The HP 6100C is a SCSI based scanner, utilizing the familiar 50-pin SCSI connection. Unlike most SCSI based products, it is actually easy to set the address on this scanner.

 A small pushbutton selector on the back of the unit allows the user to cycle through address from 0-7 easily, and without the need for a small tool. Most other scanners we've seen have small rotary switches that require a screwdriver to adjust. The scanner also comes with an ADF/ACC connector and smart powersupply, accepting 100-240V power sources.

It even comes with a small adapter which allow slides to be scanned in. The little device provides backlighting for the side so that the image is digitized as if it were being held up to the light.

Software:

For once I'm pleased to see some useful software included with a scanner. It seems most of the low end scanners come with poorly thought-out software, and the USB scanners come with nothing but software for kids, or people who have next to no idea of how to use a computer. Over simplistic would be the best way of describing that kind of software. For the average person who actually uses a scanner for real work, loading up Mirascan (or something similar) with its pictures of lions and tigers (and bears, oh my!) in front of a client is just embarrassing.

While HP's Desk Scan is a far cry from colourful, it gets the job done, quickly and to the point. Additional applications that ship with this scanner give anyone all the tools they need to make use of this powerful image tool. While I'm a big fan of Photoshop, Corel's Photopaint is damn good in it's own right, even if it ismade by Corel.

Benchmarking - Image Distortion Test

Choosing a good scanner can often seem like a daunting task. Some scanners cost $50, and others cost well over a $1000. All do essentially the same task - they scan images - so what justifies the vast differences in price? One aspect of the price tag is image quality, the degree to which a scanner can compress the number of dots per inch. The higher that number, generally the higher the quality. The HP ScanJet 6100C has a optical resolution of 600dpi, and an enhanced resolution of 2400dpi.