Showing posts with label document scanner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label document scanner. Show all posts

2/11/2012

Fujitsu ScanSnap S510 Sheet-fed Scanner Review

Fujitsu ScanSnap S510 Sheet-fed Scanner
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I have horrible problems with technology.I buy stuff, and after 4 hours of trying to get it to do what I thought it should do, it doesn't.HP does this to me all the time.

That is why I was floored when I got the S510 working in under 20 minutes exactly as I wanted it to.

You can take a bunch of pieces of paper, scan in both sides, capture it to PDF, OCR it, make it search-able, save it to disk... all by pressing one button.

I am using the ScanSnap filing system software that comes with it.It is essentially a glorified file explorer, except that it will do text in PDF searches for you based on the directory (Or Cabinet as they call it).

I set mine to extreme compression, and full resolution, and then the auto OCR.The software warns you that it will slow down scanning, and it does.It maxes out my 2-3 year old Dell D600 with .5G of RAM laptop, but it gets the job done.I can still use the computer so it doesn't block like I have read elsewhere (maybe for the S500).

This is an upgrade to the S500.Mine was black, not sure what's up with the white ones (maybe mac?).

It comes with Adobe Acrobat 8.This allows you to delete pages, rotate them, etc.

The OCR is amazing.Out of the box, it gets a little confused with i1IlL but so do I, bump it up to the max resolution, and the OCR is flawless.

I probably won't bother with the try & buy Rack2 Filer.Google Desktop isn't essential for searching.

In the hundreds of papers that I scanned over the weekend, I may have had 3 jams which are REALLY easy to clear, and the software is pretty smart about it.

If I had a newer / heftier computer, things would go A LOT faster (not the fault of the scanner or the software though, I watched my CPU spike and slow during scanning & OCR)

This literally was one of the only pieces of gear I have taken out of the box, and had 100% functional within the hour.

My .005% gripe; Be able to tell the scanner "Yeah, don't scan the backs of these pages" rather than navigate all through the menus.But disk is cheap, and I can always delete it with Acrobat later.

I'll recommend it to my friends & customers.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fujitsu ScanSnap S510 Sheet-fed Scanner

Product Description:
The Fujitsu ScanSnap S510 scanner has all the advanced yet easy-to-use one-touch features that made its predecessor the perfect scanning companion for home and office professionals. Now, with the addition of Adobe Acrobat 8.0 Standard (included with the scanner) and a new Vista supported version of the ABBYY FineReader 3.0, the ScanSnap S510 provides users compatibility with the latest software enhancements. One-button scanning to searchable PDF processes are supported, and users can even scan directly to Microsoft applications (such as Word and Excel). There's also a new multifunction quick menu feature for protecting and sharing documents with ease. In addition to the ability to scan business cards, the S510 can scan color pages in duplex at 18 pages per minute. Compatible with Windows 2000 Pro and later operating systems (including Vista), the scanner features a speedy USB 2.0 interface. For added convenience, its small footprint requires less space than a letter size piece of paper. Measuring 11.2 x 6.2 x 6.2 inches and weighing only 5.9 pounds, the scanner is backed by a 1-year limited warranty.
What's in the Box
FI-S510 scanner, AC adapter, AC cable, USB cable, set up CD-ROM (driver, manual), CD-ROM (Adobe Acrobat 8 Standard), CD-ROM (ABBY FineReader for ScanSnap 3.0), ScanSnap carrier sheet, and getting started guide.

