Microtek ScanMaker X6 36-Bit USB with LightLid 35 Flatbed Scanner
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Lightlid 35 is pathetic!
  • ScanMaker X6 is a great deal!
Microtek ScanMaker X6 36-Bit USB with LightLid 35 Flatbed Scanner

Manufacturer: Microtek
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

FlatbedFlatbed | Scanners | Office Electronics | Categories | Electronics
Flatbed ScannersFlatbed Scanners | Printers & Scanners | Camera & Photo | Categories | Electronics
Printers & ScannersPrinters & Scanners | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics
Office ElectronicsOffice Electronics | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
MicrotekMicrotek | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics
Accessories:
  1. Belkin F3U134-10 USB Extension Cable (10-Feet) Belkin F3U134-10 USB Extension Cable (10-Feet)
  2. Monster Cable MP AV600 Power Protector Monster Cable MP AV600 Power Protector
  3. Monster PC700 Computer PowerCenter¿ with Surge Protection Monster PC700 Computer PowerCenter¿ with Surge Protection
  4. Canon 1029A004 Photo Paper Pro for BJC-8200 (8.5"x11", 15 Sheets ) Canon 1029A004 Photo Paper Pro for BJC-8200 (8.5"x11", 15 Sheets )
  5. Acoustic Research AR-8V 8-Outlet, 1284 Joule, $50,000 CEW Surge Protector Acoustic Research AR-8V 8-Outlet, 1284 Joule, $50,000 CEW Surge Protector

Product Features:
  • True 36-bit color, 12-bit grayscale
  • True 600 x 1,200 dpi; 9,600 dpi enhanced resolution
  • Includes LightLid 35, a bonus 35mm positive slide adapter
  • Zero-reflection technology
  • USB connectivity

ASIN: B00001T38W

Product Description

Affordable high-resolution 36-bit color scanning has arrived! Get sharp, brilliant photos or documents into your computer with Microtek's X6. An integrated " GO" button launches Scansuite software for simplified scan-to-file, fax and print utilities. Valuable image-editing software programs like the PhotoImpact give you creative control over your images, and installation is a snap.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Lightlid 35 is pathetic!.......2007-03-05

I needed to scan many slides to make a DVD for my parent's anniversary. My brother gave me his Lightlid 35 and Microtek scanner (not X6). The Lightlid barely did what I needed it to. It's a piece of junk. However, it seemed I couldn't touch any other slide scanner for less than a few hundred dollars. Anyway, if you don't need perfect scans of slides, this Lightlid is for you. Beware, forget scanning slides that are too light or too dark, it can't read them.

4 out of 5 stars ScanMaker X6 is a great deal!.......2000-02-18

I purchased my Microtek ScanMaker X6 and just recieved it. After taking about twenty minutes to install the USB version on my PowerBook, I installed the drivers, and it worked wonderfully. To get the best scans out of this machine, it requires that you use higher DPI. I found that using ScanWizard through Photoshop much more accurate than using the ScanMaker program. Overall, this product produces EXCELLENT images (And I'm a picky photographer). Great deal!
Microtek ScanMaker X6 USB Flatbed Scanner
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • A useful tool with not enough instructions
  • Good quality scanner, great pictures and easy to use...
  • No problems at all
  • Never got it to work; never got Microtek support to help me.
  • Good product - Bad technical support
Microtek ScanMaker X6 USB Flatbed Scanner

Manufacturer: Microtek
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

FlatbedFlatbed | Scanners | Office Electronics | Categories | Electronics
Flatbed ScannersFlatbed Scanners | Printers & Scanners | Camera & Photo | Categories | Electronics
Printers & ScannersPrinters & Scanners | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics
Office ElectronicsOffice Electronics | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
MicrotekMicrotek | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics
Electronics Available for International ShippingElectronics Available for International Shipping | Specialty Stores | Electronics Features | Electronics
Accessories:
  1. Targus PAUH212U 7 Port USB 2.0 Hub Targus PAUH212U 7 Port USB 2.0 Hub
  2. Targus PAUH217U 4 Port Ultra Mini USB 2.0 Hub Targus PAUH217U 4 Port Ultra Mini USB 2.0 Hub
  3. Belkin F3U134-10 USB Extension Cable (10-Feet) Belkin F3U134-10 USB Extension Cable (10-Feet)
  4. Monster Cable MP AV600 Power Protector Monster Cable MP AV600 Power Protector
  5. Monster PC700 Computer PowerCenter¿ with Surge Protection Monster PC700 Computer PowerCenter¿ with Surge Protection

