Why Are Laser Scanners Being Banned From Book Sales

Fujitsu fi-6130 Duplex Scanner (PA03540-B055)

There are a number of reasons being discussed by booksellers all over the Internet. Some of the reasons I have read include:

1) A desire by some to curtail the profiteers and assure that there are some good books left when the sale opens to the general public.

Certainly, this hinders the online bookseller and limits the number of books that he/she is able to check, but I do not think this is the reason.

2) Another hypothesis I have heard is that booksellers rummaging through the books and scanning them leave the unwanted books in disarray, thus making more work for the volunteers to straighten out the mess, but I do not think this is the reason either.

The time it takes to straighten out tables of books after a couple hundred booksellers have finished rummaging around is probably not any longer than straightening out after a few thousand people during the "open to the public" period.

3) There are also some that believe the cashiers do not like ringing up hundreds of books for booksellers,

This does not make any sense because it is a lot easier to make one sale of hundreds of books to one buyer than to ring up two books for hundreds of customers, so I do not think this is the reason.

4) The volunteers and helpers at the book sales are jealous of booksellers coming in and buying up all the good books to make a profit on them.

I do not doubt that there a people working the book sales and attending them that are jealous of dealers coming in and buying up the valuable books, and this probably does play into the decision to ban scanners, but I do not think it is the primary reason either.

I believe the book sale organizers are genuinely concerned about safety and potential litigation. If you have ever been zapped in the eyes by a careless bookseller with a total disregard for where he/she is pointing their scanner, you know exactly what I mean. You will see spots and/or floaters for a good half hour. If exposed to a direct laser of the intensity of my HP 5P (class II) scanner, I do not doubt that you would suffer some permanent eye damage.

I was personally zapped accidentally by someone using their laser scanner and I could not read ISBN's or the screen on my PDA for almost 45 minutes. I believe laser scanners are being banned from book sales because of liability issues; and with our society being so focused on taking someone to court; the book sale organizers do not want to risk being held responsible for the actions of a careless bookseller. As obnoxious as some of the booksellers I have seen can be, I would not put it past some of them to intentionally zap me if for no other reason than to temporarily give them an edge in buying while my eyes recover.

Michael E. Mould is the author of "Online Bookselling: A Practical Guide with Detailed Explanations and Insightful Tips," [Paperback ISBN 1427600708, CD-ROM ISBN 1599714876] and the developer of "Bookkeeping for Booksellers" [CD ISBN 1427600694], you can learn more about online bookselling at: http://www.online-bookselling.com or by emailing mike@online-bookselling.com

Are Police Scanners Wrong Or A Neccessary Evil?

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One year at Christmas time, my dad told me that if I wanted to get him something special I could go out and look for police scanners. It seems that there are a lot of people in my fathers small town that like to have these. I guess it is because in such a small community it is nice to know what is going on, and usually when there is emergency most people know the other people involved. There have been many times when my father was made aware of a family illness from the information that has come over the scanner.

Most police scanners work in the same way. They can be tuned to the same frequency as the scanners that the police, fire, and emergency crews use when transmitting information. I always wondered if police scanners were illegal, but there are so many people that have them, I am guessing that they are perfectly fine to have in your home. I know that when I am at my dads I can hear everything that goes on through the police scanner, and sometimes the noise will make me jump.

I suspect if my dad lived in a larger area that the police scanners would be something he would not have. The small town he lives in does not have a lot of constant activity, so information coming over the police scanners is only once in awhile. Now, if he lived in a city, perhaps the scanner would not be such a good idea. There would be so much information, and so much going on that you would never get a moments peace. He would probably also not know most of the names he heard, so it would be of little interest to him.

If you are interested in police scanners, be prepared to spend a little money when buying. In the end, we did not end up buying my father one for Christmas because the police scanners we found were all too expensive for our buying budget. He did go out get one of his own that year, and told us that once he realized how much they were, he was glad that we did not spend that much money on him. I would have had no problem doing so, but it was simply not something we could afford. In the end it was probably a good idea that he got his own however, as he was able to choose the exact one he wanted.

Ralph Jarvis runs his own mail order business as well as running several shopping based websites. His particular speciality is electronics and computers. Visit his website which is full of Consumer Electronics resources or other Police Scanners articles and reviews. http://www.discount-consumer-electronics.com/Cell-Phones.html

Best FREE Spyware Scanner

Fujitsu fi-6130 Duplex Scanner (PA03540-B055)

If you suspect that your PC has been infected by spyware, one of your first stops should be at a web site that allows you to download a free spyware/adware scanner.

