The quality of a scanner's output, speed, driver and software matter when choosing a scanner, says this article. And so the PC World editors suggest accompanying specs for such key features as optical resolution, color depth and sensor technology in order to gain optimal performance. For example, when deciding on scanner resolution, the higher the dpi numbers, the sharper the image. Scan area is less important, says the article. Shopping tips, such as opting for a flatbed scanner over other varieties, are also included. No ratings are included here.