Product Features:
  • True 36-bit color, 12-bit grayscale
  • True 600 x 1,200 dpi, 9,600-dpi enhanced resolution
  • FlexScan lid for scanning 3-D objects
  • Zero-reflection technology
  • PC and Mac compatible

ASIN: B00000JFIW

Product Description

The Microtek ScanMaker X6 features one-button control for faxing, scanning, copying, and other features. Simply push the button, conveniently located on the front of the scanner, to launch Microtek's ScanSuite software, which controls the scanner's functions. The ScanMaker X6 also includes Color Enhanced Optimization, a process that automatically sets color calibration to ensure true-to-life reproduction. And MicroTek's Zero Reflection Design Technology blocks out any improper lighting to preserve the quality of your scan.Microtek installed a parallel interface port on the ScanMaker X6 that provides simple installation. Simply connect the scanner to your computer using the cable and let your Windows 95 operating system configure it for you. Supports 600 X 1200 DPI Maximum Optical Resolution.

Amazon.com Review

True 600 x 1,200 dpi scanning doesn't have to come in an expensive package. The Microtek ScanMaker X6 offers several advanced technologies to give you great scans of text and color and black-and-white images, all at an inexpensive price.

We set up the ScanMaker X6 without documentation to guide us: we plugged in the AC power and connected the USB cable to our PC. Then, with the scanner turned off, we installed the drivers, optical character recognition (OCR) software, and ScanSuite software from the CD-ROM. We restarted Windows and turned on the scanner, and Windows automatically completed the installation. The entire setup process was flawless.

To test the scanner, we placed a color photo on the scanner bed, started a paint application, and selected Acquire from the application's File menu. The ScanMaker driver software started automatically, allowing us to select the scanning options. We chose 600 dpi with millions of colors and clicked the mouse for a preview scan. The preview scan took only 19 seconds. We used the ScanMaker software to crop the preview image and then clicked the mouse for a full scan. The full scan took 50 seconds and contained unwanted moiré patterns.

We repeated the scan, this time specifying a descreening option. After 90 seconds, we were treated to beautiful results: the moiré pattern had disappeared entirely. It was impossible to distinguish this scan from a scan of the same photograph made on a much more expensive professional scanner.

To test the OCR software, we started ScanSuite, clicked the OCR button, and set the options for 300 dpi and for output to Microsoft Word. We scanned a high-contrast, multicolored promotional flyer overlaid with black text. The scan took 25 seconds plus eight seconds for OCR processing and conversion to Word's .doc format. We opened the Word file to mixed results. The OCR software had mistaken every red bullet in the original as "4m" or "4o," and it had placed line breaks in unexpected places. However, the software had read all the text, and there were no outright typographical errors.

Given the ScanMaker's easy setup, good scans of photographs, and friendly ScanSuite software, we think this is an excellent scanner for the price.

Pros:

Cons

Amazon.com Product Description

The new ScanMaker X6 provides affordable high-resolution 36-bit scanning in a compact, easy-to-use flatbed scanner. With a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, scanner installation is easy on Windows 98 or the new Apple iMac. An integrated "GO" button on the front of the scanner launches Microtek's own ScanSuite software for simplified faxing, copying, image scanning, or a host of other features.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A useful tool with not enough instructions.......2000-03-10

The Microtek Scanmaker X6 is a pretty sharp looking unit and the installation of the unit and its software were straightforward. It will scan in documents and pictures up to 8.5 x 11 inches quickly and with extremely high resolution. Once the picture is taken, the included software will allow you to manipulate the colors, add effects etc. just like a computer graphics expert (well, kinda). The only real problem I had with it stemmed from it being my first scanner. The unit comes with very few instructions. A simple pamphlet on how to scan in nice photos would have been extremely useful. I was able to quickly discern how to adjust the resolution and scaling so that the pictures I was scanning didn't turn out to be several hundred MB large, but I am not sure everyone will realize how to do that. Even now, I am not sure whether it is better to scan in a picture with high resolution and then scale it down with the software or scan it in with a lower resololution and scale it down less. . .see the kind of confusion I am talking about? On the upside, I have been able to augment my website with tons of pictures and scan in some important documents. The software will even allow you to use your scanner as either a fax machine or a photocopier (provided you have a modem and printer, respectively). Generally speaking, I recommend the unit to people who at least have some clue about how to use computers well. The real amateurs will probably never figure it out.