Many companies offer free programs that are cut-down versions of their commercial products. Some programs are also available as freeware or Open Source. In general, these spyware/adware scanners are free for non-commercial use only. This means that the program can only be used at home or college and is for your personal use only. If you use the program at work, or install it on more than one computer system at a time, you are usually required to pay for it.

Some companies ask you to register the software before using it. Registration is often required if you want to be able to update the program via the Internet. Although it might be a little inconvenient, registration costs nothing and helps software developers continue to let people use their programs for free.

Although anti-spyware programs may offer lots of different features, most work in basically the same way. When the program first starts, it will usually attempt to update its internal database of spyware information via the Internet. The amount of time this takes will vary according to the speed of your Internet connection but shouldn't take more than a minute of two. Once any updates have been downloaded, the program will then carry out a full scan of your machine. This can take a long time, so be prepared to wait patiently or, better still, go and grab a coffee!

When the scan is complete, a list of infected files will be displayed, together with details of the spyware/adware found. You can then choose how to deal with each case. Typical options include repairing infected files, deleting them or placing them in quarantine. Repairing a file involves removing the spyware and restoring the file to its previous condition. No data will be lost and the file can be used as normal. If a file can not be repaired, sometimes the only option is to delete it. Once deleted, the file can not be recovered and any data it contained will be lost forever. If an infected file can not be repaired, it can sometimes be placed in quarantine until such time as a way of removing the infection is found. Although the file is not deleted, it will not be possible to use it until it can be repaired. Quarantined files can remain inaccessible for weeks, months or even years. Sometimes, it becomes clear that it will never be possible to repair a quarantined file, leaving no choice but to delete it.

If a spyware scanner fails to detect any viruses, this does not necessarily mean that the computer is "clean". It may simply be that the particular program you are using is unable to identify certain forms of spyware. Similarly, while one program may fail to repair files infected by a particular type of spyware, another may be more successful. For this reason, it is always a good idea to check your computer with two or more scanners if you suspect infection by spyware or adware. Under normal circumstances only one package needs to be installed permanently.

As mentioned earlier, all of the programs listed here can be used completely free of charge. In addition, all are offered by companies with good reputations in the field. Please remember that there will be many occasions when free spyware scanners are not convenient or appropriate.

Since diect links are not allowable in articles like this, you will need to copy and paste the links below into your browser.

Online Services

Trojan Scan (online service)

http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/

SpySweeper Scan

http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products/spysweeper/freescan.html

eTrust Pest Scan

http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pestscan/

Trend Micro Spyware Scanner (online service)

http://www.trendmicro.com/spyware-scan/

Software

SwatIt!

http://www.lockdowncorp.com/bots/downloadswatit.html

AVG Anti Spyware

http://www.ewido.net/en/download/

a-squared

http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/

Spyware Blaster

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Ad-Aware Personal

http://www.lavasoft.de/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

Spybot Search and Destroy

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Paul Edwards is the psudonym of one of the UK's best-selling authors in the area of ICT. He earns his living as a freelance writer and consultant, specialising in cybercrime and computer security. More information on protecting your computer from viruses, spyware, hackers and other threats can be found at http://www.protect-your-pc.co.uk

How A Great New Australian Invention Has Suddenly Made Wide Format Scanners Affordable

Fujitsu fi-6130 Duplex Scanner (PA03540-B055)

No one can deny that the experience of working with information contained on real paper provides a lot more comfort and satisfaction than viewing it on a computer monitor. This is not just the case when trying to view portrait oriented office documents on a landscape monitor, but even more so when it comes to working with large documents such as engineering plan drawings or maps.

Many image viewing applications try and make the experience more pleasant with an innovative array of software functions such as displaying thumbnails with birds eye views and smooth panning.

Luckily however, the incredible advances in computer hardware together with much higher monitor resolution is making the experience a lot more bearable.

So why are we trying our damnedest to cram wide format documents into computers, even though the user experience remains less than ideal?

Of course the reasons are compelling, especially from a business point of view.

One of the most powerful motivators for going digital has got to be the cost savings in terms of digital distribution by means of e-mail or publishing on the Internet.

Other compelling reasons include the ability to convert images from plan drawings, maps and other wide format documents to CAD format by means of a process called vectorization.

This software process operates similar to OCR or optical character recognition, a complex software application that converts scanned text into computer recognisable text.

Vectorisation software is extremely useful for the conversion of engineering plan drawings and GIS information from maps into popular CAD file formats for the purposes of editing or to act as electronic stencils for the purposes of cutting or milling shapes in the fields of product manufacture and reverse engineering.

