Can anyone recommend a scanner with following requirements:

• Flatbed
• A4
• Can scan at 600dpi or 1200dpi
• Available in UK
• Linux compatible!
• Automatic document feed is not needed

We have tried an Epson V200 - this works OK using sane with the Avasys epkowa backend, except that the only resolutions provided are 300, 2400 and 4800.

Take a look a www.saneproject.org

I am also looking for a new scanner, but usually the scanner is being obsoleted by the next model and not available anymore my the time there is Linux support.

That does not tell so much about Linux developers, but more about insane product life cycles and the failure of many manufacturers to disclose information to developers thereby slowing down development.

jlinkels

Thanks for the reply - I agree with your analysis of the situation.

I had already looked at www.saneproject.org. In fact, I had looked up every scanner that I could find for sale in the UK in their "scanner search engine", with the following being the only ones supported:

• Canon LIDE 25 - "good" support
• Various HP scanners - "basic" support
• Various Epson scanners - "good" support using third-party "epkowa" backend

We eliminated the Canon LIDE 25 as being too slow, and we also eliminated the HP scanners since the support was only "basic".

That left the Epson scanners - and the V200 seemed to fit our requirements. The scanner is indeed capable of scanning at 600dpi and 1200dpi, but only when using the Windows software supplied with the scanner. Unfortunately, Avasys appear to have decided to restrict the resolutions available when using their driver - I would classify the support as "basic" or "minimal", and certainly not as "good".

I don't whether other Epson scanners (e.g. the V350) have similarly restricted support, or whether the "basic" support of HP scanners would actually be good enough. I was hoping that someone with experience these scanners would be able to make a recommendation.