I think most of the cost is in hardware that is going to last more than a few weeks of everyday use. I'm writing software for a client now that is running on a PDA with built in scanner that's 8 years old. M. Adam Davis wrote: > I've had good experiences with the Metrologic Voyager series. Again, expensive. > > Programmable typically means you can change parameters such as > requiring certain code specifications or allowing all codes through. > Bar codes are very customizable, so a configurable barcode scanner is > handy. Also a lot of barcode scanners act as keyboards, so you can > configure them to send start and stop characters or sequences so > software can discern between the barcode scans and keyboard input. > > The reason they are expensive is because doing laser barcode scanning > at a distance with poor contract barcodes is non trivial, and they > have to do it in a manner that puts up with severe abuse at the hand > of cashiers and clerks. Also, because they can. > > I've taken a few apart (have the parts around here somewhere, let me > know if you'd like pics) and they're pretty interesting, and contain a > lot more than a micro and a laser scanning assembly. I don't think > they have bad engineers - I just suspect that to do barcode scanning > well you have to deal with a lot more than the ideal laboratory case. > > -Adam > > On Wed, Feb 11, 2009 at 3:32 PM, Vitaliy wrote: > >> Hi guys, >> >> I'm looking for an inexpensive USB 1D barcode scanner, preferably the type >> that you can put on a desk/workstation, with automatic scanning option. >> There are many contact-type scanners, but I need one that can be operated >> from a distance (1" - 6"). >> >> Any suggestions? >> >> Vitaliy >> >> -- >> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >> View/change your membership options at >> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >> >> -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist