There are different types of scanners. As with printers, the best scanner for you depends on how you plan to use it. The most common types of scanners are flatbed, sheetfed, photo, and portable scanners.
Types of scanners
Flatbed scanners take up a bit of space on your desk, but offer a lot of features for the price. These scanners resemble miniature printers with a flip-up lid that protects the glass plate.
Depending on its size, a flatbed scanner can hold standard or legal-sized documents. Its flexible cover allows you to scan large items, such as books. These scanners are great for converting newspaper articles, book chapters, and photographs. Flatbed scanners are often built into multifunction printers. You can find a decent flatbed scanner for $100 or less.
You don’t need high resolution or color depth to scan documents, but you do need it when scanning photos. Many all-purpose scanners scan photos, so you don’t need a separate device to process your photos. A photo scanner is a better deal if you’re only using a scanner to digitize film negatives or slides. However, it can be more expensive than an all-purpose scanner.
