I replaced my canon scanner with a HP Scanjet g4050 recently. While it is the largest scanner I've owned in several years, I now need the ability to scan legal size documents, old canon was just too small for that job.

It may be a great scanner but I cannot get it operational with my IMAC. I have followed all instructions and downloaded from the HP trouble shooting pages and nothing will work. It is not that it is non functional but that the computer will not or cannot read the scanner and nothing will correct it...

cannot use won't work

In summer of 2007 HP introduced the Scanjet G4050 as an extremely low-priced flatbed scanner with integrated transparency unit to the market. The scanner can scan not only impinging light content but also slides and negatives up to a size of approximately 20x30 cm.

Comments about HP Scanjet G4050 Photo Flatbed Scanner: I was looking for a scanner that would be able to handle all the photos that I like to experiment with and this has proved to be worth my buy. I like the design, the quality is exceptional, and it's a very light machine.

Accurate Color; Easy Setup; Excellent Software; Good Bit Depth; Good Resolution; Widely Compatible; Works on Network

This scanner is OK for amateur photographers but does not provide the tools to scan negatives for fine photographic work, The software is sloppy and the HP on-line help is pathetic. I found I knew more than the technician about a problem that I asked help for.

It's becoming rarer for home users to want separate printers and scanners, primarily because of the space each one uses, which is why multi-function devices are popular.

I use this scanner to copy work documents on PDF file and transfer them to my mobile device. This scanner records very well. The software is also nice as I can crop and darken an old document if needed. The price is great for what this scanner does. I would highly recommend it.

Picture; Software; Price

Scan time, not to bad; About 4 to 5 seconds per scan

software failed in initial installation and messed up existing operation of the computer. I'm a college professor, PhD, who knows his way around a computer. The hard drive had to be wiped clean and all programs reinstalled - a mess which took techies 2 days to fix.

large bed for scanning; hi resolution

complicated to use; impossibile to install

The scanner works well and is easy to load with film. At the moment, i am concentrating on the negatives. Film needs to be loaded "up-side- down" (not back to front) from the user point of view. That way, less work needs to be done to get the pictures the right way up on screen.

Though the world and its mum have moved from film to digital photography, there's been some innovative launches for creative pros in the scanner market in the last six months. Epson's Perfection V700 and v750 included two lenses – one for film and one for reflectives – and now HP has introduced...

Six-colour scanning; Excellent colour capture

Slow; Mediocre dust-&-scratches/anti-fade technology