In terms of cost, how do CCD/CMOS compare to PSP?

• A. PSP has higher initial and repair costs
• B. CCD/CMOS have higher initial and repair costs; PSP lower initial cost, scanning uses time & space
• C. Both have the same initial and repair costs
• D. PSP has lower ongoing maintenance costs but higher upfront cost

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how the cost structure differs between direct digital sensing and scanning-based workflows. CCD/CMOS sensors are intricate, high-precision components that require expensive fabrication, calibration, and often specialized repair. That translates to a higher upfront purchase price and higher potential repair costs over the device’s life. In contrast, a PSP approach relies on scanning, which typically uses simpler, cheaper hardware. The trade-off is that you’ll spend more time on processing and scanning each item and need more storage space to hold the scanned data. So the upfront and repair costs are generally higher for CCD/CMOS, while the PSP option is cheaper to buy initially but requires more time and space in the workflow.