With the push of a button, a good color scanner can copy any type of document, report, or photograph you need transferred to the Internet or computer file. With the many different brands and types of scanners on the market, however, can you be certain which one you need for work or home use?

It may seem like a daunting task, but determining the type of scanner best suited for your work is not really difficult to do. A quick survey of the two major types of scanners can help you decide what computer hardware needs to be added to your home or work office before you spend too much money on something you don't need.

Here is a brief look at scanners:

The Sheet-Fed Scanner This scanner is reminiscent of the mimeograph of old, where a paper document is threaded into a rolling mechanism. As the paper moves through the scanner the information is collected and presented in its original format on your screen. Depending upon the accompanying software, the material may be presented in a word processing document or image viewer. The sheet-fed scanner is ideal for the person who doesn't have a lot of desk space to spare - these scanners are compact and easily portable. For people who have a need to scan book pages and magazines, however, this device will not work. Depending upon the brand, not all of these scanners may accept photographs.

Flatbed Scanners These scanners look remarkably like a copying machine with the similar glass surface and scanning mechanisms. Instead of producing a paper replica of the document, the material is transferred to the computer, into a word processing program or image editor. Flat bed scanners are perhaps the most versatile, as they can scan book pages, magazines, and photographs with ease. The only caveat to the flatbed scanner is size. These devices are large and bulky and do take up a lot of desk space. If you don't have much to spare, consider carefully the decision to buy one.

Usability, size and price are the main determining factors when buying a scanner. Consider your needs for scanner, and the space you can offer one, before you buy. A scanner can be a good investment for a business, just make sure it is the right one.