Resolution: optical vs hardware

[space-time]

I am looking at the specs of a scanner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6838110017&ATT=38-110-017&CMP=AFC-C8Junction

There is an Optical and a Hardware resolution. What's the difference? The optics (lenses, prisms, CCD) is hardware, not software. What the heck do they mean by hardware resolution???


Resolutions, Optical 3200 x 3200dpi
Resolutions, Hardware 3200 x 9600 dpi

[mikebw]

Optical resolution is what you are thinking of being "hardware".

Just ignore what they call "hardware" because this is actually interpolated via some mathematical means, not the true resolution of the optics.

[space-time]

Well, they do admit that there an "Interpolated" resolution, which I believe is an oxymoron, but that's another story. Why would they "interpolate" 3x in one axis (from 3200 to 9600) and later on interpolate on BOTH axis 4x?

Resolutions, Interpolated 12,800 x 12,800 dpi