[backstory]

anyone familiar with this?

This device converts old 35mm slides and film negatives into digital images, allowing you to easily preserve your memories without having to rely on a conversion service, and allowing you to clear valuable storage space of cluttered slide carousels and dusty photo boxes. Slides and negatives are placed into a tray that aligns each properly; the touch of a button scans the image instantly. It has a 5MP CMOS sensor that provides 10 bits per color channel for data conversion, and uses fixed focus and automatic exposure control and color balance, resulting in clear digital images without loss of resolution. It can scan images up to 1,800 dpi and uses three white LEDs as a back light source. For photo transfers and power it has a USB cable that plugs into a PC running Windows XP and includes software that allows you to edit, crop, and resize your slides as well as convert your negatives into positives. Requires Windows XP. 6 1/2" H x 3 1/2" W x 3 1/2" D. (1 lb.)

if you understand all the technobabble, will it work?

[flyfish]

Not with that one, but with a considerably older slide converter (I think it was an HP), which we got second-hand. It did a good job, but it expired shortly after we got it (as, sadly, did the person who sold it to us). If you don't have or want to buy a scanner that offers something similar (and many now do, at quite reasonable cost), it certainly is an option if you have a lot of slides or negatives to convert. There is professional equipment that does this much better but that of course costs a bomb. If you don't have a lot to do, buying a service from a pro shop rather than investing in inventory may be the way to go.

[rancho_gordo]

I mentioned this before but my cheap and efficient HP Scan Jet 4850 scans docs, slides and negatives.

[johnnyd]

Most helpful. I just salvaged 30 years of family slides from all over the world. This unit will get the job done.

[backstory]

Most helpful. I just salvaged 30 years of family slides from all over the world. This unit will get the job done.

excellent. thank you. i have boxes and boxes of slides - our entire "coming to america" in in them boxes.

rancho, i just replaced my color printer with an HP laser. all it does is print my stories PDQ:-) all in living black and very cheap. am very happy with it.

[rancho_gordo]

Most helpful. I just salvaged 30 years of family slides from all over the world. This unit will get the job done.

excellent. thank you. i have boxes and boxes of slides - our entire "coming to america" in in them boxes.

rancho, i just replaced my color printer with an HP laser. all it does is print my stories PDQ:-) all in living black and very cheap. am very happy with it.

The HP is a stand alone scanner with the slide and negative attachment.
I replaced my color ink jet with a color laser but why are we discussing printers?

[backstory]

Most helpful. I just salvaged 30 years of family slides from all over the world. This unit will get the job done.

excellent. thank you. i have boxes and boxes of slides - our entire "coming to america" in in them boxes.

rancho, i just replaced my color printer with an HP laser. all it does is print my stories PDQ:-) all in living black and very cheap. am very happy with it.

The HP is a stand alone scanner with the slide and negative attachment.
I replaced my color ink jet with a color laser but why are we discussing printers?

oops, i misunderstood. i thought it was one of those printers that also scan.

[backstory]

here is a service that seems quite attractive as well for getting slide collection and old photos into a digital format. anyone used this or similar service?
http://www.scancafe.com/slidescanningfaq.php