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12/13/2011

Canon DR-2080C Color Document Scanner Review

Canon DR-2080C Color Document Scanner
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This unit is small and compact, yet has some very nice features. I especially like the duplexing feature allowing it to scan BOTH sides in the same pass, no flipping a stack of documents over. It works from within Adobe, and Microsoft Office Imaging.
It does have a drawback, however, the drivers are not Windows XP, and it can be a bit disconcerting installing them. I finished the installation with no adverse affects (that I noticed) to my 2 laptops, and a stand alone machine.
If you travel and need a high speed scanner, I highly recommend this unit.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon DR-2080C Color Document Scanner

Product Description:
A compact scanner from Canon, the DR-2080 provides high quality color scans and fits onto nearly any convenient surface. A 24-bit color depth provides brilliant colors, while a 600 x 600 dpi maximum resolution ensures that even the fine print is clear and legible.
The DR-2080C connects to a host computer via either a USB 2.0 or SCSI-II port, and supports Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, XP, and NT operating systems. Able to handle originals up to 8.5 by 14 inches, the DR-2080C still has a very small 11.7-by-3.89-inch footprint, freeing up valuable desktop space for other uses, while a weight of just 5.5 makes transportation a snap.
The included Canon CapturePerfect software provides a quick and easy editing tool for your scans, and sports a scan-to-email feature that lets you send originals directly from the scanner. Optical character recognition allows you to easily create searchable text files out of your scans, while a pre-scan feature lets users adjust scan settings on one page, then apply those settings to an entire batch scan.
Scanning speeds in simplex mode are as fast as 20 ppm, while duplex mode supports speeds of up to 40 ppm. The automatic document feeder lets you scan up to 50 pages with the touch of a button and supports originals of up to 0.2 mm in thickness. The DR-2080C also comes backed with a one year limited warranty.
What's in the Box
Scanner with document feeding system, AC power, cable, software CD-ROM, setup instructions, warranty

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11/15/2011

iVina BulletScan S300 Duplex Color Sheetfed Scanner with Detachable Mobile Scanner, 15ppm/30ipm. (S3001130) Review

iVina BulletScan S300 Duplex Color Sheetfed Scanner with Detachable Mobile Scanner, 15ppm/30ipm.
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is really a great product.I used to use a multifunction printer/scanner/fax and scanning was always a major chore, now with the Bulletscan S300 it is really fast and easy. It comes with nice software from Presto to manage your documents and also a business card scanning program.

In this video I tried to show some of the features I found most interesting including the scan selection:

1.B&W PDF Scan
2.Color Scan into Presto Page Manager
3.Scan directly into Google Docs!
4.Scan to Email Client
5.Business Card Scan
6.Scan to Print

At the end of the video I show how you can go portable with the scanner and take it with you leaving the document feeder behind.I have used the scanner for more than a week and am really impressed. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who needs to scan multiple documents.

Click Here to see more reviews about: iVina BulletScan S300 Duplex Color Sheetfed Scanner with Detachable Mobile Scanner, 15ppm/30ipm. (S3001130)

Product Description:
The iVina BulletScan S300 Duplex Color Sheet-Fed Scanner with Detachable Mobile Scanner is two scanners in one, providing a scanning solution for the office and the road. Whether you need to scan business cards, receipts, ID cards, photos, or legal-sized documents, the BulletScan S300 has you covered--wherever you may be.
BulletScan S300
At a Glance:

    Two-in-one desktop and mobile scanning solution.
    20-page automatic document feeder (ADF) when docked.
    ABBYY FineReader OCR technology has automatic language detection.
    Mobile scanner is powered by USB connection.
    2-year warranty.
Two Scanners in One
Whether you're a business traveler or an office worker, you'll love how the BulletScan S300 provides a single solution for all your scanning needs. Using a USB 2.0 connection, the BulletScan S300 scans up to 30 images per minute in color at 200 dpi when docked in its 20-page automatic document feeder.


