Epson GT 2500 Document Imaging Color Scanner

List Price: $652.99 Discount Price: Too low to display

Features:

• 1200 dpi, 48-bit color scanning of documents up to 8.5x14 (via the ADF)
• High-speed performance (up to 27ppm mono, 11ppm color)
• 50-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) and auto duplex scanning
• Compact design--great for offices with limited space
• Optional network scanning capabilities--ideal for small business workgroups

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional genuine office-quality scanner for less than $600 [Posted on 2007-07-10]
I'm a long-time user of scanners going back to the earliest H-P ScanJet models, and this Epson GT 2500 is a terrific scanner for the money. I'm running it in an office environment scanning all types of items from heavily wrinkled and torn paper documents to photos to CD face images and it's handled everything I've thrown at it. The ADF picks up and feeds even hastily smoothed out very crumpled sheets of paper without jamming and the scanned images require little if any deskewing. The Epson Scan software interfaces well with PaintShop Pro and Adobe Acrobat 7.x and 8.x. Plus, the scanner makes very little noise, even when feeding through the ADF.

The only two minor shortcomings I've found thus far are a) the fit of the scanner glass and the scanner body at the front isn't completely tight, so items (such as CDs) can slip in between if you slide them forward instead of lifting them straight up off the glass, and b) the scanner activation button on the front (there's only one) isn't very sensitive and has to be pressed down for a second for the software to launch.

Otherwise, I'm very pleased with the unit and can highly recommend it.

AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF USE:

I'm still very pleased with this scanner. Since buying it, I added the optional network card, so I could scan from more than one workstation. The network feature works great. There are two minor annoyances. One, the scanner activation button is deactivated when the network card is installed. Two, the scanner connection will timeout after a certain amount of inactivity and the maximum you can set this to is 300 seconds. Still, the network connection is a great feature to have.

Best scanner under $1000 [Posted on 2007-07-16]
This is my third scanner within the past year.
First was the highly regarded Fujitsu Snapscan. It worked really well for about 6 months on normal letter size documents. But after that, the automatic paper feeder started grabbing more than one sheet at a time.
I cleaned it following instructions and even sent it in for service, but the problem only got worse. Even three sheet scans seized up in the middle when the feeder grabbed all three and jammed. I couldn't finish many jobs at all.
And forget about odd shaped docs - it would take them, but no matter how they went in, they scanned in wild, off center angles, making reading them nearly impossible. The scanner is now somewhere in the garage.
Next: a Brother multi-function center, purchased primarily for its scanner capabilities.
Except that it draws more than a thousand watts of power. And it blew up my battery back-up power system. Posts on the net indicated this wasn't a fluke, so that one went back.
So, now to the new Epson. Here's what I found:
1. After the first half dozen scans (during which the machine made scary loud groaning noises), it now runs very quietly and dependably. Guess I'll never know what those first ones were about, but I'm not worried about it.
2. The quality of the scans is excellent. I advise setting the software for light sharpening.
3. However, there is a little too much scanner interface involvement. You should be able to set all of the various choices (paper size; color vs. black and white; where to save it, etc) and then store that setting and tell the machine to just keep scanning that way until you change it. Instead, you have to approve it for every scan. It only takes a second, but it's annoying.
4. Ironically, the software doesnt stop at the one place you do want it to wait for you - after the scan and before saving, to give you a chance to rename it. It just numbers and saves the file automatically.
This is really dumb, as you have to reopen it and rename it each time(though you can set the software to automatically reopen the file where you keep the scans so it's one step less to do this).
I have to believe they'll fix this in a software update, as this is a new product. I've registered my vote on this and if you buy this product, you should too.
Other than that, I'm very happy with the scanner. It also works well with magazine articles as well as regular bond paper. It's not as fast as the Fujitsu and it requires a couple of extra steps per scan, but... this one works! (and really weird stuff can always go on the flatbed, which the Fujitsu didn't have)
I'm keeping this one and using it to start a project I've been wanting to do for a couple of years now: scan the contents of my file cabinets onto my hard drive.
After that, I'm gonna back it all up on another drive and toss out the originals.
Sweet.

Awful warranty and customer service [Posted on 2007-09-23]
I purchased this scanner because of the automatic document feeder (ADF), and because a cheaper competitor had given me nothing but trouble. This scanner worked great, for a couple of days, and then the ADF jammed. I followed the online instructions, but it remained jammed, so I emailed epson at customer service. I got back an email saying they would contact me soon; I didn't hear back, and so I called them on the phone and waited 20 minutes for a customer service representative. I explained that this machine was less than a week old and that the ADF was not working properly. The customer service representative politely explained that she could help me, and then said I had two options. She said I could have it repaired at my expense or they would sell me another one at a discount under their customer loyalty program. I was in shock: after waiting on hold for 20 minutes I was told the warranty meant I could pay to get it fixed or buy another one at a discount; that is basically no warranty at all, especially for a machine a couple of days old. I emailed customer service again to ask if this was truly all the warranty covered, and never got a response. I thought about returning the item, but decided to take it apart and see what the problem was. Since I'm mechanically inclined I did so, and was able to fix it myself fairly easily. But nobody should have to do this, and most buyers would be unable to do it. I hadn't abused the scanner (I'd hardly used it), and any warranty at all should have covered this problem. The scanner now works great, but I realize that epson will not stand behind their products and has terrible customer support; the warranty is meaningless.

I'm Impressed [Posted on 2008-01-25]
I've just installed the scanner on a dual-boot Mac Tiger and Vista with no problems - works great on both. First delight was putting in a 50 page bw double-sided document and watching it smoothly and quickly become a pdf. The machine just 'feels' good - solid, nice fit and finish, and the software seems 'quite good' That's the only reason for 4 stars vs 5 at this point -- I have a sense that there will be a few little convenience issues in the user interface that I may not love. No showstoppers but little things like things flow and the options it does or doesn't provide. I'll feed back any suggestions to Epson and hope for response in new releases. Bottom line - I've had HP's and this seems as good and even better in the feel so-far.

WARNING when buying Epson products [Posted on 2008-04-18]
PURCHASE YOUR EPSON PRODUCT THROUGH AN AUTHORIZED DEALER OR FROM EPSON DIRECTLY.

This is not a review of this product, but rather a word to the wise... Two and half months after my purchase of an Epson 10000XL scanner through Amazon, it stopped working. Through the followup and tech support process I learned that, because I purchased through Amazon, the manufacturer nor the seller would honor the 1 year warranty. Epson's position is that Amazon is not an authorized seller and that they merely act as broker for what can often be re-furbished or second hand merchandise.

So, should your purchase break or malfunction, as mine did, you are out of luck with regard to warranty.

This lesson cost me $2400.00

Click here for more details and discount information...