Canon CanoScan N1220U Scanner

Setup was a breeze. We glanced through the quick-start card, popped in the CD, and followed the onscreen instructions. (The entire manual is on the CD-ROM.) Operation went just as smoothly as setup (with only one button, it's hard to go wrong). We followed the software driver's onscreen prompts to set color depth, gray scale options, and size with just a few mouse clicks.

In our tests, we scanned a variety of documents. At about 35 seconds for a color photo and 20 seconds for a monochrome document, the overall speed was quite acceptable. We did notice a slight loss of detail in shadowed areas of photos, but in general the resulting images were clean, crisp reproductions of the originals.

However, we were disappointed by the lack of a transparency option. Also, despite its slim size and energy-efficient design, the N1220U is by no means silent; chances are you won't want to scan while taking an important phone call. If you find yourself in need of technical support, free options are found either online or via an automated phone line, but talking to a live support person costs $10 per call. Still, despite these drawbacks, the N1220U is a good scanner that's easy to use and provides clear, sharp results. --Jill Lightner

Pros:

• Extremely easy to use
• Lightweight and portable
• USB connection is ideal for laptops
• Results are clear and sharp

Cons:

• Doesn't work with transparencies or slides
• Expensive technical support

Even though it's slim, you can still scan bulky items because this remarkable and affordable scanner comes with a new expansion top, so you can scan books and magazines with no problems. Other scanner covers can become uneven because lifting them at an angle can be awkward, but the N1220U's exclusive Z-Lid expansion top opens vertically, so you can lay items down flat.

Housed in a metallic champagne finish, this high-tech scanner delivers outstanding 1,200 x 2,400 dpi scans and uses a single USB cable for power and connection. With the single push of a button, you get 42-bit scanning with color depth and brilliance of more than 4 trillion possible colors. And it is compatible with both Macintosh and PC. The N1220U weighs 3.3 pounds and measures 10.1 by 14.7 by 1.3 inches. It comes with a one-year limited warranty and the Canon Extended Service Plan.

Product Description
Impressive. Spectacular. Remarkable. There are many ways to describe this truly affordable scanner that delivers outstanding, high-resolution scans. And when you consider the CanoScan N1220U USB Flatbed Scanner's numerous innovations that make scanning fast and easy, you'll have to agree - this is one amazing machine.The slim N1220U scanner uses a single USB cable for power and connection to any compatible Mac or PC. With the simple push of its external scan button, you get superb scanning with the color depth and brilliance of more than four trillion possible colors. And its high-tech, metallic champagne finish makes this performance scanner look incredible wherever you put it. Canon's exclusive Z-Lid Expansion Top will change the way you scan bulky items, such as books and magazines. Many other scanner covers lift only at an angle and become uneven and awkward when scanning anything that isn't completely flat.

The scans themselves look terrific, even at 75 dpi. When I scanned one picture at the maximum resolution (1,200 x 2,400 dpi) just to see what it would look like, it almost came out too well - it picked up my fingerprint and an eyelash on the glass!

With limited space on the computer desk, I especially like the stand that comes with this scanner, allowing you to store (and to actually scan with) the unit on its side, like a thin paperback book on your shelf. The software that comes with it is excellent as well - it includes Adobe Photoshop 5.0 Limited Edition, Omni Page Pro (for optical character recognition, to turn your scanned documents into text files for use in your word processor), and Photo Studio. All work seamlessly with the scanner, popping up automatically just when you need them.

Other great features about this scanner include the fact that it does not need its own power source (it gets its power from the USB plug), and that the lid is hinged in such a way as to allow you to scan thicker objects and books. The price is terrific too, being a good bit lower than that of many other bulky scanners offering much less resolution.

A few days ago I did have to call the Canon Customer Service number once, at midnight (I was surprised to hear a real human answer the phone). A nice Customer Service rep helped me very quickly. He didn't even laugh when I discovered that my problem was that I had accidentally knocked loose the USB plug connecting the scanner to the computer! (Uh, must've been the cat....) :)

It is a very nice surprise in this day and age when you feel that you actually get more than you pay for. Thank you Canon!


