I've brought this subject a couple of times and ended up buying cheapo low end scanners, which really do NOT fit my needs. I currently have a HP Scanjet 4370 which I bought about 6 months ago. After the ~first week and first ~400 scans it started sounding like a dying cat with the noises it makes. Last time I used it (about 1500 scans) it really sounds bad and occasionally crashes (losing whatever multiple-dozen scans to that point).
This thing is too cheap, and waaay too damn slow. I need the fastest, most reliable scanner out there. Another feature that would be VERY helpful would be the ability to do 75DPI scans (or smaller), or alternatively have bundled software to do batch web optimization of scans. This current scanner takes about ~25 seconds to full scan each 150DPI image, it doesn't scan lower than 150DPI. Waaay to slow! I want a scanner that can do it in 10 seconds or faster! It can't be a single sheet scanner, has to be a flatbed.
Ideas? Oh and both XP drivers AND solid Linux drivers would be a plus. Thanks in advance.
