Canon CanoScan N656U USB Flatbed Scanner

List Price: $99.00

Features:

• Flatbed scanner with 600 x 1,200 dpi resolution
• Metallic finish
• Expansion top for scanning bulky items
• 1 cable for USB and power
• Ultra-slim--just over 1 inch high

Accessories:
Targus PAUH212U 7 Port USB 2.0 Hub	Targus PAUH217U 4 Port Ultra Mini USB 2.0 Hub	Belkin F3U134-10 USB Extension Cable (10-Feet)	Monster Cable MP AV600 Power Protector	Monster PC700 Computer PowerCenter¿ with Surge Protection

Customer Reviews:

fashion meets function [Posted on 2002-05-26]
this is a great product. I use it with my PowerMac G4. It's not the fastest scanner but if you're not a professional in the graphic arts, this one is great. It's such a nice change from those bulky, gray monsters so commonly found in the consumer scanner market. It's powered by the USB cable itself so there's no need for the bulky power supply.

Slow. But cheap. [Posted on 2003-04-26]
Those looking for an inexpensive but versatile light-duty scanner need look no further than this CanonScan N650U device.

Some time back, I had been looking for just such a scanner for "occasional" use, and comparisons among those available were easily narrowed down to this unit.

The CanonScan 650U is a "universal" (PC/Mac) device using the now-ubiquitous USB interface. The bundled software (on CD-ROM) is easily installed, and provides a great deal of flexibility to how the scanner is used, the image-file formats in which scanned images may be saved, and the color (or gray scale) depth, resolution and sharpness of scanned images. The menu-driven features are largely intuitive for anyone not a total "newbie" to scanners, but the bundled software also includes very detailed and comprehensive documentation (in the form of Adobe Acrobat pdf files).

Results, in the form of scanned (and printable and/or transmittable) images, are superb, with excellent detail and resolution and accurate rendering of tonal and color scales. The design of the cover, with its clever "Z" hinge, permits scanning of pages of fairly thick books, if need be. A button on the front of the scanner, when pressed, will automatically launch the program so that a scan (or a "preview") can be made; alternatively, the program can be launched manually using a desktop alias or shortcut.

The image-manipulation menu allows for a very wide degree of control over how the scanned image can be "finalized." Tonal and color scales and image contrast can be extended or compressed, or distorted for special effects. Sharpness (separate from choice of resolution, in pixels) can be enhanced by degrees, or even thoroughly "customized." (A mild word of caution for those using these enhancement features when scanning half-tone images: It IS possible to create Moire patterns [fringing] if some of these adjustments are overdone. Some practice may be required, and then the best results saved as a template for future use.)

I wouldn't necessarily characterize the CanonScan 650U as a "frequent-duty" scanner. It is likely to be too slow for professional use. It is hardly as quick as a photocopier. But, if you, like me, need such a device only for occasional use and moreover need the image-manipulation capabilities that only a full-featured software program can provide, I can recommend this unit highly. It is very inexpensive for what it does and for the features it provides.

All of the above is provided in the context of Macintosh installation and use. Results for PC platform use should be expected to be the same, but installation and access and use of the features may differ slightly. I suggest that PC users interested in the CanonScan 650U read other reviews on this product page for a sense of what PC users have to say about this scanner.

Bob Zeidler

Great starter OCR scanner [Posted on 2003-07-20]
I got one of these for Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

Setup was easy, but the scans are a bit slow. It does a good job of scanning photos for me.

The OCR output is about 93%+ for most documents. Books with tight bindings are sometimes difficult to scan accurately, but I haven't found any thing that does a better job in these situations. The image quality is very good, so it is generally easy to make out the correct 'reading' when the OCR can't make out the source. The OmniPage OCR is perfect for my purposes.

Very Versatile Scanner-- Looks Great Too! [Posted on 2006-02-01]
This has been a wonderful scanner and works perfectly for anyone who is looking to scan family photos, documents or other items into their computer. I have been very impressed with this scanner and it has served me quite well!

6+ years and still kickin' [Posted on 2006-12-21]
One of the most used appliances in my entire home is still working just as flawlessly as it did the day I brought it home. I'm very impressed. She's outlasted 4 computers, 3 printers, 2 versions of "The Office" television series from both sides of the Atlantic and 1 never ending college career.
This scanner is very easy to install. It outputs more than enough resolution for any of my needs. From restoring 100 year old photographs to creating photo montages to scanning pages in old books using OCR to post online, I've never encountered any obstacles. This machine only facilitates my needs and is never the burden that nearly every other piece of electronic equipment ends up being. I love it.

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