I was quite happy with my old HP scanner, but it's 8 or 9 years old now, and on it's last leg. The lid has a broken hinge, and the performace isn't what I'd call world class for photographs. I also wanted to be able to digitalize some of my old negatives and photographs, and the new technology produces excellent reproductions. So I have heard.

So..I bought the "Epson Perfection 4490 Photo"

Here are some links to a few reviews:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1865046,00.asp

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1865047,00.asp

http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Epson_Perfection_4490_Photo_flatbed_scanner/4505-3136_16-31513699.html

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/computers/scanner-reviews/index.html

I'll play with it tomorrow and see how it rates. Stay tuned for a review from me on preformance on chips. I'll do a few scans with my old HP scanner, and then do the same chips on the new one.

In the world of scanners...the actual scanner is only part of the story. The software is also an extrememly important element.
So for those of you that are in the market....stay tuned.