The HP Scanjet Provides You With Great Quality! Get professional-quality results with the HP Scanjet 8200 series - at 4800-dpi optical resolution and 48-bit color. And you can scan legal-size documents on the larger scanning surface. Perfect for business - it scans fast - preview scans in about 4 seconds! You can also capture scans from multiple 35 mm negatives and slides using the integrated transparent materials adapter in the scanner lid. Quickly and easily connect to your computer using Hi-Speed USB.
HP's ScanJet 8250 flatbed scanner was designed with the serious user in mind. With the ability to scan items up to 8.5 x 14 inches in size, multiple 35 mm negatives and slides using the built-in transparent materials adapter, or even up to 25 double-sided document pages unattended with the included document feeder, the ScanJet 8250 can handle virtually any task.
High 4,800 dpi optical resolution and 48-bit color combine together to deliver professional quality results every time. Plus, you can by-pass your computer keyboard and use the six one-touch buttons to copy, save, or e-mail your scanned images, and more.
PC and Mac compatible, the 8250 comes with everything you'll need to get set up, including a handy bundle of imaging tools and software. The ScanJet 8250 comes backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box
HP ScanJet 8250, HP ScanJet automatic document feeder, transparent materials adapter, USB cable, external power adapter, user's manual, TWAIN driver, CD-ROMs with software for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh [HP Photo & Imaging software with Share-to-Web software and HP Memories Disc Creator, HP ScanJet copy utility, suite of electronic help tools (includes paper manual), NewSoft Presto! BizCard Reader, IRIS ReadIris Pro, Adobe PhotoShop Elements, Adobe Acrobat Reader (Windows only)]
1 Cautions for Mac users, can't say for PCs
I bought this scanner because it promised everything I was looking for, including a duplex (unattended double-sided) scanning feature. I wanted to use it with a 933 Mhz G4 Mac and a 1.5 Mhz G4 Powerbook. I ended up returning the unit for defective hardware.
When the scanner was delivered, the feed rollers for the ADF were loose in the box, apparently some attachment pins were broken. HP customer support assisted me with the problem and determined that the unit needed to be replaced. HP was helpful but I decided to return it rather than exchange it based on the poor performance of the scanner otherwise.
I was able to make some test scans on the flatbed and found that the scanner performed about 4 times faster on the Powerbook. I'm not sure if it was the difference in ram (768 vs 512 Mb), processor speed (1.5 Ghz vs 933 Mhz), or the USB port (USB 2.0 vs 1.0) but one or more of those conditions made a huge difference in performance.
The software for the Mac includes HP Scanning tools, PaperPort, and Photoshop Elements 2. The scanner has buttons that can be set to various functions and options, but I found the software settings couldn't be relied on. Some options, such as page size or color vs bw, were often the wrong setting in spite of reading the manual and configuring the software as instructed.
The scanner software would not work with Adobe Acrobat's "Scan to PDF", even though Acrobat indicated that it recognized the scanner. Using the HP scanning software, I tried to scan several pages and put them in one document, but 3 times I couldn't save the file and lost the scans. Twice the software froze up, causing me to lose those scans as well. Twice the software showed a mirror image with the page divided into three vertical sections of red and blue stripes. When the scanner did function well, the image appeared clean and sharp, but the software was not overly friendly with regard to adjusting the image brightness and contrast.
The unit has a one-line LCD display panel that reports settings and current activity, which is a nice feature but it was dim and unless the overhead lighting was just right, it was very hard for me to read.
I've returned the scanner and should note that Amazon was very good about handling the return. Now to find something else.
2 Reliable Black and White Scanner
We use the 8250 in a small office with 3 employees. We scan our mail daily and use it for larger jobs as well. Most scanning is letter sized black and white pages. The software that HP packaged with the scanner was worthless. Unbelievably, the driver was 100s of megs and even at that did not work properly. Luckily, we discovered on HP's website a small "commercial" driver for the 8250. This driver stripped out the "bells and whistles." We used that driver for about 6 months. The problem was our actual scanning speed using the "commercial" driver was only 4 pages per minute. Finally, HP updated the commercial driver and now we are getting about 13 pages a minute, which is acceptable for us.
