I have been thinking about getting a scanner for use with my PowerBook G4, but I want something that will work with an Intel Mac in the future. Unlike printers, scanners have no dominant embedded hardware-independent languages such as PCL or Postscript; the common TWAIN interface is often implemented as one or more OS-specific drivers. Since you cannot count on any manufacturer to support a product indefinitely through major changes in hardware or software, every peripheral runs the risk of becoming a paperweight next month unless you have an open source driver. No matter how attractive a Fujitsu ScanSnap might be, without source support it will soon be an orphan. The Epson Perfection 4490 Office has a great price and Epson actually writes their own SANE driver, but their epkowa source package includes a proprietary closed-source library.
Perhaps I worry too much about this. Except for the Apple PPC-Intel transition, it is very likely that cheap construction will kill a scanner before its software support dies. Still, why take the risk? While shopping for a scanner, I decided to to always check for SANE support (useful in OS X through TWAIN-SANE) and VueScan support (without manufacturer's libraries). Given that requirement, I haven't found anything equivalent to the Fujitsu ScanSnap (duplex color with automatic document feeder) below $500. On further thought, I decided it would be nice to have a flatbed option anyway. I'm now leaning towards the HP Scanjet 8200 ($370 after rebate). From the reviews on the web, the hardware itself seems decent, but the software is problematic. Since I am willing to use alternate software (and would prefer some sort of batch solution anyway), this doesn't deter me.