HP - Scanjet 5590 Digital Flatbed Scanner, 2400 x 2400dpi, 50-Sheet

Pros: It scans.. sometimes.

Cons: It jams fairly often, the software looks like it was made in 1995, and the scan speed is TERRIBLE. I have time to go bake a potatoe by the time I can successfully scan 10 sheets without a jam.

Pros: none

Cons: jams, i have 3 and they will not function properly between the 3 of them

Pros: Price, feature set, ability to do flatbed as well as ADF scanning

Cons: slow, prone to jam, duplex scan slow and complex, software bug will make macs running 10.6 and 10.7 run at 100%. This software, even while not being used, will drain a laptop battery and max out the fans.

Other Thoughts: All in or all out! If you're going to say you're mac compatible, make sure your software works, and update it to the latest OS or say that it's orphaned.

Pros: None

Cons: 1. ADF is useless - Why
You cannot clean inner most rollers.
So after some use duplex scanning is dead, cleaning cloth won't help for inner rollers.
ADF scanning window uses flimsy plastic between paper and light which obviously will have markings with some use as paper passing through is pressed against it. So unless you replace it after some use, you will have continuous running scratch marks across the scan via ADF.

ADF uses single roller to pull the paper from tray. This is a nightmare design for duplex scanning, even slightly misplaced paper will get jammed when its reversed in tray below for duplex scanning - Result paper jammed, you cannot open ADF and release jamming rollers. If you are lucky you will get your document back in 1 piece else torn in few.
2.Software provided is useless unless you stick to predefined settings in software, there is no way to change simple settings like brightness or drop a background.

Pros: Low Price.

Cons: Clumsy three button interface and tiny LCD screen make it seem like something from the 90s. The software is bloated and seems like it was written as a Visual Basic senior class project.

Had trouble even getting the driver loaded properly. Once I got the driver loaded by looking online for solutions for hours, I was presented with a very unpolished scan/email application.
It also turns itself off after about 5 minutes of idle time, so between scans you have to hit the power button and wait for it to power back up.

Other Thoughts: HP - I expect more from you when it comes to scanners. Perhaps you should get out of the lower end price point, and stick to the higher quality high end market.
Shame on you HP for putting your good name on this sub-standard reject.

Pros: This scanner has few pros...... The scans are good quality, but this scanner is a pain to use. I have been using one owned by my employer from a home office setting for the past three years. I am changing employers, and will recommend this piece of equipment just go to salvage. It is not worth the postage to send it back to my company's headquarters. I am already shopping for its replacement.

Cons: The automatic document feeder (ADF) o this scanner is total junk. The particular scanner I have was used in an office setting for two-years before I took it to my home office, and the original ADF was replaced under warranty. But, the design is so flawed that the replacement ADF quickly malfunctioned again. When the scanner does function correctly in the automatic mode, every page will be scanned with about an 8-degree tilt to the left. You cannot feed documents with creases or folds, as the ADF jams too easily. Once jammed, the jammed pages are difficult to remove. If you are not careful, the ADF will pull multiple pages through at a time, causing you to have to interrupt scans and conduct re-runs. The cover to the scanner is top-heavy due to the duplex-feeder, and it is unwieldy to use scanning single pages at a time. The paper tray to the ADF is not securely attached, frequently pops loose, and must be aligned just right to get it to stay in its proper place.

Other Thoughts: I ran out of room discussing the cons for the HP 5590. The software works, but is unwieldy, and prone to developing errors. Like on my computer, trying to install an update that fails to install, every time I open the program up.

So, I am reviewing scanners right now. I have my eye on one offered on sale by NewEgg. As you all know, New Egg rocks, and I know I will once again be a satisfied customer.

One of the great things about NewEgg are the customer reviews. It is very important that you read any and all reviews before you purchase an item of equipment. That is why I took the time to write a review on the HP 5590--to help my fellow customers make an informed decision before buying this scanner.

Pros: price, twain driver works with software, can scan photos

Cons: adf jams are difficult to clear, program that controls the scanner stops working for no apparent reason, making the scanner virtually useless

Other Thoughts: scanner characteristics are controlled by a program HP Director that stopped working after upgrading my video card. remove and reinstall did nothing. search on the HP discussion site disclosed that this program has MAJOR problems and HP is not addressing it. without this program, the scanner is close to worthless. I will NEVER buy another HP scanner

Pros: Mechanically it worked well. The down-loadable HP ScanPro software suite for Mac was really slick and well put together. It's fine for light/home use....
assuming you use a Mac....
and don't have much duplex scanning to do....
or have a lot of free time on your hands....
and you're a bit of a masochist.

Cons: The software for PC was buggy and never worked right. Tried both the HP software and generic TWAIN drivers but it rarely wanted to work. Duplex scanning is especially slow. I had a small piece of paper get stuck in my document feeder and when I tried to pull it out, realized that the ADF unit is completely sealed so there's no way to get it out, short of using a hammer.

Other Thoughts: Note: while it advertises duplex scanning it does not scan both sides of the sheet at the same time. Using the ADF it will scan one side of the paper, and then run it through a second time to get the other side, and then run it through a third time to flip the paper back to the right direction. It worked as advertised, but was so slow.

Pros: It scans occasionally and the software is really wiz bang!

Cons: Let me see, where to begin. First of all, understand that duplex scanning is a complex operation and this scanner uses two passes unlike some of the more expensive single pass scanners. The duplex mechanism craped out in under 2 years scanning less than 50 documents a week. It was cleaned per the manufacturer spec on a regular basis. Even when it did work it preferred "pristine", "off the ream" pages. I don't know about you but the pages we scan (EOB's) have been folded and come in various sizes, their clean and typically have no wrinkles or tears. We'd put 5 pages in at a time because it would typically jam with any more than that. Let's see, the software is slow, convoluted, and crashes often. I could go on but I won't, save your money, if you need to scan more than a page here and there, put your money elsewhere. Oh and replacing the ADF (Auto Document Feeder) costs more than the scanner.

Pros: Hardware works relatively well, programmable buttons on front make it easy to make quick copies & scans

Cons: Numerous intermittent software issues w/ Vista, hp tech support
often unhelpful, unable to solve problem

Other Thoughts: Don not use this scanner with Vista unless you're prepared for hours of wasted time and frustration. This scanner will work perfectly for months at a time, then one day the software interface w/ computer will be "broken"; often these problems to take hours for tech support to solve, if at all. "Solved" issues often resurface months later for no apparent reason. I'm pretty close to jumping ship.