I'm going to need a scanner and printer for graphics presentations and professional publishing (eventually) but I'm clueless as to where they cease to be "good" and begin to be "pro" and how much "pro" will hurt. Grateful for any help you guys can provide.

Well, I don't have anything on scanners for you, but Tektronix makes some of the best professional printers avilable, and they're getting cheaper all the time. The Phaser 780, 750, and 850 printers are all very good - check them out.

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Eliott Wolfe
Winnetka, Calif

[Evangellydonut]

yeah, Tektronix's (part of Xerox) color laser printers run for 'bout US$2k and are very good in quality. Dunno 'bout scanner either...go to Cnet or ZDnet and read some reviews...

I don't know what price range you are looking for, but I will give you some recommendations for what I own or will own. I work as a professional photographer and do some graphic design on the side so my leaning will be toward these areas.

As far as a printer goes it is hard to top the Epson Stylus 1270 (Tabloid)...870 (Letter). It is the best ink jet on the market today and produces prints that look just like standard photographic prints. It does a great job on text (design layouts) and is superb with photographs. I have used other output devices (fiery, dye sub...) and I would even prefer the Epson to them. If you do a search on CNET.COM under latest prices you can usually find it for around $400 plus any coupons you might find at TECHBARGAINS.COM or FATWALLET.COM.

As far as scanners go I have used the Heidelberg Linocolor Ultra Saphir II and is one of the best scanners on the market. They just recently released the Linocolor 1400 (SCSI) and the Linocolor 1450 (Firewire) will be released in September. These are both updates to their Ultra Saphir II. It will retail around $1500 but I have seen prices around $1300 through the same search on CNET. I have used it for not only flat art but transparencies and is superb in detail and resolution and is a great scanner.

The Linocolor 1450 is the scanner I'm waiting for because I own an iMac DV SE and don't want to bother with converters (most of which don't work great). I hope that these recommendations help and if you have any further questions please fill free to reply.

Originally posted by cogar:
[B]I don't know what price range you are looking for, but I will give you some recommendations for what I own or will own. B]

Umm... 1300 for a scanner might be a little out of my range... I really only though about spending around $250 max, but good for that, you know? Does anyone know anything out there for around that? Thank you anyway, though- I looked and it really is the porsche-scanner. I envy you!Thanks for the advice!

[Camali]

Buy the Epson 1200u scanner. I paid $199 @ outpost, free shipping and no tax.

It's very speedy for USB. You'll like it alot. You might want to get yourself the Epson 870 printer (or maybe one of the Xerox inkets that have 4 different color cartridges vs. Epson two carts (1 being color and the other the 3 color combination)

Either way the color on the Epson is great (it's a photo printer) and the Xerox is just as nice.

[drfrank]

I just got an Epson 1200U with the transparency adapter and does a great job. Its USB, easy to set-up and fast. The software is pretty good also compared to the Microrek that it replaced.

I suggest you check a few places for the best price. I got mine at Buy.com and used a $30 off coupon.

Frank

I checked out the prices and the Epson 1200u does seem to be the best deal. I think I'll use my school's production lab for printing, for now. But I'm going for the 1200u! Thanks for your helpful advice.