If you can afford a scanner, and it's not going to put you in the hole, I would suggest getting one now. If you don't "REALLY" need it or if you can barely afford it, I would suggest waiting. They are only going to get better and become cheaper. However that is what happens with all Technology. You could say at any moment you want to wait for a better piece of technology at a better price. You can always say this, and it is always true. Technology will improve and become more affordable. There has to be a point when you decide to get one though