4 out of 5 stars Good quality scanner, great pictures and easy to use..........1999-12-09

I recently purchased this scanner despite being aware of the bad reviews at Amazon because so many other independent comparative reviews gave it top recommendations.

I found both the hardware and software very easy to install on my Dell laptop using Windows 98, and overall the scanner is well built with a tough aluminium case.

I could not fault the scanning quality, which produced a very clear, sharp image. However, I was a little disappointed in the fax software which, as far as I can tell, can only fax one scan in one call and seems to have to take two passes of each page. Also the word recognition omnipage bundle made too many mistakes (although it has to be said that if you are going to do a lot of OCR then you are probably advised to buy a specialist package such as Omnipage Pro V.9 rather than rely on bundled software that comes with any scanner).

Apart from these software limitations, the actual scanner is second to none. I think that Microtek have recently updated the installation software so that many of the problems encountered by other reviewers are now ironed out.

One annoying thing that I did notice was a faint ticking sound coming from the transformer when the scanner is switched off but still plugged in at the mains. Although this is, according to Microtek, perfectly normal, it can be annoying if you have sensitive hearing and work in a very quiet environment. Most people would never notice it.

In summary: the scanner output quality and build deserves 5 stars, whereas the bundled software, although easy to use, deserves 4 stars. Overall I will give it 4 stars because of the ticking sound which forces me to switch it on and off at the wall socket.

5 out of 5 stars No problems at all.......1999-11-18

I got my scanner from Dell along with my computer. Itinstalled easily and has worked fine. I have had absolutely noexperience with scanners. Mine makes great scans in all modes but I normally use it in the scan to file mode. I have had no reason to try to reach the help lines or any thing like that. I like it.

1 out of 5 stars Never got it to work; never got Microtek support to help me........1999-11-03

My previous scanner broke, so I bought the legal size version of this scanner that comes with USB and SCSI connections (V6-USL), and followed the installation instructions to the letter. The system recognized it fine, but when I tried to test/use the scanner, the machine would lock up. After re-installing several times, I took off from work early one day to call support and work through it with them. I called every five minutes for 3 whole hours, and they never once picked up the phone. I returned the scanner and bought a Visioneer instead, and it works fine.

I hear Microtek makes good scanners, but the combination of a non-functional device and a support group that doesn't answer the phone is very frustrating.

3 out of 5 stars Good product - Bad technical support.......1999-10-24

I have a scanmaker X6 with scsi. I like the product, but my scansuite does not work properly and there is absolutely no troubleshooting information in the scansuite pdf file. I logged on to the website and found very little technical support there as well. The error message I receive is: "Unexpected error! Please quit scansuite then relaunch again. File: TW_Manager.cp. I believe it's probably a simple problem, as I can scan just fine through photoshop, but I will probably have to call long distance and possibly being put on hold for a long time to find the answer. I think Microtek could use a lot of improvement in their technical support on the internet.
SCANMAKER X6 FLATBED-MAC
Average customer rating: Not rated
    SCANMAKER X6 FLATBED-MAC

    Manufacturer: Second Source - All Vendors
    ProductGroup: CE
    Binding: Electronics

    FlatbedFlatbed | Scanners | Office Electronics | Categories | Electronics
    Flatbed ScannersFlatbed Scanners | Printers & Scanners | Camera & Photo | Categories | Electronics
    Printers & ScannersPrinters & Scanners | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics
    Office ElectronicsOffice Electronics | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
    MicrotekMicrotek | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics
    ASIN: B00007DTHU

    Product Description

    The Microtek ScanMaker X6 features one-button control for faxing, scanning, copying, and other features. Simply push the button, conveniently located on the front of the scanner, to launch Microtek's ScanSuite software, which controls the scanner's functions. The ScanMaker X6 also includes Color Enhanced Optimization, a process that automatically sets color calibration to ensure true-to-life reproduction. And MicroTek's Zero Reflection Design Technology blocks out any improper lighting to preserve the quality of your scan.Microtek installed a parallel interface port on the ScanMaker X6 that provides simple installation. Simply connect the scanner to your computer using the cable and let your Windows 95 operating system configure it for you. Supports 600 X 1200 DPI Maximum Optical Resolution.
    Microtek ScanMaker X6 Flatbed Scanner (Parallel)
    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    • XP Updated Drivers work
    • Excellent scan quality, sluggish speed
    • A LEMON FOR SURE
    • Decent scanner but terrible software
    • bum equipment
    Microtek ScanMaker X6 Flatbed Scanner (Parallel)

