How to choose an HP flat bed scanner

When choosing HP scanners, a number of different factors need to be taken into consideration in order that you choose the right one for your needs. As with all HP products, there are a number of variations across the range. Whilst they might all do the same job, some will give different results. This article will help you to choose the right flat bed scanner for you.

Things to look for before purchasing

Resolution
How much detail do you require from your scanner? This is measured in DPI (dots per inch). For instance, a scanner that scans at 9600 x 9600 DPI will provide twice the detail of a scanner that scans at 4800 x 4800 DPI. If you intend to just use your scanner for copying written documents, then you might find that a lower resolution will suit your needs. If however you plan on archiving your photos for instance, then a scanner with a higher resolution will probably be better for you. All-in-one scanners
It may be worth considering buying an all-in-one scanner. These not only have scanning functionality, but a printer too. Other things that you might find included are photocopying capabilities (i.e. it doesn't need to be plugged into a PC to work), and sometimes a fax and telephone built-in. This is also a good option for someone who has limited space. Bundled applications
It's worth looking at what software is being bundled with the scanner. Whilst some scanners will have nothing but basic drivers, many scanners nowadays come with software such as photo editing applications and optical character recognition software (which is used for converting written text into a form that can be edited in a word processor for instance).
Document processing
If you plan on making many scans, then it might be worth considering buying a scanner that has a document feeder. This will allow you to bundle all of your documents into the scanner, and allow it to do all of the work for you rather than having to sit there and change each document one at a time.

Final thoughts

Once that you've chosen the scanner that will suit your needs, spend a few minutes shopping around and comparing prices, for just a little bit of extra work, considerable savings can be made.