Pumaedition Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 Hey all, Our Graphics teacher wants a scanner that the students can access to use. His plan was to get a couple of scanners and long USB leads (5m+, possible health and safety?) so they could reach various desks. I dont have too much a problem with this, apart from the obvious issue of installing the software on 21 machines (not a fun task). My thought was to acquire a network scanner (HP Scanjet 7650N to name it), and use that. Has anyone got any experience with this scanner, or indeed, got a better solution?! Cheers
Quackers Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 I'm sure you can get network usb box's, which then can be shared out and installed. EDIT: Found this one. http://www.belkin.com/pressroom/releases/uploads/05_15_07NetworkUSBHub.html
mac_shinobi Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 not sure if this is viable / valid but a small desktop type copier that can do scan to folder / scan to email or twain scanning over the network ?
JJonas Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 What about a couple of cheap usb scanners install software on all the pcs then just move the scanners to where they are needed? If you have a network scanner you can still only scan one document at a time, with the two cheap usb scanner option you effectively double the students productivity and save money.
mac_shinobi Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 with a desktop copier that supports scan to folder / scan to email etc assuming it has an ADF ( Automatic Document Feeder ) you can setup a shared folder on a network accessable drive that all the students have access to and they can shove what they want to scan through the ADF - which scans pretty fast and then said pages are sent electronically as either a pdf or image file type ie TIFF or Jpeg to said shared folder
localzuk Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 Personally, I'd say a network scanner wouldn't be the best option - they cost a large sum of money, and wouldn't be being used for their real designed purpose (bulk document scanning). If you're considering spending £650 on a 6750N, then for the same price you could get 14 Canon LiDE 100 scanners instead... I'd go for setting up a handful of the computers with scanners, and then have those set up as 'scanning stations'. People don't need to be able to scan constantly - they will mostly just scan once and then edit their scan etc...
MatthewL Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 Get a network scanner, will save so much hassle. You can use the Belkin 1 port print servers to share it on the network but it gets messy here, we have a similar setup with one of our scanners that came with one of those, we have some 20 people that can connect to it and it they cant get their heads around it even though I have been through it with them many times!
dgsmith Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 Well, what we did was get an old desktop computer, install the software on it and hook up 1 scanner to that (the scanner has buttons on the front, like the Canon lide series), and set it so when someone pressed the scan button, it scanned and saved the image to a shared area. Really, really simple and really cheap (we already had the scanners and old computers)! Works like a dream - I actually got the idea from someone on here last year and it works great!
broc Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 We looked at networking options in our Art ICT suite when they wanted an A3 scanner to share between 25 PCs and decided to keep it simple; we set up an old PC dedicated to just running the scanner, the students log on & scan their material, save it to their network drive and go back to their normal workstation. Cheap & cheerful. Looking at how little use the PC gets, I would say it was by far the most cost effective solution. A networked solution would have been a serious waste of money in our case.
K.C.Leblanc Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 If you really really really want to do this one option to consider is leasing a networkable photocopier. Modern ones can be used as both network printers and scanners. I'd personaly go with the LIDE option. On the older ones I've managed to install the drivers remotley by using their silent install and PSEXEC.
dhicks Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 Well, what we did was get an old desktop computer, install the software on it and hook up 1 scanner to that (the scanner has buttons on the front, like the Canon lide series), and set it so when someone pressed the scan button, it scanned and saved the image to a shared area. That's what we did too. If you have money to spend it might be worth splashing out on a new ultra-mini PC to plug the laptop in to (£200) and a higher-end scanner (£100-ish) - the £25 scanners are very good value for money but the image quality could be a bit better. -- David Hicks
cookie_monster Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 I'd go for setting up a handful of the computers with scanners, and then have those set up as 'scanning stations'. People don't need to be able to scan constantly - they will mostly just scan once and then edit their scan etc... We only have 5 scanners in the whole school and they aren't that frequently used, one in the library and others in IT suites. We didn't bother with a network one as you have to go to the unit to insert your document anyway so you might as well sit at the PC next to it only one person can use it at a time anyway.
Ric_ Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 We have one of these in our art department. You can do pull scanning over the network (about the only thing it's really any good at!).
dgsmith Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 That's what we did too. If you have money to spend it might be worth splashing out on a new ultra-mini PC to plug the laptop in to (£200) and a higher-end scanner (£100-ish) - the £25 scanners are very good value for money but the image quality could be a bit better. -- David Hicks Yup, I think it was you who originally suggested it a year or two back! For a school like here where we have very, very little funding (slicing even just £10 off an order is encouraged), this was an excellent solution. Only thing we need to be aware of is when someone wants to scan something personal, but we say they can come and see us to have it removed immediately if that is the case.