    Manufacturer: Microtek
    ProductGroup: CE
    Binding: Electronics

    FlatbedFlatbed | Scanners | Office Electronics | Categories | Electronics
    Flatbed ScannersFlatbed Scanners | Printers & Scanners | Camera & Photo | Categories | Electronics
    Printers & ScannersPrinters & Scanners | Used Photo & Camera | Specialty Stores | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics
    Office ElectronicsOffice Electronics | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
    MicrotekMicrotek | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics
    Accessories:
    1. Belkin F3U134-10 USB Extension Cable (10-Feet) Belkin F3U134-10 USB Extension Cable (10-Feet)
    2. Monster Cable MP AV600 Power Protector Monster Cable MP AV600 Power Protector
    3. Monster PC700 Computer PowerCenter¿ with Surge Protection Monster PC700 Computer PowerCenter¿ with Surge Protection

    Product Features:
    • True 36-bit color, 12-bit grayscale
    • True 600 x 1,200 dpi, 9,600 dpi enhanced resolution
    • FlexScan lid for scanning 3-D objects
    • Zero-reflection technology
    • Parallel connectivity

    ASIN: B00000JFIX

    Product Description

    The Microtek ScanMaker X6 features one-button control for faxing, scanning, copying, and other features. Simply push the button, conveniently located on the front of the scanner, to launch Microtek's ScanSuite software, which controls the scanner's functions. The ScanMaker X6 also includes Color Enhanced Optimization, a process that automatically sets color calibration to ensure true-to-life reproduction. And MicroTek's Zero Reflection Design Technology blocks out any improper lighting to preserve the quality of your scan.Microtek installed a parallel interface port on the ScanMaker X6 that provides simple installation. Simply connect the scanner to your computer using the cable and let your Windows 95 operating system configure it for you. Supports 600 X 1200 DPI Maximum Optical Resolution.

    Amazon.com Review

    Get easy parallel connectivity and true 600 x 1,200 dpi scanning from the Microtek ScanMaker X6. It offers several advanced technologies to give you great scans of text, and of color and black-and-white images, all at an inexpensive price.

    We set up the ScanMaker X6 without documentation to guide us: we plugged in the AC power and connected the parallel cable to our PC. Then, with the scanner turned off, we installed the drivers, optical character recognition (OCR) software, and ScanSuite software from the CD-ROM. We restarted Windows and turned on the scanner, and Windows automatically completed the installation. The entire setup process was flawless.

    To test the scanner, we placed a color photo on the scanner bed, started a paint application, and selected Acquire from the application's File menu. The ScanMaker driver software started automatically, allowing us to select the scanning options. We chose 600 dpi with millions of colors and clicked the mouse for a preview scan. We used the ScanMaker software to crop the preview image and then clicked the mouse for a full scan. The full scan took less than a minute and contained unwanted moiré patterns.

    We repeated the scan, this time specifying a descreening option. Shortly thereafter, we were treated to beautiful results: the moiré pattern had disappeared entirely. It was impossible to distinguish this scan from a scan of the same photograph made on a much more expensive professional scanner.

    To test the OCR software, we started ScanSuite, clicked the OCR button, and set the options for 300 dpi and for output to Microsoft Word. We scanned a high-contrast, multicolored promotional flyer overlaid with black text. After scanning, the OCR software processed and converted the scan to Word's .doc format. We opened the Word file to mixed results. The OCR software had mistaken every red bullet in the original as "4m" or "4o," and it had placed line breaks in unexpected places. However, the software had read all the text, and there were no outright typographical errors.

    Given the ScanMaker's easy setup, good scans of photographs, and friendly ScanSuite software, we think this is an excellent scanner for the price.

