Separate scanning device?

Have any DU'ers purchased a separate scanner? I bought a Canon Image Class multifunction printer about 2-1/2 years ago, using this printer with a Vista OS Laptop. Worked fine until I replaced the laptop a year ago with the dreaded Windows 8 OS. I downloaded the 64-bit driver to use with the new laptop, but have never been able to successfully scan again. Appears to be an incompatibility issue, and there doesn't seem to be any new drivers available on the Canon website to address the problem.

So I'm considering purchasing a small portable scanner that I can plug into the computer via a USB drive, and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this type of accessory.