Flatbed scanners haven't changed much in the past 15 years, but HP has at last attempted something different. The ScanJet 4600 looks like a picture frame and, oddly, it's used in a similar way too.

Slip the document to be scanned face up under the glass lid and it is then scanned from above. The fact that you can still see the document while it's being scanned doesn't really help the process but if you're only scanning a small area, you can easily check on the original if the on-screen preview isn't clear enough.

The lid is attached to the base with a hinge but, since the base doesn't actually do anything (unlike in other flatbed scanners), it can be detached. Interestingly, this then leaves the scanning lid free to be picked up and placed against an object to be scanned, such as a page of a particularly thick book or even a picture hanging on the wall.

The ScanJet 4600 has a maximum scanning resolution of 2,400dpi but we ran our tests at a more manageable 300dpi. An A4, colour image took just 19 seconds to scan and produced clear text and rich colours. However, the most impressive results were with photos. A 6 x 4in, colour photo took 9 seconds and a black-and-white photo took 8 seconds. The colour photo produced crisp quality and brilliant rich colours. The black-and-white example was also exceptionally clear and we were able to pick out every scratch and mark on the photo.

Although you can control the scanner from a PC, there are four control buttons for power, launching the HP scan software, sending a scan directly to a printer, and sending one to an email application. The software also includes tools for optical character recognition. The unit as a whole weighs just under 2kg, is easy to store and versatile enough to suit all needs. It's a shame there's no transparency adapter to scan negatives and slides but this can be purchased for an additional £42.

Contact: HP 08705 474747
www.hp.com/uk