Whether you want to archive your printed photos, digitize business records, or simply want a multifunctional machine for whatever needs arise, a decent scanner is an invaluable resource. The question is, how do you pick the best scanner? With hundreds of models on the market, from a wide range of manufacturers, how can you sort the wheat from the chaff, and figure out which ones offer the best value for your money? Well, we at BestReviews are here to help. Our mission is to provide fair, thorough, and unbiased reviews so that you, the consumer, can make informed purchasing decisions. To do so, we test items in our labs, gather information from existing customers, consult experts, and do extensive product research. Above you'll find our product list, featuring our top five scanners.

But first, read on for our full guide to scanners and how to select the perfect model to fit your requirements. Sheet-fed scanner look a bit like a printer or the sheet-feeder on a copy machine. You put documents in at the top, and the machine spits them out the other end, after they've been scanned.

Pros: You can put in a whole stack of paperwork and leave a sheetfed scanner to do its thing. Excellent for office use and high-volume users who need to scan large piles of documents. Cons: Have a low resolution, so more suited to scanning text documents than images. They can also be quite expensive. Price: Start around $150 for basic models. Professional models for heavy-duty office use can cost more than $1,000.

Can my scanner only scan images or documents into a computer? Some scanners can only scan images into a computer, however, others can connect to Android and Apple devices via WiFi and deliver documents directly to a tablet or smartphone. Can I scan negatives with a scanner? Yes, you can scan negatives using a scanner, but with a couple of provisos: it must be a flatbed scanner with a resolution of at least 1,200 DPI, and you need to have a transparency adaptor. What kind of software should my scanner come with? Different scanners come with different kinds of software that can enhance your scanning experience, and make your life that little bit easier.

We've already talked about OCR software that transforms a written document into editable text, but other programs that may come with your scanner include photo editing software with color restoration, software for compiling tax or business reports, and PDF converters. Some software simply lets you manage your scanned documents so you can email them directly to people, or send them to various online locations.

Best Wireless Scanner Printer For Mac Software

Although the Canon Color imageCLASS MF634Cdw isn't the cheapest option out there, it's one of the best color laser all-in-one printers on the market. With a print speed of up to 19 pages per minute, high-capacity toners, and wireless capabilities, this printer will keep up with you and your printing needs.

It even has single-pass scanning, so you can scan both sides of a document at the same time! Why laser over ink? Laser printers have a ton of advantages over your typical inkjet printers and are a very viable option for at home use. Laser printers will save you money in the long run.

Although your average toner cartridge for a laser printer is more expensive than an ink cartridge, toner lasts a lot longer and because its a powder, it can't dry out over time. Plus, laser printers offer much sharper lines than inkjet, meaning small text is much easier to read as it always comes out crisp and clear. Of course, laser printers aren't quite as good at printing photos as a high-quality inkjet printer would be, because inkjets can often have up to six or more different colors of ink allowing them to blend colors together smoothly and produce more colors. Overall, I'm very happy with my for my home office. It's compact, simple, and quite fast at printing large documents, and since I never need to print anything in color, I don't mind that it's monochrome. Updated September 2018: Added the fantastic Canon Color imageCLASS MF634Cd for people looking for a great color all-in-one.

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