The scanner undocks to provide a compact, mobile scanning solution while on the road. View larger.
When it's time to hit the road, simply undock the S300 BulletScan, and you'll have a USB-powered, easy-to-carry mobile scanner that can read an 8-1/2- by 11-inch document in less than five seconds. You'll be able to easily scan business cards, receipts, ID cards, photos, and other documents you acquire while traveling.
Multiple Scanning Options
The BulletScan S300 uses a Contact Image Sensor (CIS), scanning at a crisp 600-dpi optical resolution with 48-bit color, 16-bit gray scale, or black-and-white. It also allows for scanning output with 24-bit color, 8-bit gray scale, halftone, dynamic black-and-white, or fixed-threshold black-and-white. With so many options to choose from, the BulletScan S300 ensures you'll always get the scans you want.
Easy-to-Use Software
BulletScan Manager Software makes it easy for you to control your scanning processes, file formats, and scan-to destinations. The BulletScan S300 includes six scan-to destinations with one-click configuration for scan-to-email, scan-to-print, scan-to-PDF, searchable PDF, and others.
Additionally, BulletScan Manager offers both easy and advanced scan mode settings. In easy mode, default features include auto straighten, auto crop, auto rotate, and edge cleanup. Advanced mode allows for fine tuning of all settings.
Optimum Accuracy with Auto-Language Detection
The BulletScan S300 is powered by ABBYY FineReader Technology, the same technology used for ABBYY FineReader Desktop OCR, a PC Magazine four-star product. With high optical character recognition accuracy, the BulletScan is able to reduce the size of resulting PDF files without any loss of visual quality. Additionally, the smart software retains text-under-image, text-over-image, text-and-picture, or image-only PDFs.
The FineReader technology has automatic language detection, so you get no-hassle scanning, OCR, and conversion. It automatically detects documents in English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish.
System Requirements
The BulletScan S300 requires a computer with a Pentium 4 or equivalent processor, Windows 7/XP (SP 2)/Vista operating system, 512 MB of RAM (1 GB for Vista), 350 MB of available hard drive space, a CD/DVD-ROM drive, and a USB port.
The BulletScan S300 is rated for a daily duty cycle of 2,500 pages and is backed by a two-year warranty.
What's in the Box
Mobile scanner, docking station, USB cable, power supply, quick install guide, and installation CD.



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10/17/2011

Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 Color Mobile Scanner Review

Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 Color Mobile Scanner
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
My reasoning: (Vista Ultimate laptop)

1) It intelligently waits until the computer is idle, to auto-perform OCR chores. You have the option to do so as you scan, but this slows down scanning. There's also a menu click which yields a list of scans awaiting OCR-- really nice touch!

2) Unlike proprietary organizers, the "cabinets" created within the organizer software are actual directories on your hard disk. Likewise, folders created within the organizer's cabinets are subdirectories on your disk. So, you get the best of all worlds-- use the organizer knowing you're not locked in, as it's just a slick interface for what is actually existing on your drive. (i.e., Create a cabinet = create a directory)

3) Thermal receipts, even trying-to-fade ones, come thru crisp and clear, miraculously, when scanning.

4) I have Adobe Acrobat Professional 8, which is a necessary evil in my business. I can now avoid that bloated monster altogether when it comes to receipts and anything else I choose to scan using this system. That alone is worth the price of entry!

5) The duplex scanning is wondrous-- paper goes thru only once, with both sides captured simultaneously -- speedily. This still blows my mind (I have a duplex Canon MP830 multifunction-- for all practical purposes, its scanner has been blown away by this device.)

6) Let's face it-- sometimes, paper jams. This is the FIRST machine encountered-- since the late 80's when I started computing--which makes it so easy to fix things. You just push the little square silver arrow atop the scanner, open, get the paper, and close it. Incredibly easy and no-fuss! And yes, the wrinkled paper then flows thru fine (I gently kept a finger on that one item as it scanned thru, just to be safe.) BTW, I had scanned upwards of 300 items before a jam occurred.

7) Lots of options, re speed, resolution, etc. All easy to get to, all quick to implement. These folks actually used this thing during the creation process, as it seems they didn't miss a trick in making this a genuinely consumer friendly device!

8) The consumables are comparatively cheap. The pad assembly (Part # PA03541-0002) needs replacement every 10,000 sheets or a year-- google the actual part # to see the $8 retailers); the pick roller (Part # PA03541-0001) lasts about 100,000 sheets-- about $12. I noticed a huge price variation among retailers while googling, so I placed my order today; they're not in stock at most places, but I have plenty of time so who cares. This is bound to be a profoundly popular scanner per word-of-mouth, and consumable prices may increase accordingly. BTW, right-click the ScanSnap Manager tray icon for "check consumable supplies" to get a tally on current sheet usage, which you can reset during the replacement process.