    Pros:

    Cons:

    Amazon.com Product Description

    The ScanMaker X6 is a 36-bit scanner that offers 600 x 1200-dpi high resolution, a push-button activator, and professional image quality. The new ScanMaker X6 provides affordable high-resolution 36-bit scanning in a compact, easy-to-use flatbed scanner. An integrated "GO" button on the front of the scanner launches Microtek's own ScanSuite software for simplified faxing, copying, image scanning, or a host of other features. This unit comes with an Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP) PC interface.

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars XP Updated Drivers work.......2004-04-22

    I concur with the prior reviews. The Scanmaker X-6 was a nice functional product for it's time, but I really had trouble getting it to install and run in Windows 98. After a couple of frustrating sessions, I got it to work (the included software Dynacion Swiss Army Knife did the trick) and it has worked well for several years. The already mentioned quirk of not recognizing the scanner unless it is turned on at computer system boot up was the biggest annoyance.

    I just upgraded to Windows XP and the scanner was obviously not compatible. Went to Microtek's site and downloaded the updated software drivers. First install attempt ... the install program crashed. Waited a couple of days. Second attempt... install program ran, but then on reboot got a can't find some kind of .dll file message. Uninstalled the scanner and reinstalled. Third time.. ran install (setup.exe program in Disk 1 of download) again and it worked perfectly. Set up and ran on reboot.

    Scan quality is still good... not as good as new scanner and is relatively slow (Extended parallel port EPP Interface), but also $100-$200 cheaper than buying a new scanner.

    Good product, finicky "not so hot" to "crummy" install software. Nonexistent support from company other than downloads. I'm not an expert software, computer guy, just persistent and did get it to work. I'm using it with XP ... also works well with XP control panel scanner icon and software... but will probably upgrade to better scanner in next few months (Apr 2004 post)

    4 out of 5 stars Excellent scan quality, sluggish speed.......2002-05-24

    I've had this scanner for about 3 years now. It has worked perfectly in Windows 98/ME/2000/XP. I mainly use this scanner for photographs. The scan quality is excellent, as evidenced by correct tonal reproduction. You can even scan 3D objects by placing them on the scan bed, effectively getting a digital camera quality image. The only downside is speed. This scanner features a parallel port connection, which severely cripples its performance potential. Basically, if you need an all-around quality scanner to be used for occasional scans, look into it.

    1 out of 5 stars A LEMON FOR SURE.......2001-07-10

    I have had the same software problems as the other reviewers, and have had a terrible time with this scanner. Also, like the other reviewers, I consider the scan quality of this scanner to be excellent but unfortunatly I am seldom able to make it work. The software is for win 95 but did not work properly even with that version of windows, and with Windows 98, its almost out of the question, though I have been able to use it a few times. (hehe) I think that if 13 out of 13 reviews say theres software problems, that as a minimum its time for the buyer to beware, and perhaps even time for a refund or exchange from Microtek.

    3 out of 5 stars Decent scanner but terrible software.......2001-05-05

    It scans pictures with pretty good quality for the price, I have no problem with that. In addition, you can use both printer and scanner with only one parallel port on the computer. It's a little tricky to get this to work right, you have to boot up in the right order (printer first, then scanner, then computer) but overall still pretty nice to use both devices with one port.

    The downside to this scanner is the software. Basically, it's all garbage. The only piece I use is the TWAIN acquire software attached to my Paint Shop Pro and Adobe Photoshop to bring scanned pictures in. In addition, I have a terrible time reinstalling the drivers for this scanner whenever I unplug it from my parallel port. My CD-ROM chokes whenever I place the Microtek scanning CD in my CD-ROM. I had to download the latest drivers from the Microtek website instead.

    My recommendation is: invest the extra money to get a newer, more current scanner with at least a DECENT software package. But buy the scanner for the scanning, not the software that comes with it.