A standard-bearer in consumer electronics   January 21, 2001
Teddy Bird (Deer Creek Mesa, CO)
34 out of 37 found this review helpful

Hi folks This is my first scanner, and I found it excellent in every way. First, the installation was very fast and easy. I have Windows Me, and unlike some others have suggested, it loaded successfully on the first attempt. There are different installation instructions for Me than there are for older versions -- make sure you follow the right set.

Jumping right in and scanning right away was absolutely easy. Use is very intuitive. Both the scanner's software and then the photo editing software open themselves up at the appropriate times. The photo editing software is PhotoStudio, which works a lot like Adobe PhotoShop. PhotoShop is ALSO included, by the way, but I find PhotoStudio totally sufficient for my needs.

Another feature that I LOVE is that the scanner requires NO POWER SOURCE OF ITS OWN! If you are like me, you will welcome the fact that there is but one cord coming out of this scanner -- the USB cord which runs for the scanner to your PC. This makes for a tidier desk, and also I personally have no spare space in my power strip.

The quality of the scans is wonderful. I am not an expert on the subject, but the scans look just as good as those I've made on scanners at Kinko's.

I highly recommend this unit. Wonderful in every way.


WOW!!   December 18, 2000
Kevin G. (Wildwood, MO United States)
32 out of 38 found this review helpful

WOW!!

That's the reaction you will get with this sleek designed and ridiculously easy to use scanner. After all connected up, you might even ponder "that's it?"

Yep! A single USB cable carries both power and data to your computer. But wait, good news doesn't just end here. This scanner delivers 1200x2400 scanning resolution, which guarantees your scanned digital image will look as well as, or even better than the real picture! This specification alone will cost you arms and legs with other scanner. Software bundle? Even more good news to follow. ArcSoft's Photostudio2000 has the look, feel and power of professional image editor, like THE Adobe Photoshop. Yet, it is FREE to you. The Omni Page, the authority figure in OCR business (converting your paper documents to digital edible documents) is included as well.

Moreover, this scanner supports both Mac and PC with various versions of Windows, even Windows 2000!

If you want to scan more than just picture, like an object up to 1 inch tall. This scanner has a unique feature to nicely accommodate that! Since I am not going to spill the beans, you will just have to find it out yourself...


I can't believe it   January 10, 2001
W. Jessup (Westfield NC)
31 out of 31 found this review helpful

I just got this scanner a few hours ago and have scanned several images since I got it out of the box. I just had to stop scanning and write a review.

First of all, I was surprised when I saw the box, the box which the Canon N1220U arrived in is smaller then the Canon scanner I replaced. The only reason I replaced the other Canon scanner is because I purchased a new computer and the older scanner wouldn't connect to my new computer. This scanner is small, hardly no larger than the scanning area (8.5" x 11.7"). It is also thin (about an inch and a quarter high) and looks quite nice next to the new G4 PowerMac. It really makes the older scanner look like a dinosaur and the older scanner is just a little more than a year old.

Secondly, this scanner was so easy to set up, it virtually did it itself. All I had to do was to plug in the USB cable while the computer was on, there is no power cord to plug in, the power is actually supplied by the USB cable. Then I had to insert the CD which contained the set up software and click a few buttons, that was it.

I was off and scanning in no time, maybe ten minutes tops. The first scan took a little extra time because the scanner had to calibrate itself, but it only does this once and you can re-calibrate the scanner anytime you want to. The scanner is quite fast, faster than the one I replaced.

The software supplied to operate the scanner is fairly easy to use and understand. The scans turn out great, better than the original image it seems. I did have to adjust the way I place the image on the flatbed, the image should be placed upside down not rightside up. My first scan came out upside down.

To sum up, the scanner looks great, doesn't take up much space on the desk, doesn't add to my power cord clutter behind my desk, it is pretty fast, easy to set up and use, and comes with useful third party software: PhotoShop 5.0 LE ( I use this program often), ArcSoft Photo Studio, ArcSoft PhotoBase, and ScanSoft Omni Page.

I would recommend this scanner, even to my best friends.