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Review
Created:
December, 1999
UMAX Astra 2000U
scanner for Macintosh and Windows
98
By Terry Fong, Cyberwalker
Media Syndicate
If you're looking for an entry-level scanner at an entry-level price, the UMAX Astra 2000U fits the bill with a cost as low as $98
US / $140
Canadian. Just don't expect a lot for the money.
This is a one-pass scanner using CCD technology equipped with Universal Serial Bus (plug-and-play) connectors. A USB-equipped device can be connected to either Macintoshes or PCs running Windows 98/95. Software and documentation for both platforms comes with the scanner.
Adobe PhotoDeluxe comes on one of two CDs that come with the unit (version 2 for Mac, version 3 for the PC). The other CD contains the drivers and bundled software, again for the PC and the Mac.
Installation of the complete software bundle is excruciatingly slow, on both platforms. Like most scanners, the software is not extremely well integrated, since it comes from different manufacturers. This translates into many clicks or key presses as you agree to all the license agreements and installation paths required. In addition, some bundled software is limited -- for instance, Caere Omnipage LE is a trial version, with usage limited to 25 sessions.
The UMAX Astra 2000U can scan a letter-sized, or the European equivalent of 8.5-by-11-inch documents, but not very quickly: it takes almost 90 seconds. Images are reasonably sharp, but a bit on the dark side. Using the advanced settings can compensate for this.
The TWAIN control (which lets you scan an image directly to an image editor, such as PhotoShop) can be used as a plug-in (for software that can use it) or it can be used on its own. There are two modes, beginner and advanced.
Beginner mode uses preset options, labeled Color Photo, Printed Matter, Text/Lineart or Web Image.
Advanced mode allows a user to fine-tune image settings. Settings can be typed in or they can be changed through a set of slider controls, which are adequate, but awkward to use. Unfortunately, there are no options to save settings for the future: when a session is done, the changed settings are gone.
In addition, a multiple frame tool is offered in advance mode. This allows several areas (overlapping if desired) of an image to be designated for scanning in one sitting, with similar or different settings for each area.
Scans can be sent to five default destinations: to a file, to an application, to e-mail, to a printer or to a fax program. The destination setting can be changed in the preferences dialog, but it's not easy to find. The instructions tell you it is "in the upper right hand corner of the VistaScan window," which is not the clearest way to suggest that it is an icon sitting next to the "minimize" and "close" icons. A more logical location would have been a button below the other tools.
Once located, however, the destination setting allows scans to be saved in one of six file formats, including Photoshop's .psd format.
After the setup on a PC, it was a surprise to discover two icons that implied an ability to use the UMAX Astra 2000U over a network. Further investigation proved disappointing, however. Documentation was difficult to find and installation was difficult. In the end, results proved very unsatisfactory. The networked system, while able to "see" the hooked up scanner, could not be convinced to operate it.
The online help uses hypertext markup language (HTML), allowing it to be viewed with a Web browser. Clicking on tool tips will invoke the help in a context-sensitive manner, but the tips can be turned off if you don't need them. There is no way to search for specific topics, a serious omission.
The UMAX Astra 2000U manual is adequate, but does not have the world's best layout: there is no table of contents or index. It does have specific references for the two supported platforms, with different sections when there are major differences. A glossary helps you learn the basics of scanners and there's a troubleshooting section. There are, however, no tips on improving image quality.
Reviewer's
rating: 3.5 / 5
Comments: Good value for the home user, an undemanding business owner, or as a first scanner, but probably won't meet moderately sophisticated needs.
Price $110 US / $150 Canadian
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