Hi Steve, I suspect it isn't going to matter much. Most flatbed scanners on the market now have dpi that far exceeds what you'll need to scan prints and my experience is that most modern scanners are reasonably good, east to install and use, and very very cheap compared to several years ago. My first flatbed cost $600 could do a max of 600 dpi and took an entire afternoon to get installed. I've usually bought Microtek scanners because I like the scanning software that comes with Microtek. However, I've also heard people say that they've had Microtek scanners with foggy glass. I also have a portable Cannon scanner that I use on the road. Here are a few things to consider: 1. Dots per inch - but look only at the physical value, not the interpolated. 1200 DPI is probably all you'll need for all except the smallest photos. If you plan to scan negatives or slides you'll need much higher DPI, but a slide scanner would be a better choice for those in my opionion. You may also want to look at color depth, 48 bit color rather than 24-bit. This will allow you to get more shades of gray or tints of color to work with. However, some older software cannot read 48-bit color. 2. Connection to the computer. USB is the easiest and the most common these days. SCSI can be a nightmare to install. There may also be some out there that will connect through the COM or LPT ports, but these will be slower than USB. Look for USB-2 compatible which is faster than the older USB. Be sure the box says it's compatible with whatever your operating system is. It's possible to download and install updated drivers, but this can be a hassle. 3. Scanning software. Unfortunately this is hard to evaluate without trying it, but some reviews may mention software. Most scanners also come with other bundled software which may or may not have appeal for you. 4. Availablity of accessories such as transparency attachments or sheet feeders if these things matter to you. 5. Glass Size - Do you want small so you can carry it with you on the road or do you need to scan originals larger than legal size paper? Does footprint on the desk matter to you? Have fun shopping and let us know what you buy & how you like it. GS >From: "Steve Alvarez" <[email protected]> >Reply-To: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Subject: [SP] Buying a scanner >Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 12:49:22 -0600 > >I am going to be buying a scanner in a few days for the purpose of scanning >old family photos. > >Can anyone give me advice on what type of scanner and what level of dpi >would be best. > >Thanks >Steve _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail