Image Access WideTEK CIS scanner Contex large format scanners

NO BULL: Scan Speed Part 2

Contex define large format scanner productivity in "drawings per hour"

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Why is Contex making this claim for productivity?

This section is based on our appreciation and interpretation of various issues in relation to Contex's claims. We stress that what we write here is entirely our own opinion and conjecture.

Given Contex's belief in the speed of its technology, it always wanted to create a debate about scan speed or productivity within the wide format scanning industry. Contex's new measure of productivity places it at the centre of the debate it wants.

Contex want you to view them as providing more helpful data than anyone else. While they have not yet provided any better or more easily understood scan speed data, they have provided the first ever measure of large format scanning "productivity". Despite our doubting the value of this advice, Contex hope that its willingness to be more helpful with technical data will confirm them as the good guys wearing white hats!

Their rivals say this is pure technical "specmanship"!

Contex strongly believe that their new CIS-based SD Series and their older CCD-based HD Series as well are superior to all other wide format scanners in their class. This is not yet an argument they have won. As a result, Contex are using this measure of productivity to emphasise the fast scan and transmission speed of their products.

Contex's new measurement of productivity is intended to show the impressive speed of the SD Series wide format scanner range, now the key to the future prosperity of the Danish company as a large format scanner manufacturer. In addition, Contex want to show us that the historic problem of transmitting data to the PC as quickly as a scanner can scan has been resolved with their xDTR technology. One way for Contex to show the accrued benefit from all of this is to stress improved, fast levels of productivity.

Contex want to leverage this opportunity to wrong-foot their competitors. They are hoping that their rivals will adopt this productivity measure as well, or better, not adopt it at all. Either way, Contex believe they win. Contex believe that their rivals simply cannot match their numbers. Many disagree and have yet to show their hand. Most importantly, in this game of technical specmanship Contex have got there first with the mostest - for the time being at least. The downside in all of this is that buyers may end up being more confused about productivity than they ever were about speed.

In referring to their documents/hour measurement as "productivity", many feel that Contex risks not only confusing the market but misleading it too. It is putting too much emphasis on fast, low resolution scanning without checking for quality. As the leader in large format scanning, Contex knows as well as anyone that productivity in scanning is a combination of many things. Raw scan speed is just one contributing factor among many.

The bottom line in all of this is Contex's need to sell more of its scanners by appearing to be faster, more productive and superior to anything else. In providing this productivity data and creating this mischevious brouhaha, Contex are appearing to succeed.

Let's look at what large format scanning productivity really means.

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