Difference between HP CSE and CXI Scanners

[Roberto]

I am thinking of purchasing an HP scanner. Many of them are classified as C, CSE or CXI. I went to their web site and the only difference between them that I could find was a slightly different software package. In addition, it did not describe the advantages of the different software.

Does anyone know if this the only difference between the scanners? Is there an additional hardware difference?

[glc]

Software is the only difference. One package is oriented towards home users and the other towards business users. Hardware is identical. The home package is sold by retail stores (Best Buy, etc.) and the business package is sold by "value added resellers" like me. There really isn't anything to recommend one over the other.

[roverman]

Another thing to look out for. If you plan on doing multiple sheet scanning. Look into getting the Auto Sheet Feed.

Alone it costs $200, but if you purchase it with the scanner, it only costs $50.

Randy

[slipe]

If you already have a scanner and have learned to use the professional controls you should be aware that only the 6000 series HPs have pro controls. Some makers like Microtek put their best professional drivers on even their cheapest scanners while others like HP and Epson put pro controls only on their professional level scanners. Most people don’t bother to learn to use them, so it would probably be no loss if you don’t already use them on another scanner.

[Roberto]

glc:
If software is the only difference between CSE and CXI scanners, how do I determine which software package is best for me? I cannot find any information on the software within the HP web site.

roverman:
Great tip. Thanks.

slipe:
What are professional controls?

[glc]

roberto - dont worry about the software package. They both come with Precision Scan (on the 6000 series) or Precision Scan LT (on lesser models) which is the important one. The rest of the software is pretty crappy in either model until you get up into the 6000 series. I would make the choice based solely on price and vendor support.

If you are going to use this in a situation where you would want a sheet feeder and professional controls, you are going to want better software than what it comes with anyway. If you are going to buy a $200 or less scanner, all this is way over your head anyway - just take what it comes with and learn how to use it. You can always buy better software later.

[slipe]

Without going into detail the pro controls on a scanner can be likened to the control you get with a pro SLR camera as compared to a point and shot. Most people are happy with the point and shoot results and don’t want to be bothered with learning what all the junk on the SLR is for. The pro controls on a scanner give you better results but usually only pros and graphics hobbyists bother to learn to use them. Don’t let me confuse you with this – my comment was only in case you were using the pro controls on another scanner to avoid disappointment.

I just looked on HP’s site and agree with glc that there is not enough difference between the software packages to concern yourself with. I would just go for the cheaper price.

[Roberto]

Thank you everyone for all of the useful information. I am currently leaning towards purchasing an HP 5200/5300 or an Epson Perfection 1200S.

I have windows NT and prefer a SCSI device (the Epson) over a parallel port device (the HP). It appears from what I have been reading the HP has better software and is more user friendly. However, it is more expensive.

The Epson comes with an Adaptec SCSI card (AVA-2903B PCI SCSI). However, it seems that the software is not the greatest. For example, I read that there are several steps required to attach a fax to an email while for the HP it is a single easy step. Additionally, I cannot find any specifications on the Epson Adaptec SCSI card. For example, I cannot determine if it has an internal connector for additional devices such as internal hard drives or CDs.

What are your thoughts?

[slipe]

You don’t want to hook up a SCSI HD to a 2903 regardless of whether it has the internal connector. It is just too slow for a decent HD and does not have a BIOS. The 2903 is a 10Mg/sec SCSI 2 card which is fast enough for most other uses. You can get a 20Mb/sec Tekram SCSI 3 card with both internal and external connectors for $17 on PriceWatch if you decide to upgrade to a SCSI CD-RW or CD-ROM so I wouldn't sweat the upgradeability too much. Plextor is rumored to be coming out with an 18X or 20X SCSI CD-RW soon and that plus a CD-ROM fast enough to burn direct would require a 20Mg/sec card anyway. Plextor is already specifying SCSI 3 cards for their 12X burners.

Don’t even consider parallel if you can’t use USB, I don’t care how many gee whiz buttons are on the front. I am assuming you already have a printer on your one parallel port and using a scanner on the same port is fraught with hassle. You can scan directly into Word and fax from Word. Most scanners allow you to scan directly to file and you can just attach that file to an e-mail. If you want to use an image editor it is just as easy to scan from the image editor. The SCSI version of a scanner is usually faster than USB, and I suspect the same scanner that will connect both USB and parallel would be slower in parallel – especially a fast scanner like the HP 5300. I have a HP 6250 and it is definitely faster when hooked up SCSI than USB.

I set a Visioneer 7600 with all those buttons up for a friend. He loves it. It seems that everything is a compromise though. As an example I had to default his printer to normal color so that the copy button would give decent results. Now he prints all the web pages he wants for reference in normal mode with color because it is too much hassle to go to properties each time and use draft grayscale. His ink bill would be horrific if he didn’t have me to refill his cartridges for him.