Originally Posted by Conan the Librarian
The 4990 is excellent. I use a 3170, but my big secret is the software it runs. Silverfast make much more capable scanner software than the OEM stuff and It is worthwhile for anyone thinking of anything other than casual scanning to Google them up. I rate the software as being a solid 11/10
Conan
Having turned everything off and made it half way across the house, I remembered this post. Suffice it to say, that it is now ten to three and I have just tried the demo version.
It has indeed breathed new life into the 3170P It was so slow that I was wondering if it had failed in some way. I think multiple loading of Epson every time they give me a new printer / scanner to replace the original one (I'm up to the 6600 now) but this means the soft was probably interwoven with loads of other stuff. It was taking half an hour to scan on the 3170 and it has just taken 3 mins for a huge file.
Just as the scanner started, I listened carefully to the buzz from the slide. instead of a buzz then stop over and over, it was running at a hi pitched continuous buzz. Great!......Then GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRR!!! It frightened the pant off me in the stillness of the night. It was my compressor coming on in the garage, it shook the house. A bit of adiabatic lowering of pressure I suppose.