The ADF does not jam as often as other scanners we have owned. We dab alcohol on the roller when it starts to act up. I have an HP 6110; Epson 1200U, and the 8250. All feed well. I have returned the Fujitsu ScanSnap and a Microtek scanner, because neither could feed properly. My rule now, is that I will not buy a scanner that I do not already own, unless I can test its ADF.
3 HP ScanJet 8250 - Document feeder jams too much
Don't buy this product if you really need the document scanner to scan photos. It consistantly jams and misaligns photos. The software included and other scanning functions work great, but the document loader is not good for photos.
4 Avoid like the plague
The main problem with this scanner is its below average scanning software. The scanning area of the preview is a mere 15% of the screen (and if you'd like a close up, prepare for a rescan of the document!). And forget about using a third party scanning applications, nobody but HP will be able to use this piece of junk.
Contrast in the scans are by default bad, making the content of the document difficult to read. You can adjust the contrast in the first page (although it is a time consuming process, and since the document scan is a mere 15% of the total screen area, you are left second guessing the optimal settings). But believe it or not, by the time you scan your second page, the settings will go back to default, forcing you to readjust them.
If you think you can scan a document to a third party application and manipulate it with it via TWAIN (such as Windows Imaging), and save yourself the pain of having to deal with HP Scan, think again. You will end up with a beautiful picture of THE LAST PAGE ("oh yes, this is by design" - HP Technician).
The ADF is prone to paperjams, and they are tough and time consuming to clear. Only the smoothest paper will allow pass through without problems.
I open a case with HP support (case no. 7161364157). They told me a technician would call back (this was a month ago). Still waiting for the call.
HP really dropped the ball with this twinky. If you are planning to buy a document scanner, this is not the way to go. If you are planning to buy a photograph scanner, I suggest one of Epson's Perfection scanners, and save yourself 500 dolars worth of junk.
5 Previous Reviewer Needs Correction
After reading the review "correction and complaint" I was trying to figure out where this person was coming from. He/she is incorrect on all their points.
1) The color rendition is incredible and looks nearly identical to the item scanned.
2) You do not have to choose the image size. When I scan a letter document, the scanner knows it. And when I scan a legal document, it knows that too. I don't even know how to trick the thing.
3) As for the grayscale having to be chosen every time: Under "scan settings" you can choose your default settings. You can tell it to default to 1 bit or 8 bit grayscale, or many different color options. This will be the default setting if you elect not to change them every time you scan.
I wonderered if this reviewer had just opened the box and didn't bother to read the manual or play with the software settings before posting. Or maybe he's a Canon person.
Oh well. Just thought I'd dispell some untruths on the scanjet 8250. In my opinion and use, it has been a great, full featured scanner!
6 correction and complaint
The technical data is wrong. The scanning area is 8 1/2 by 14. The auto document feeder scans both sides.
The color scans are below average. It's amazing how distorted and super saturated the colors are, considering the price. It took me hours to fiddle with all the slide bars and dials to come up with an image that more closely represents that actual colors of the image. It took 5 seconds for my $80 Canon flatbed to come up with an almost perfect image. You would think at this price, HP would have spent a little more time fine tuning the software. When scanning on the HP, you have to choose the size of the image every time you use the auto feeder otherwise everything comes out legal size. The default choice is true color, it is necessary to choose grayscale for every scan if black and white documents are going to be scanned. Now let me figure this out, this scanner is aimed at offices primarily for document scans and grayscale has to be chosen every time? The color scanning is so poor, why is it the default if that is not what this scanner is made for. I have to pick grayscale every time I scan. That is a hassle. You can make a custom profile that can be programmed to the buttons on the front of the scanner, but the buttons don't work for Paperport which comes with the scanner. The auto feeder only reads one side at a time. It flips the pages over and reads the other side. It is cool to watch, but I wonder how long the intricate workings of this mechanism will last... The pages have to be reasonably sturdy and thick otherwise the papers jam and everything has to be rescanned.
