Epson Scanner, CanoScan Flatbed Scanner, HP ScanJet

Which type of scanner you should choose depends on how you plan to use it. Three popular types of scanners are photo, flatbed, and sheetfed. As the name implies, a photo scanner aids in digitizing print photographs. These handy units tend to be small--sometimes only six inches wide--and are optimized for scanning color photographs. They usually offer quick setup and come with software to help organize collections of photos. Flatbed scanners make up the bulk of the general-purpose scanner market. These models usually deliver the best combination of quality and flexibility, and have only recently become available at affordable prices. To use a flatbed, you typically place your original under a flip-up cover; a moving scanner arm does the work while the document stays put. If your scanning needs involve a mix of photos, text documents and business graphics, a flatbed is the way to go. Sheetfed scanners are most often used for desktop document-management tasks. Sometimes available in very compact and portable cases, sheetfed scanners can automatically feed one or more pages.