Unfortunately though, the cost of acquiring large format scanning capability has been prohibitive for all but the larger and more profitable organisations. With the typical cost of a wide format colour scanner ranging between $10K to $20K, it has never been economically viable for smaller organisations to benefit from this crucial technology.

However, one can always rely on the typical Australian "can-do" attitude to come up with a simpler solution. Due to their rugged and unforgiving environment, Australians have always managed to come up with category busters when it comes to innovative solutions.

Some examples of Australian ingenuity include the old Tommy Gun, Grain Harvesters, the ubiquitous Ute or Pickup and the Cement Spun water pipe.

One of their latest inventions, the Deskan 6 wide format colour scanner finally breaks the entry barrier to smaller organisations who would like to benefit from an in-house capacity to convert large format documents to digital format.

With a scanning resolution of up to 600 DPI and the capacity to scan in either 24 bit colour, greyscale or black and white from wide format documents even larger than "E" or "A0" size, this rugged and reliable Australian innovation offers the same set of features found in traditional wide format roller scanners, but at a quarter of the normal price.

The only real compromise is scanning speed.

However, with the capacity of realistically scanning up to 90x E-size (A0) wide format colour documents at the industry standard resolution of 200 dpi and up to 150 similar size documents in black and white in an eight hour shift, it would only be the most demanding commercial imaging service providers and large government organisations who may find this compromise unsuitable.

However, due to its unique simplified construction, the Deskan 6 now offers complete affordability to smaller organisations who would never have been able to justify the cost of a traditional wide format scanner.

Consider this. A standard wide format colour roller scanner of around $15,000 works out to a monthly lease repayment of approximately $600.00, an expense that can hardly be justified by most smaller organisations.

On the other hand, the Deskan 6 comes to only US$4500.00 which includes international shipping to the USA, Canada or the UK. This means you can enjoy all the benefits of an in-house wide format colour scanner for only $175 per month which works out to less than $6.00 per day.

If you cannot benefit from having a colour wide format scanner at $6.00 per day, you don't need one.

Let's have a closer look at some of the organisations that may benefit from investing in the Deskan 6

Instead of relying on expensive courier services, Architects, landscapers and other artists are instantly empowered to serve a much wider geographic client base by being able to scan and e-mail their freehand drawings or art. What used to take days can now be on the client's desktop for approval with in a matter of minutes.

Manufacturing and maintenance divisions can now provide key employees with controlled and instant online access to collections of plan drawings or other information contained in wide format documents. This reduces downtime and increases productivity to the extent of having become a no-brainer to organisations who wish to stay competitive.

Manufacturing engineers involved in reverse engineering of components now have a low cost and viable option for the scanning and vectorisation of 2.5d components.

Other individuals who may benefit include those who need to create CAD format stencils and templates for electronic embroidering, vinyl sign or laser component cutting, custom auto detailers and artists, fabric and carpet pattern designers, smaller photocopy shops and printing businesses etc.

For those who need more information and would like to see an online video presentation, please do not hesitate to check out this amazing new innovation.

With a solid involvement in computer hardware stemming from the early 80s, and specialising in the conversion of hardcopy to searchable electronic information for the last 13 years, I have always been motivated to bring the latest innovations to clients who could benefit from digital imaging. As founder owner of numerous computer-based businesses, most of whom have been acquired by large listed organisations, I now offer various document imaging and consulting services from http://www.docsondisc.com/Deskan.html on the Australian Gold Coast, our premier holiday destination.

Large Format Film Scanners

Fujitsu fi-6130 Duplex Scanner (PA03540-B055)

A film scanner is a device that can convert an image on a film negative or a slide into a digital image file usable on a computer. Film scanning is gaining momentum because it produces better digital reproductions than a scanned photographic print. Even though film scanners have lesser clarity when compared to photographs made directly from film, the images produced are detailed enough to be enlarged without becoming grainy or blurry.

When it becomes necessary to scan large sized films it may become necessary to use the large format film scanners. Many of these large format scanners are equipped with various pre-scan and post-scan settings. Before actually beginning the scan resolution needs to be set (represented as dpi, or dots per inch). User can also select color and contrast with the software to get the right saturation or the deep shadows or reset the boundaries if there is need to crop the image.

The large format film scanners differ in the size of film accepted, their accompanying software, the time it takes to complete a scan, and the maximum resolution it can handle. These scanners also demonstrate a varying sensitivity to contrast. While a good large format film scanner will catch bright highlights, an inferior model may dim them. Most are able to capture several distinct colors too. A buyer should have a precise idea of the requirements before initiating research.

