Umax Astra 3400 Flatbed Scanner

The Astra 3400 manages documents, scanning images and text documents into almost any application, including e-mail and fax. An Intelligent Image Process Engine (IIPE) evaluates the correct settings for many types of images, providing fast and untroubled scanning. The 3400 delivers resolutions from 1 dpi to 9,600 dpi and scaling from 1 percent to 1,000 percent in 5-percent increments. The flatbed provides a maximum scan size of 8.5 by 11.7 inches. Both PC and Mac users can employ the USB compatibility for the plug-and-play installation sought after in business equipment. Also, the compact design, approximately 18 by 12 by 3 inches, and light weight require only a small desk or shelf commitment.

The 3400 comes with easy-to-use scanning software so that users can obtain consistent, quality output. Software for enhancing, modifying, and organizing images is furnished with the unit, including Adobe PhotoDeluxe and PhotoDeluxe Home Edition; Umax VistaScan, VistaScan TWAIN scanner driver, VistaShuttle and Copy Utility (PC only); ScanSoft OmniPage LE OCR; NewSoft Presto! PageManager and PageType; plus Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0. Umax backs the Astra 3400 with one year of technical support and extended support hours (including Saturdays). --Barbara Price

Product Description
The UMAX Astra 3400 offers the speed of USB technology and high resolution for fast, versatile, and high-quality image capture. The Astra 3400 gives you trillions of sharp, vibrant colors. The Astra 3400 features the exclusive Intelligent Imaging Process Engine (IIPE), which automatically optimizes images and text to ensure that you get great results every time you scan. UMAX' exclusive IIPE technology automatically detects if your document or photograph should be color, gray, or black and white; automatically assigns the optimum resolution for scanning; automatically crops your image; automatically rotates the scanned image if it is askew on the scan bed.Featuring fast push-button scanning, the Astra 3400 includes Scan, Copy, Custom (E-mail or OCR), and Power Saving buttons. By combining the push-button functionality and Intelligent Image Process Engine (IIPE) technology, UMAX has provided users with the functionality to scan many types of reflective media with just a push of a button. The Power Saving button allows the user to power-off the scanner's fluorescent lamp without losing the connection to the computer through the USB port. To power back on the scanner's lamp, simply press the Power Saving button a second time. There is no need to refresh your computer since the USB connection through the USB port was maintained.

CONS: - custom button only works with certain software for emails. - OCR Presto software to use with the push-button is not accurate . I use the Omnipage that it came with for OCR which is very accurate but it can not be used with the push-button (at least I haven't figured out how to do it).


Does not work with Windows Me   November 23, 2000
31 out of 40 found this review helpful

The box says Windows 98/2000 or above. After spending 8 hours on installation problems and working with 3 tech support people, the 4th tech support person told me that the bundled Adobe Photoshop software does not work with Windows Me. They had spent a month trying to get it to work, but gave up. I had mentioned to each of the previous tech people that I was using Windows Me. They need to get the message out to their own staff and buyers that it doesn't work with Me.


Do not buy UMAX !   December 6, 2003
Deb (Wisconsin)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

I bought a Umax 3400 scanner about 3 years ago. The copy utility worked great however the other programs were difficult and touchy. I have since upgraded to Windows XP and it is now not compatible. I bought the software to upgrade it (duh) and it did not work (nonrefundable). I tried to contact the company by phone and they want to charge $25 for tech support over the phone (not to mention it's not an 800# and I had to pay long distance). NO WAY! I tried to e-mail them without any response. DO NOT BUY UMAX. THEIR TECHNICAL SUPPORT STINKS!!!!!


Promises promises   March 1, 2001
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

I really wanted to love my new scanner. I had owned a UMAX scanner years ago when I still had a Mac and had no problems so I felt comfortable trying this one. Now with a PC laptop, I was all geared up but found when the Astranet3400 arrived that I had no place to go. The User's Manual contained several errors, including the fact that you cannot use the email function if you have Netscape. The PhotoShop software did not work with Windows 98 but at least I had other software I could use, an option which many folks won't have. The scanner came with 2 cds, one which contains Adobe 3.0, the other Adobe 4.0 and you have to uninstall 3.0 before you can go any further. I did manage to scan for about 3 days and tried to work around the bugs. Then, all kinds of error messages started popping up. Email tech support said I needed to uninstall and reinstall the whole shebang, which I did. The errors continued and then finally, it failed to scan altogether. I defragged, uninstalled, reinstalled, uninstalled, reinstalled... After 2 wks of lost time and energy, it is being returned. Too many bugs, too many conflicts, too many broken promises. It may be defective, frankly I am not willing to reorder. I ended the relationship before either of us could be hurt any more...boo hoo.


Buy Umax only if you will never upgrade your software   September 4, 2003
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

Buy Umax only if you will never upgrade your software. If you plan on upgrading your operating system in the future Umax is not the way to go. Any time you need to upgrade drivers for say a new operating system or if you lost yours, unlike most other computer manufacturers, Umax will not let you download drivers for the upgrade. Instead they will mail you the drivers for [a price]. Real customer service.