BIOS: Technology Means Business

Apparently, there are still those who prefer traditional 35mm cameras compared to their digital counterparts. In addition, many people have 35mm film stored away that they'd like to get onto their computers for sharing and safe keeping.

If this sounds familiar, you may be interested in Epson's brand new Perfection 3490 Photo and Perfection 3590 Photo. You may also like to note that two days ago the company announced the Perfection 4490 (£195 inc. VAT), the only scanner in its class to feature Digital ICE technology, which is guaranteed to restore old or damaged film 'easily and efficiently'.

The Perfection 3490 Photo costs just £79.99 (inc. VAT) and is the most economical scanner in the Epson range. Despite this low price, it comes with the ability to scan either 35mm film or three mounted slides at a time, using the film holders provided.

Once the film or slides have been placed on the scanner the Perfection 3490 Photo will automatically detect whether the film is positive or negative, colour or black and white. The preview mode allows you to see the image exactly as it would appear in a photograph.

And for those who want the whole process automated, the Perfection 3590 Photo (£99.99 inc. VAT) features an Automatic Film Loader - just place your 35mm film in the feeder, press one button and leave the scanner to do the rest. The Epson Perfection 3590 Photo can scan a whole strip of six 35mm frames at one time.

Both the Perfection 3490 Photo and the Perfection 3590 Photo offer an optical scan resolution of 3200x6400ppi. The scanners also include four independent buttons on the front of the scanner which enable you to scan your image as a PDF, attach it in an e-mail or copy it by pressing a single button. This feature alone should make the scanners ideal for those who like their technology to be as simple and intuitive as possible.

Software supplied with both models includes Epson's Creativity Suite, ArcSoft's PhotoImpression 5 and ABBYY's FineReader Sprint 6. Both scanners are compatible with the optional Multi-Photo Feeder, which fits on top of the scanner and allows you to load a number of photographs, and leave it to scan and save.