Recently, a few large format film scanners have been combined with flatbed scanners that process print images, outfitted with specialty dust removers, compartments that scan more than one negative at a time, and adapters for slides. They are proving to be very useful to remove scratches and dust on the film that cannot be cleaned or smoothed mechanically.

Film and slides are original images and so they give higher resolution, strong contrast, amazing range of color and great degree of detail when reproduced. Scanning such an image using large format film scanners ensures that the user gets the best resolution.

Large Format Scanners provides detailed information on Large Format Scanners, Large Format Color Scanners, Large Format Flatbed Scanners, Used Large Format Scanners and more. Large Format Scanners is affiliated with Home Theater Projector Screens.

Large Format Optical Scanners

Fujitsu fi-6130 Duplex Scanner (PA03540-B055)

A large format optical scanner is a device that can read textual or graphical information from large paper sizes and reproduce it into a format that can be used by a computer. Most large format optical scanners can digitize data with width of up to 1000mm and 5000mm in length. Any document larger than this, can be scanned in parts and then pasted together to achieve the look of the original.

The working of a large format optical scanner is simple. It scans all data, irrespective of whether it is text or images and converts them into bitmaps. However, it is mainly used to scan images like record drawings, architectural plans, structural details, area maps, landscape designs, engineering drawings and building plans. As a result, it is not well adapted to needs of a textual document since a scanned text document cannot be edited directly. In order to enable editing in such scanned text, most large format optical scanners have an optical character recognition (OCR) system, which converts the texts into ASCII characters. A large format optical scanner enables a user to digitally clean old, dirty or torn drawings. A large format optical scanners with an OCR system is also able to enhance an image by adding or erasing text, removing or introducing new lines, or highlighting areas and many such functions.

Even though large format optical scanners are available in flatbed and overhead models the most common one is the sheet-fed scanner. Sheet-fed scanners are excellent for loose sheets of paper however they are less capable of handling bound documents, which are better off if scanned using a flat bed or overhead model. Most large format optical scanners are available in color as well as black and white models. Most of the large format optical scanners available in the market are able to store data in two formats, TIFF (Tag Image File Format) or PDF (Portable Document Format). Colortrac, Oce, Contex, Altek Corporation, ACTion Imaging solutions, ANAtech, CST, Vidar systems, and WideCom are some of the leading companies producing large format optical scanners.

Large Format Scanners provides detailed information on Large Format Scanners, Large Format Color Scanners, Large Format Flatbed Scanners, Used Large Format Scanners and more. Large Format Scanners is affiliated with Home Theater Projector Screens.

Large Format Scanner Repairs

Fujitsu fi-6130 Duplex Scanner (PA03540-B055)

After a certain time period, all scanners will begin showing signs of wear and tear. Specialized equipment can show such signs based on the intensity of use. In most cases, the scanner's data capturing ability decreases, the data scanned is of poor quality and a scanner begins to take more time to scan data than it previously used to. When users begin to face such problems from their large format scanners, it is time to send off the scanner for repair.

A large number of companies provide repairing services for scanners. Most of these can be contacted over the phone or through their sites in the Internet. A person contacting these firms must leave exact description of the type and model of the scanner being sent for repair and if possible the problem with unit. Most of these firms take as much as 4-6 weeks to repair a unit (repair turnaround). The turnaround time usually depends the nature of repair, the availability of parts, and the number of repairs or units to be finished. Many of these firms guarantee the repairs done for 90 days from invoice date of completion.

In order to insure warranty repair is available users are required to send in the registration cards upon purchase.

User should ascertain that a particular firm is capable and willing to undertake the repair work of the specific scanner before hiring them as some firms do not accept certain types of scanners. While shipping a scanner for repair, a person must make sure that the unit is packed properly with at least 3-6 inches of foam peanuts or similar packing material (do not use newspaper or shredded paper as packing material) between all sides of the unit and shipping box. The owner must take special care to wrap the battery and accessories separately. In case an owners are unable to handle the packing, they can use a shipping service which includes a packing service. It is always preferable if the owner uses a shipper who can track the package and provide this information online. Scanner owners must always take care to put their name, address, phone and email directly on the unit with a sticker or tag.

Most repair firms give an estimate for unit repair before the work is done. Users may pre-pay this amount by check, money order, certified funds, Visa, Master Card, or even PayPal.

Large Format Scanners provides detailed information on Large Format Scanners, Large Format Color Scanners, Large Format Flatbed Scanners, Used Large Format Scanners and more. Large Format Scanners is affiliated with Home Theater Projector Screens.