Entry Level Negative Scanners

[Geuler32@xxxxxxx]

Would anyone care to suggest or comment on the features of the lower priced
negative scanners for a beginner in scanning?  I am talking about the price
range of the HP Photosmart and I understand there is a Minolta model close in
price.  

I want to be able to scan 24 x 66 mm negatives as well as standard 24 x 36 mm
negatives and slides.  I want good enough resolution and quality to make nice
8 x 10 prints as well as 8 x whatever panoramics.  Possibly upgrading later to
a wider printer for 11 x whatever panos.

I have a fifty year accumulation of 24 x 36 mm images that I want to work on.
Many of them were multi-shot, tape the prints together "panoramics".

It is clear that most of the traffic on this mail list is either professional
or advanced amateur photographers with much more liberal budgets than mine and
that the subjects are usually on a higher plane than this but I hope someone
will share their experience and opinions on this subject.

Thanks in advance,  Gary