The purpose of this guide is to assist a potential user by my personal rating of the HP 7400 series ScanJet. The Hewlett-Packard Scanjet 7400 series was introduced in 1998.  It was introduced into the retail market as HP's "high end,"  professional-business scanner.  It offered the first of HP's 2400x2400 dpi resolution.  This model replaced the 6300 series with an  increase in resolution, a slimmer design, a legal sized scanning bed as well as an improved Precision Scan Pro software.  It also offered a 50pp automatic document feeder on the 7450c-7490c as well as improved SCSI connection and HS USB.  SCSI kit was included with the 7490c model as well as improved, bundled productivity software.  Independant testing confirmed that the 7400 series was an improvement over the already praised 6200 and 6300 series of professional scanners.  Besides the changes to the resolution, there were also mechanical changes in design to the automatic document feeder and its' operation.  The paper feed on the 6200-6300 was driven by plastic "flaps" located in the entry to the paper feed.  Unfortunately, after prolonged use the flaps could become bent causing misfeed, or nonfeed of the paper into the scanner.  The 7400 series offered a change by initiating a "roller system" to affect the paper feed mechanism.  Overall, the 7400 ScanJet received higher than average reviews.  The only negative offered by many rating systems was concerining the automatic document feeder and the frequency of misfeeds and paper jams within the feeder itself with both the 7450c and 7490c.  However, after continued use, insuring paper integrity, positioning and using non-lightweight papers the document feeder could provide the user with unaltered operations.  Personally, I have used both the 6200 and 6300 scanners and have had positive results.  I "upgraded" to the 7450c about two years ago and have been extremely satisfied with the quality and speed of the scanner itself.  I find the software easy to use and to understand.  The built in Optical Character Recognition of the "installation software" is basic, but yet satisfactory for basic word document editing.  Myself, I found it much more satisfactory to "upgrade" the Read Iris Basic OCR software to the Professional version.  In comparison to the ScanJet 8200, personally I find the 7450 far superior.  I used the 8250 for about six weeks and found the software complicated, speed of the scanner slower, more misfeeds with the ADF, total misfeeds using the duplex feature and the scan quality much poorer.  I resold the 8250 and have gone back to using a 7450c. Other independant computer testing organizations agree with my own determinations and comparisons.  Another advantage with the 7400 series vs earlier models is that with the introduction of Windows 64 bit and Windows Vista operating systems the scanner drivers will be renewed and supported by Hewlett-Packard.  I would strongly suggest you check out this operating system compatibility previous to buying, or investing in a new scanner.  With the support offered, this will make this series viable for another 10 years based on the life expectancy of past Windows operating systems.

7-07:  Since this was written last fall the scanning software for the 8200 series has had a "revamp."  The HP Imaging Software seems less complicated, faster and generally "more user friendly."  I have again upgraded to an 8250 and am very satisfied.  There are format differences between Prcision Scan Pro and the HP Imaging which I found a little hard to get used to, but am now very satisfied.  One issue that has not changed is the "misfeed"  issue when using the duplex feature.  The paper has to be almost perfect as far as condition; no wrinkles,crinkles, or bad edges. Misfeeds using a any Scanjet scanner is most likely due to the simplicity of the mechanisms involved. The ADF mechanism is small because of the prototypes and design of the scanners.  With Scanjets having a DUPLEX feature it is even more common to have misfeeds and again this is due to the simplicity and size of the ADF/Duplexing mechanisms. To have a totally worry free ADF and especially with Duplex Features I would suggest "upgrading" your scanner to either Fujitsu, or Bell & Howell, but the great increase in cost may be counter productive.

9-08 HP SCANJET 7400-7450-7490. Hey there. Just an add on regarding the HP Scanjet 7400 series. Although a little older now, don't be fooled.  It is "still" one of the best bang for your buck scanners considering overall scanning and ADF functions. Right now, being an older model you can't buy one much less costly.  Remember, origionally this scanner ran $500 for just the scanner.  Adding the ADF as the 7450 the retail was almost $1000 and with the 7490 adding all the SCSI equipment you would have paid $1200-$1400.  Now, you can get a used 7450 in the range of $10-$100 which is a "total bargain."  Please remember that when buying used; 1)  Buying used, you are buying a scanner which has many lamp hours clocked. You can't be sure how long that scanner lamp will operate properly. 2) Rollers on the ADF do wear.  The rubber rollers, just as a tire loses its tread thickness and may stop operating depending on the age of this "used" scanner.  A "new" Scanjet 7400 series is still a "real deal" for under $200.  The Precision Scan software is still the most "User Friendly" of the HP Scanning Software and if you are still using Windows thru XP, it is still a great package. Vista is questionable as far as the Precision Scan Software. HP states that by downloading the Basic Scanner Driver you can operate the scanner thru the Scanner and Camera Wizard on Vista using TWAIN components of the software.  My buyer's have reported that it does work, but I have several that said it didn't.  This could be possibly be due to the operator not knowing exactly how to engage the TWAIN funcions of the scanner with Vista.  Thanks and "happy scanning."