[scanner]

I got a plustek 3600 scanner

my first impression is that it is overall a nice scanner:
- fast but not that fast (like some scanners that scan in 2-3 seconds)
- image quality seems minimaly superior to other scanners I used (eg, Canon Lide 25), but there are still character that Abby Reader cannot read them well, but certainly less than with other scanners
- it does what it is supposed to do: it scans well near the binding (although its plastic base goes out and makes the book to be more opened than it should, but it's minimal), no other scanner can do this afaik (apart from some Microtek scanners, eg Scanmaker s450 etc, which I have not tested and Avision scanners)

overall I am satisfied, however:
- I needed the book to be less opened in a smaller angle (this would require a super slim scanner)
- I needed more accurate results (maybe Finereader needs improvement), but shadow elimination and scanning artifacts on the image are obvious (not sure if the glass causes them, the sensor, the dust on the book, the shadow from the typed characters on the opposite page, etc)

it CERTAINLY does NOT justify its original high price (250-300 USD), they simply take advantage that you need a book spine scanner, and they charge this, without any advantage in image quality, speed, etc, but what can you do to scan those books you need and there is no competition for book spine scanners?

as I mentioned, one looking for other alternatives should look for Microtek scanners (affordable but not tested) and Avision scanners (those being expensive but of industrial quality and speed)