What is the big deal about having a firewire scanner, and why is this the most recommended replacement for your old scanner?

Let’s start with the basics- the general definition of a scanner. A scanner is a device that, when given an optical image- whether it is a picture or graphic, text, or an object- transforms it into a digital image.

But scanning a document or image is only useful when it is sent from the scanner itself to a functional application on the host computer. The first consideration is the scanner’s direct connection to the computer. A fast connection is optimal for the more recent models of scanners on the market today. This is because they are capable of generating huge amounts of data in a very short span of time- they can usually generate about 100 megabytes of data in a few seconds’ time.

The second consideration is how the information is retrieved. The scanner communicates with its host computer using a particular physical interface. Let’s delve into a comparison between the various types of interface.

1. Parallel- This is an old transfer method- the most economic because it requires no interface card, but also the slowest of all the methods; its optimal speed being only 70kb/second.

2. General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB)- The GPIB was introduced in the 1970’s and is used only by a few manufacturers. It caters mostly to DOS/Windows.

3. Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)- This is usually used with a SCSI interface card, and is not very simple to set up. It is faster than all the previously introduced interfaces and has backwards compatibility, which meant that its speed is dependent on the speed supported by the controller and the device.

4. Universal Serial Bus (USB)- These are cheaper and more user-friendly than the SCSI. The USB 2.0 Standard is capable of transferring as much as 60 MB/second.

5. Firewire- An interface on a firewire scanner is a lot faster than the USB 1.1 and about the same as a USB 2.0. Speeds are at 25,50, 100, 400, and 800 megabits per second.

From this information, you can clearly see that the fastest and most efficient interface to use on your scanner would be either the USB 2.0 or the Firewire interface. Then why choose Firewire over USB 2.0?

FireWire is faster than USB 2.0 in sustained throughput. Because it uses peer-to-peer architecture, the peripherals themselves can determine the best device for the data transfer. On the other hand, the USB 2.0 uses Master-Slave architecture, where it is the computer that dictates data flow through the peripherals and controls arbitrary functions. This makes the data flow slower.

If you are eager to obtain your very own firewire scanner, there are a few models available on Amazon.com. There is the Epson Expression 10000XL- Graphic Arts Scanner, ideal for graphic arts and professional photographers, Braun Multimag Slide Scanner 4000, featuring a 100 slide capacity, and the HP DesignJet Scanner 4520, a roll scanner for large-format color scanning. Now, all that is left to do is select the scanner that best suits your needs.