For the past several weeks, I have been reviewing the Epson WorkForce Pro GT-S80 sheet feed scanner.
While we all strive for the paperless office, the reality of it is that the current inventory of documents has to be digitized, or at least scanned, into the respective e-document repositories of their owners.
Into this scenario comes the high-speed scanner.
Epson WorkForce GT-S80
Announced in November of 2008, the WorkForce Pro GT-S80, hereinafter called the scanner, is a sheet-fed, single-pass duplex scanner designed for small and medium business environments, with a bias towards smaller environments.
It is spec’d at 80 pages per minute in mono mode, and has a 75-sheet sheet feeder.
While we do not use dedicated scanners of any sort at Logikworx or Logiklabs, I have clients and prospects that need them, especially in the healthcare industry, more evident now that everyone is moving towards implementing electronic medical records and/or electronic practice management suites.
Accordingly, I was able to obtain a copy for review at Mediklabs.
Unboxing
The GT-S80 came in a smallish box.
While signing for it, I asked the FedEx courier if there wasn’t Part II to the package. No, said he, and went on his merry way.
I opened the package to see a small device, the size of a large toaster, and a power supply.
A USB connector, user manuals, and a software CD completed the package.
I connected the parts, inserted the disc in the test system, installed the software, got an ‘install success’ dialog, and got to testing.
The Review
The included software suite for the WorkForce Pro GT-S80 is pretty extensive. You get the primary Epson Scan software, Abbyy FineReader Sprint Plus OCR software, ScanSoft’s PaperPort, and NewSoft’s Presto! BizCard software.
I changed the default output to PDF files for this review.
I inserted ten (10) double-sided sheets into the scanner’s sheet feeder, clicked on double-sided scan, and proceeded to doubt what transpired next.
The scanner fed the papers so fast through the machine that I took the output and waited for the software to prompt me for the second side.
After none was forthcoming, I decided to look at the saved output to see what exactly was going on.
To say that I am impressed is a gross understatement!
The scanner performs high-speed, duplex, color scanning.
Repeat, the WorkForce GT-S80 performs high-speed, duplex, color scanning.
It is truly a high-speed scanner.
I then ran it through several paces, using different materials up to large photographs and at very high resolutions.
The GT-S80 breezed through it all. In fact, the holdup was with the post-scan processing on the default installed (computer) system for the high resolution scans. (A change of host systems to a high-powered desktop system solved the post processing, cutting the time involved to mere seconds.)
In the subsequent weeks, users of the scanner came away impressed with the performance, and numerous output formats this device was capable of.
Conclusions 
The Epson Workforce Pro GT-S80 is one serious Business Ready device.
In fact, I believe that it probably wins any price/performance test hands down with any other scanner, especially in its price class.
How much do we like it? Since sending the review unit back to Epson, staffers here at Mediklabs have gone into scanner withdrawals, and I am looking to purchase a copy for use here.
Accordingly, we have decided to give it the SmallBizWindows Business Ready Award of Excellence.