just ok. But the greatest feature is that you can scan four pictures at once. It makes projects like mine a breeze. I can also see myself using this for other things.
Great product at a great price!
Fantabulous!, November 26, 2008
If you read my other reviews you will notice that I am not easily pleased but where can I start with this scanner. I bought my first and only scanner some 10 yrs ago. It had to be run through the printer for installation. Never got it to work at all. This time, this scanner was a breeze to install (running Vista Ultimate 64 bit). Just install...read full review
Does the Job, January 23, 2009
This scanner is just fine for use at home, or if you need it in a small business, where you're scanning in a few pages a day.
It's definitely not a heavy duty model, and not the fastest, so don't expect it to be quick like the Xerox machines at Fedex Kinko's. Nor should you expect studio quality scans.
That being said,...read full review
