Tools that maximize the use of time, money, and other resources are highly beneficial to the industrious office or small business. A document scanner is high on the list of machines any bustling office will find invaluable. The Epson Workforce Pro GT-S50 is a feature-rich, easy to use scanner that has proven its usefulness to users time and again.
A document scanner is a tool that can copy an item, usually an image or text, and transfer a digital copy of that item to a computer. Scanners come in a variety of types including sheet-fed scanners and flatbed scanners. A scanner may stand alone or it may be one function of a larger multi-use machine that may include a copier, fax, and printer. There are many scanners on the market; however, the Epson Workforce Pro Gt-S50 stands out as a leader in document management.
This document scanner is a stand-alone high-volume scanner that is perfect for active workgroups. It has a daily cycle of up to 1200 sheets and a 75 page feeder. An asset to a busy office, the Epson GT-S50 can scan both flexible and rigid objects up to 8.5 x 36 inches. It works at a speed of 25 ppm and 50 ppm and can scan a stack of document with its 75 page feeder. With capabilities like this, this Epson scanner easily integrates into any office. Additionally, it is the perfect scanner for the small business.
The Epson GT-S50 measures 15.8 x 11.5 x 12.6 inches and weighs just 11 pounds. At a shipping weight of 16 pounds, the Workforce Pro GT S50 ships across the United States and to a number of countries outside the US.
This reliable and powerful piece of machinery is remarkably easy to use. A user can choose between 10 user-definable scan jobs for one touch scanning, and the Workforce Pro GT also scans both sides of a sheet in one pass. For compatibility with any document management environment, this document scanner uses both Epson Scan TWAIN and EMC Captiva ISIS drivers. This is just the beginning of the features the Epson Workforce Pro GT-S50 has to offer.
In addition to one touch scanning, the Epson GT-S50 includes other useful features including scan to PDF and speed priority scanning mode. This Epson document scanner also features the ability to scan stacks of sheets of various sizes that are recognized and cropped. Scanning rigid, plastic, or embossed items is no problem for the Workforce Pro GT-S50. With features like this, this Epson scanner has more than its share of satisfied buyers.
A large majority of customers who purchase the Epson Workforce Pro GT-S50 would recommend it to a friend or colleague. In document scanner reviews, these happy customers note its ease of use and ability to scan stacks of receipts, bills, and records of varying sizes. Other satisfied customers who give feedback with document scanner reviews comment on its solid build and the ease with which it is set up.
Whether it is a stand-alone scanner or part of a multi-use machine, a document scanner is a necessary tool for any busy office or small business. The Epson Workforce Pro has the capacity to efficiently and effectively handle a heavy workload. An array of essential features including one touch scanning and scanning to PDF make this Epson printer stand out in a crowded market.
Epson is one of those grand old companies dating back to its inception in 1942. Epson (founded as “Daiwa Kogyo”) originally began as a manufacturer of watch parts for Seiko Instruments and eventually merged with Seiko to become the forerunner of the Seiko-Epson Corporation. In 1968, Seiko manufactured the world’s first mini-printer called the EP-101 (EP means electronic printer), which became a standard printer for many calculators. In 1975, a second generation of mini-printers were released under the name Epson-why?-remember EP stands for electronic printer, this is the next generation of printers, therefore it became the SON of the EP. Get it? Ep-Son.
Epson is now recognized as one of the world’s largest and most influential manufacturers of computer printers, document scanners, projectors, paper and media and professional imaging products.
Epson GT-S50 Document Scanner
But, today, we are here to review the Epson WorkForce Pro GT-S50 Document Scanner.
As with most Epson built products, this one is built like a tank. It’s built to last. Unlike a tank, though, the GT-S50 is easy to fold up, put away and forget until the next day’s scanning.
For those businesses or people who have to scan daily and scan in quantity, then this Epson is for you. The automatic document feeder can handle a stack of 75 pages at one time-very nice-when compared to other leading scanners that can only handle 50 pages in their feeder. As with other scanners in its class, the Epson GT-S50 is a one pass, duplex color scanner, which means that it is able to scan both sides of your document at one time in color or black and white.
The scanning speed is quite snappy, clocking in at 25ppm (pages per minute). Although, quite frankly, in reviewing scanners, I have come to the conclusion that speed is really in the eye of the beholder. One person considers speed to be the actual scanning and another person considers the speed to be the combination of scanning and the saving of the file. C’est la vie!
An advantage for the Epson GT-S50 over some of the other scanners in its class is that it is a hybrid. It can work out of the box with a PC or a Mac.
TWAIN and ISIS drivers are included with the Epson GT-S50 which allows it to be compatible with just about any other scan program. Some buyers have remarked that this was the tipping point for them to buy the Epson as opposed to a scanner that doesn’t have TWAIN and relies on its proprietary drivers.
With that being said, one of the drawbacks of this scanner is the software (other than the TWAIN and ISIS), especially for users who are not, for lack of a better phrase, computer literate. The software bundled within the Epson GT-S50 does tend to be confusing at times and will slow your overall processing of files to a snail’s pace unless you really put your nose to the grindstone and study how to use it.
Overall, the Epson GT-S50 will get the job done for you and at almost $100 less than other scanners on the market.
Check out the Epson GT-S50′s price versus the competition’s price on my website and see for yourself. If you’re money is tight or your office is on a budget, this scanner just might be the one for you.
Buttons: 5 buttons: Start, Up-arrow, Down-arrow, Mechanical power switch and Cancel
Panel Display:
2 line x 16 character LCD
10 user-definable one-button scan job settings with personalized job descriptions
Security Lock: Kensington® type
Software:
Epson Scan
EMC Captiva ISIS
ABBYY® FineReader® Sprint Plus OCR
Nuance ScanSoft® PaperPort® SE
NewSoft™ Presto!® BizCard 5
TWAIN and ISIS drivers
Epson GT-S50 Document Scanner
Connectivity
Operating Systems:
Windows Requirements
Intel® Pentium® II 450 Mhz with 128MB of RAM (512MB of RAM for XP Professional x64 and Windows Vista®) and 215MB of free hard disk space
Microsoft® Windows 2000 Professional, XP Home Edition, XP Professional, XP Professional x64, Windows Vista (32/64-bit)2, USB 2.03
Macintosh Requirements
PowerPC® G3 400 Mhz or Intel-based CPU with 128MB of RAM or higher and 200MB of free hard disk space
Mac OS® X 10.3.9 – 10.5.x
USB 2.0
Epson GT-S50 Document Scanner
General
Operating Temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
Operating Humidity: 10 – 80% (no condensation)
Rated Voltage: AC 100 – 240 V
Frequency: 50 – 60 Hz
Power Consumption:
Normal mode: 40 W
Ready mode: 13 W
Sleep mode: 5.5 W
Off: 1 W
Dimensions: 11.9″ x 8.0″ x 8.4″ (W x D x H)
Weight: 11 lb
Epson GT-S50 Document Scanner
Price Comparisons
While I make every effort to keep these price comparisons up-to-date, retailers do change their pricing frequently. Please use this comparison as a guide only!
Amazon.com……………………………………………………………………….$354.63 (free shipping with no tax)*
Walmart.com……………………………………………………………………..$399.98 (plus shipping plus tax)
OfficeMax.com……………………………………………………………………$399.99 (free shipping plus tax)
Staples.com………………………………………………………………………..$399.99 (plus shipping plus tax)
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