    1 out of 5 stars bum equipment.......2001-03-25

    I purchased a scanner from a store (best buy) in modesto, Ca. When I got home i found that the scanner was used. the cd was thrown in the box w/o protection nd it was dirty. the white cord was dirty. I took it back (60 miles round trip) and the store siomp[ly offered me another scanner and 25.00 in cash for my trouble. I then bought a scanmakerX6 (new) and took it home. It worked for awhile then stopped and my computer was really going down. I finally took my comp to a shop and they fixed it. I again tried to install the scan,maker x6 and more problems. IT WILL NOT WORK. my computer won't even rec it now. I want to send iut back to the co, but don't know how. Bob
    Microtek ScanMaker X6 - Flatbed scanner - 600 dpi x 1200 dpi - USB
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Microtek ScanMaker X6 - Flatbed scanner - 600 dpi x 1200 dpi - USB

      Manufacturer: Microtek
      ProductGroup: CE
      Binding: Electronics

      ScannersScanners | Office Electronics | Categories | Electronics | Flatbed | Handheld | Sheet-Fed | Slide & Photo
      Office ElectronicsOffice Electronics | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
      MicrotekMicrotek | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics
      ASIN: B0009MAX24

      Product Description

      Affordable high-resolution 36-bit color scanning has arrived! Get sharp, brilliant photos or documents into your computer with Microtek's X6. An integrated " GO" button launches Scansuite software for simplified scan-to-file, fax and print utilities. Valuable image-editing software programs like the PhotoImpact give you creative control over your images, and installation is a snap.

      D-Link 4-port Broadband VPN Router ( DI-804HV )
      Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
      • The best Firewall and Great Customer Service
      • Works great for VoIP but VPN is extremely slow
      • Works well, encryption doesn't work on external tunnels.
      • Excellent value, great functionality
      • Great VPN interop with Netscreen
      D-Link 4-port Broadband VPN Router ( DI-804HV )

      Manufacturer: D-Link Systems, Inc.
      ProductGroup: CE
      Binding: Electronics

      RoutersRouters | Wired Networks | Networking & Online Communication | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
      Network SecurityNetwork Security | Networking | Data Storage & Networking | Technology | Categories | Office Depot
      RoutersRouters | Wired | Networking | Computing | Products |
      Similar Items:
      1. D-Link DSS-8+ 8-Port 10/100 Switch, Desktop D-Link DSS-8+ 8-Port 10/100 Switch, Desktop

      Product Features:
      • 4-port Ethernet broadband VPN router with Cat-5 10/100 Mbps Auto MDIX Ethernet ports
      • Creative virtual private network connections and protect your computer from hackers
      • Offers firewall security and parental control, multiple VPN tunnels
      • New setup wizard and easy, Web-based graphical user interface (GUI)
      • OS independent

      ASIN: B00008W9B3

      Product Description

      D-Link DI-804HV EtherNetwork 4-Port Broadband VPN Router - This broadband router lets you share high-speed Internet connections among computers in your home or business, as well joining them in a network for file & peripheral sharing. And with the inclusion of VPN technology, you can securely access your network remotely using the Internet! A perfect solution for easily transferring highly sensitive data! IPSec (40 IPSec Tunnels) IP Authentication Header (AH) IP Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) Internet Key Exchange (IKE) Authentication (MD5 / SHA-1) Main & Aggressive Modes External Power Supply

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars The best Firewall and Great Customer Service.......2007-01-12

      This is the 5th One I'm buying. I'm so happy as a Firewall that I give it as a gift.

      2 out of 5 stars Works great for VoIP but VPN is extremely slow.......2006-03-09

      I bought this router to replace a desktop that I use as an internet router (cable internet) and to use to to put a Cisco VoIP gateway behind the router. For VoIP and general internet use, it works great but if you use VPN (L2TP in my case), the speed is excrutiatingly slow through this router. This is consistent with other users' experiences. When I put my desktop (which is an old and slow machine) back as the router, VPN speed is at least 20 times faster. This is after all my troubleshooting and I'm a networks engineer. If you need VPN, don't get this router.

      4 out of 5 stars Works well, encryption doesn't work on external tunnels........2005-03-23

      I bought this router to hook a couple of houses together. It works great for that. Encryption does work in this mode.

      The real problem I had was with tunnels from my laptop. Tunnels don't work with encryption turned on, so I create an unencrypted tunnel, and then I connect to my XP Pro box at home through an encrypted tunnel. That seems to work fine.

      I have been happy with the product, except for the fact that the encryption doesn't work on the external tunnel.

      Hint: If you want to VPN 2 houses together, and either have to use DHCP with your broadband provider, use DDNS in the router with dyndns.org, then your VPN stays up even as your IP addresses change.

      **** Response to another reviewer *****

      I tried to use PPTP from my laptop remote. It works, but not if I turn on encryption on the tunnel. If he knows how to do that, I would sure like the information. I had this problem, and at least 10 others with the same problem on support sites, and nobody had the solution. Please post how you got PPTP tunnels to work from Windows with encryption enabled.

