NAPS2

If your default scanning utility is too complicated, you can look at NAPS2 for a good alternative. Its controls are simple and straightforward, but the application still provides a few useful features. This includes the possibility of setting up scanning profiles, so you can prepare the application for novice users, who don't know what kind of settings they have to make.

NAPS2 (which is short for Not Another PDF Scanner) is distributed as a freeware application, for all popular Windows versions. It can be installed in under a minute, without sacrificing a significant amount of resources or installing prerequisite tools.

The application has a clean and efficient user interface. Besides a large blank space, where your scanned contents will appear, you can find a toolbar with all the options you will need. If your scanner is connected and properly set up, you can hit the Scan button on the toolbar, choose a profile, click a second Scam button and the application will start scanning immediately.

Scanning profiles can be defined on a compact settings panel and it doesn't involve anything more than making a series of selections, through drop menus or radio buttons. Scanned contents can be saved in PDF format or as an image file. The appropriate options for these tasks can be found on the same toolbar. Another useful feature is the possibility of sending a scanned item via email, in PDF format.