Buying a dedicated scanner for home usage is not very feasible these days, considering the great deals currently available on MFDs (Multi-Function Devices, Scanners+Printers+Copiers). I agree that the quality you will get from a dedicated scanner is usually a lot better than what an MFD can usually give you, but then again, the home user doesn't really care about that difference in scanner performance.
The new HP Scanjet G4050 is definitely not aimed for a home user, it is (going by it looks and add-ons) better suited for a designer's or a pro-photographer's office/labs.
G4050 is massive at 4.3x11.9x20 inches and occupies quite a bit of desk space. It's got a fat and heavy lid (thankfully with a great handle), that opens up to reveal a clean flatbed glass surface. The top of the scanner has 4 buttons for quick scanning, copying (scanning+printing), scanning negatives and scanning to a PDF file. All these seem like perfectly useful options to have for quick access. The G4050 also comes with templates for negative and slide scanning.
Although I wouldn't put this scanner anywhere close to a home user, HP insists on giving drivers that tries hard to simplify the process of scanning for a newbie, but for someone who knows what he wants, it can get quite annoying for an advanced user. Since the scanner doesn't use any TWAIN drivers, you can't use a program like Adobe Photoshop to directly import the scanned image.
I'm looking for a Scanner which is useful for my printing business with