      4 out of 5 stars Excellent value, great functionality.......2004-12-22

      I have deployed close to a hundred VPN routers for my clients, and have done so primarily with Linksys BEFVP41 routers. They are cheap, but they have done the job - until lately, that is. Many of them are failing (crypto sub-system failure), so replacements are beginning to occur on a regular basis.

      I have used several other brands (3com, Netgear, etc.), but have not seen anything at this price point ($52). I picked one up from my distributor to test, and have not been disappointed.

      This unit will accept inbound PPTP and LT2P connections, something most VPN routers do not offer. I think the limit is five. I usually don't need this, as most of my clients already have PPTP running on their servers. It also claims to allow up to 40 IPSEC tunnels. That is less than the BEFVP41, but more than most people will ever need (I currently have 40 on my Netgear FVS328).

      You should plan on upgrading the firmware right away. I just upgraded to 1.40, which has been solid. The previous version (1.39) allows MPPE encryption on PPTP connections, and adds IPSEC keep-alive functionality. Mine was shipped with 1.36.

      The netbios functionality works excellent. The only thing keeping me from giving it five stars is the inability to specify Netbios by tunnel. I have clients that need Netbios (network neighborhood computer browsing), and others that do not. The problem is between my network and my client's networks. I want Netbios on some, and definitely not others. The Dlink offers it to all or none.

      If you have two or more offices with broadband connections, and wish to get them connected for sharing of network resources, this is the only way to go. As a matter of fact, you can connect a modem to the serial port on this unit and configure it to use Dial-up or ISDN, instead of cable, dsl, or T-1. I kept looking for a fallback configuration, i.e. dial the connection if the broadband connection fails, but I didn't see it. I rarely need this, but it really could be useful for branch office connections to host systems (telnet, AS400, unix POS systems, etc.). Perhaps a later firmware release will add this capability.

      If you are new to IPSEC, this might all seem daunting. If you have done it before, it shouldn't be a problem. I got a tunnel up and running on the first try, without referring to any documentation. Linksys router users will balk at having to set up the IKE and IPSEC options on different screens. Anyone who has experience with Netscreen, checkpoint, watchguard, netgear, and the bulk of the existing VPN routers out there should get it on the first try.

      For $52.00 (give or take), this is a steal. For my typical branch office clients, this will be my first choice. The Netgear FVS318 is a good router, but at nearly twice the price. Sorry guys, the Dlink gets the nod here.

      Don't even consider Linksys anymore. The only thing worse than the quality of their products (since the Cisco take-over) is the appalling tech support. It's sad to see Linksys decline as they have. I haven't purchased anything from Linksys in a year.

      5 out of 5 stars Great VPN interop with Netscreen.......2003-09-16

      Unlike the last reviewer, I was able to establish IKE-based VPN between the DI-804HV and a Netscreen 25. This is a great router for telecommuters who need IPSEC VPN capability back to a main office. I have measured throughput up to 1.8Mbps for both VPN and non-VPN traffic (1.8Mbps was the line rate, not the limit of this device)- this is plenty for the average home DSL line. The price point sure beats existing VPN telecommuting solutions like the Netscreen 5 or SonicWall SOHO.

      Electronics:

      1. Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 II 35mm Film and Slide Scanner
      2. Minolta Dimage Scan Elite Scanner with Digital ICE
      3. Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro Film Scanner
      4. Mobile Crossing WP200 Way Point Pocket PC and GPS Navigation System
      5. Monster Cable FL300 FireLink 300 IEEE 1394 Digital Audio/Video Connection, 4 Pin to 6 Pin (1 M)
      6. Monster Cable FL300 FireLink 300 IEEE 1394 Digital Audio/Video Connection, 4 Pin to 6 Pin (1 M)
      7. Monster Cable HDMI 400 DVI-4M High-Definition Video Interconnect 4 Meters
      8. Monster Cable HDMI 400 DVI-6M High-Definition Video Interconnect 6 Meters
      9. Monster Cable HDMI 400 High Resolution A/V Cable - 4 Meters
      10. Monster Cable I201XLN 2C-3M Interlink 201XLN (2 Channel) +Balanced+ Car Audio Interconnect 3 m. pair - 9.84 ft.

      Electronics

      Electronics