By Thomas Oneil

Today you will find a scanner in most new computer setups, whether that is at home or in a small business or home office. Digitizing documents and photos is something that we all need to do, increasingly on a daily basis. Whether that is to reduce the quantity of paper that we are saving or whether that is to digitally work with images and photos, a scanner is one of the pieces of equipment that today we all need. Prices have dropped, and today you can get a basic scanner as low as $50 depending upon the features and functionality that you want.

To choose a scanner, consider the tasks that you want to complete. Then purchase a scanner that meets those needs. For most home or small office purposes, all scanners today are good enough to handle documents and photographs with excellent clarity.

Scanners, whether they are flatbed, multi-purpose, or photo scanners, are all easy to install. Most auto-install simply by inserting an installation disk and following the onscreen prompts. Typically it will install some software and then prompt you to plug in the scanner. It just can't get much more simple than that.

There are three top consumer and small business brands of scanners that you really need to look at. Cannon, HP, and Epson all make top scanners that each provide unique differences worth looking at. Do you want a flatbed scanner? Do you care more about photos? HP makes a create Photosmart line of scanners for around $120. An All-In-ONe multi-function scanner, HP makes a nice unit that includes a scanner, printer, and copier all in one. It is also compatible with both a Mac and a PC. It is a great unit that allows you to work with documents and photos and share them with your friends.

Once you have determined the features you want, you can compare features at any online retailer to compare the differences between different scanners. Cannon makes a great CanoScan line of flatbed scanners which includes both hardware and software technology that automatically enhances and corrects common problems such as dust and scratches as well as retouching photo graininess and bad lighting. For a unit under $50, it is pretty affordable.

If you are more into photos, then check out the Epson line of scanners. They make the Perfection Photo Flatbed Scanners line which is a little more pricey, but often considered a bit more professional of a model coming in at around $179. It's really good at making it easy to scan slides and negatives in to archive your old photo collection. So no matter what your interests are, choose a scanner that is right for you.

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