Pumaedition Posted October 7, 2009 Author Posted October 7, 2009 Thanks for the replies. I mentioned having a machine set up with a scanner attached, but it was considered too much hassle to expect the students to log on to that machine, then scan, then go back to the machine they are working at The cheap scan and cable alternative seems the best...but how can I save myself the leg work of installing the software on 21 machines?
dhicks Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 I mentioned having a machine set up with a scanner attached, but it was considered too much hassle to expect the students to log on to that machine, then scan, then go back to the machine they are working at No - set up a Windows PC, have it automatically log on and connect to a network drive when its starts up, then simply set the scanning software to scan straight to the network drive. The Canon LiDE software is great for this - it listens out for a dedicated "scan" button being pressed on the front of the scanner, then automatically scans the document and saves it. You don't even have to give the PC a screen. Other models of scanner probably operate in a similar fashion, I think the Epson software does. -- David Hicks
cookie_monster Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 I mentioned having a machine set up with a scanner attached, but it was considered too much hassle to expect the students to log on to that machine, then scan, then go back to the machine they are working at Ahhh the poor things I mean how often do they actually scan for it to be too much hassle to do that.
dgsmith Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 No - set up a Windows PC, have it automatically log on and connect to a network drive when its starts up, then simply set the scanning software to scan straight to the network drive. The Canon LiDE software is great for this - it listens out for a dedicated "scan" button being pressed on the front of the scanner, then automatically scans the document and saves it. You don't even have to give the PC a screen. Got it spot on - exactly how we do it. There is no hassle whatsoever! In fact, it is the easiest and least hassle option, not alone the cheapest.
cookie_monster Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 Quote: Originally Posted by dhicks No - set up a Windows PC, have it automatically log on and connect to a network drive when its starts up, then simply set the scanning software to scan straight to the network drive. The Canon LiDE software is great for this - it listens out for a dedicated "scan" button being pressed on the front of the scanner, then automatically scans the document and saves it. You don't even have to give the PC a screen. Doesn't this create problems if the user want's to use any options like preview so they don't scan the entire doc, or want it B&W or....
localzuk Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 Doesn't this create problems if the user want's to use any options like preview so they don't scan the entire doc, or want it B&W or.... This is an important thing I always say about cameras, scanners and video cameras - do not make such choices when you scan. Those things are post-production tasks. ie. scan full page, colour, then edit it to be how you want. If you do things like alter the image at scanning time (lets say make it B&W), what happens if you change your mind? You have to scan again, rather than just opening the original file.
cookie_monster Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 This is an important thing I always say about cameras, scanners and video cameras - do not make such choices when you scan. Those things are post-production tasks. ie. scan full page, colour, then edit it to be how you want. If you do things like alter the image at scanning time (lets say make it B&W), what happens if you change your mind? You have to scan again, rather than just opening the original file. That is very true. I'm sure it would drive some of our users up the wall, I'll look into it
dhicks Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 Doesn't this create problems if the user want's to use any options like preview so they don't scan the entire doc, or want it B&W or.... Above the scanning station, attach a flyswat - the handle end fixed to the wall, the business end attached to a length of string that winds on to a pully powered by an electric motor. Rig the electric motor up to the PC, attach one of those quick-release elctromagnets to the wall where it will meet with a matching magnet attached to the paddle of the flyswat. Write some software to control the motor from the PC, have it wind the motor to bend the flyswat back and switch the electromagnet on, holding the flyswat at the ready. Install voice recognition software, rig it to recongise any phrases along the general lines of "Hey, could I..." and have it pass a call along to your flyswat control to release the flyswat. Now, whenever someone stands at the scanning station and asks if they can change from the default settings they automatically get a slap in the face. "Hey, could I just..." , . "But could I just..." , . "Maybe I could just..." , . Problem solved. -- David Hicks 2
dgsmith Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 Above the scanning station, attach a flyswat - the handle end fixed to the wall, the business end attached to a length of string that winds on to a pully powered by an electric motor. Rig the electric motor up to the PC, attach one of those quick-release elctromagnets to the wall where it will meet with a matching magnet attached to the paddle of the flyswat. Write some software to control the motor from the PC, have it wind the motor to bend the flyswat back and switch the electromagnet on, holding the flyswat at the ready. Install voice recognition software, rig it to recongise any phrases along the general lines of "Hey, could I..." and have it pass a call along to your flyswat control to release the flyswat. Now, whenever someone stands at the scanning station and asks if they can change from the default settings they automatically get a slap in the face. "Hey, could I just..." , . "But could I just..." , . "Maybe I could just..." , . Problem solved. I'm just amused to the fact that you spent the time and effort to think that up and actually post it
bossman Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 @dhicks: Brilliant idea, well thought out and could possibly work given half a chance (might wake the stupid s*ds up!!)
mac_shinobi Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 or instead of a network drive that goes all over across the network you could get a gigabit nas or even 100mbps nas and get a local mini netgear / linksys switch and connect the nas to that and the computer then to the network and point it to a path on the nas then there is no extra traffic across the windows domain network. Assuming the nas is raided in some reasonable way they have a backup as well.
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