Hardware

You don't need many pc to one scanner. Just one computer that is accesible to everybody is enough. Even you connect many pc, each person should still go to that scanner, and then go back to his computer, then back again to scanner. But if you set one where there is no password, anybody who needs to scan, then just do it there. That computer should to be connected to network so images scanned can be saved to any computer.

hey peabody... people ask these questions for help, not to be told to do something they don't want...

Depends on what kind of scanner you have.

Check VistaScan 5.3 - It's only downloadable from UMAX website for 10 dollars.... It will let you setup a scan server on whatever pc the scanner is and put remote scans allowed on any computers on your network.... Good stuff.

heh

i'm assuming the scanner is USB?

the simplest things are usually the easiest. install the drivers for the scanner on two or three computers.

if your friend is out of the office, just unplug the scanner and physically move it to another computer. plug it in. presto.

scanners usually don't weigh a whole lot.

another option might be a USB hub, but that's probably more trouble than it's worth.

As stated, the "best" way to share a scanner is to setup a dedicated scanning station that is accessible to all users.

Sharing a scanner physically between multiple PCs is VERY problematic.

If the scanner connects with a USB port, AND the users are close enough to each other, you could install a USB switch.
This is NOT the same as a USB hub.

With the switch, the users could switch the scanner between PCs.

You will need to arrange the office so that the longest path between any user and the scanner is less than
"In practice, the USB specification limits the length of a cable between full speed devices to 5 meters (a little under 16 feet 5 inches). For a low speed device the limit is 3 meters (9 feet 10 inches)."
(from the FAQ section at www.usb.org)

You can increase the length to a maximum of 30 meters with several powered USB hubs installed in the line.

For a SCSI based scanner, you are pretty much limited to a single PC.
Or, physically moving the scanner.

Parallel port scanners present a challenge.
Typically, you need to use the short parallel cable that comes with the scanner.
You may be able to use a HIGH quality manual switch with high quality IEEE printer cables of 6 feet or less.

Chas

hey,
RemoteScan will let you share ANY TWAIN compatible scanner which is practically any scanner made.
Check out http://www.remote-scan.com.. It's cheap and easy to use.

http://tinyurl.com/6us6z

Check them out. Just what you need