9) Small footprint-- lives in a bookcase shelf atop my desk.

10) One of the rare occasions where I've had absolutely no post-purchase regrets with an electronic item!

Long and short of it is this: I've finally lived long enough to see one hardware manufacturer get everything right. There's a pdf manual, but I read it only to investigate consumables (thought it would be a "gotcha!" but was pleasantly suprised at the reasonable cost). I assume you're reading these reviews carefully (as I did), trying to decide between the ScanSnap and a lower priced alternative. For once, I decided not to play cheapskate, and boy oh boy, am I glad!! (The price here has already escalated a bit, so do it now, my friend!)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 Color Mobile Scanner

Product Description:
SCANSNAP S300 SCANNER 16IPM 10PAGE FDR USB 2.0

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8/01/2011

Epson GT 2500 Plus Document Imaging Color Scanner (B11B181061) Review

Epson GT 2500 Plus Document Imaging Color Scanner
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Exceeded my expectations.I operate a rather complex home office environment with both Vista and XP computers, wired and wireless.The scanner integrated in fairly smoothly and works accross this heterogenious mix of compute resources equally well.Document feeding is snappy but things get slowed a bit due to network transit times (100MBPS Eithernet).A great way to share a high preformance (in the context of home office) Scanner.I've used many HP machines for years, this is a far better solution and a solid design from Epson.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Epson GT 2500 Plus Document Imaging Color Scanner (B11B181061)

Product Description:
Epson GT 2500 Plus Document Imaging Color Scanner - B11B181061

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7/31/2011

Fujitsu fi-6130 Duplex Scanner (PA03540-B055) Review

Fujitsu fi-6130 Duplex Scanner
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Having used scanners from Canon, Xerox, Lanier, Visioneer and Epson, I have a good base from which to compare this scanner.It is excellent!The feed mechanism on this scanner is superior to all prior scanners I have used, including other scanners in this price range.This unit has multiple rollers located in the base and cover that spin at different speeds to pull only one sheet at a time.In other scanners, folded paper - like documents received in an envelop - will double/multi feed.I have not had a single double feed with this unit.I am using it with File Center Pro software to convert more than 1,600 legal files to paperless .pdf format.I was so impressed with this unit that I now have 4 of them in the office, each going at least 8 hours per day with virtually no jams or double feeds.It's worth the money for an office setting where you don't have time for jams and double feeds.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fujitsu fi-6130 Duplex Scanner (PA03540-B055)

Product Description:
Scan 18 double-sided pages per minute Advanced features for the ultimate ease of use! Auto paper size detection Auto de-skew Auto blank page removal Instantly create searchable PDF files Scan directly to Microsoft Office Applications Quickly organize business card information Increase productivity with enhanced functionality Simple installation and operation in a compact design Advance Exchange service program maximizes uptime Scanner Type: ADF (Automatic Document Feeder), Duplex color scanning Output: Color/B&W/Automatic color and Bi-tonal detection Image Sensor: 2x Color CCD (charged coupled device) Optical Resolution: 600 dpi Scanning Speed (A4): Normal mode: Color 150dpi, B&W 300dpi - Duplex 18 pages per minute / 36 images per minute Better mode: Color 200dpi, B&W 400dpi - Duplex 12 pages per minute / 24 images per minute Best mode: Color 300dpi, B&W 600dpi - Duplex 6 pages per minute / 12 images per minute Excellent mode: Color 600dpi, B&W 1,200dpi - Duplex 0.6 pages per minute / 1.2 images per minute Scanning Range: A4, A5, A6, B5, B6, Business card, Letter, Legal and Custom sizes (can be set for Upto 5 different paper types) / Automatically recognizes paper type by paper length Use of Carrier sheet permits the scanning of A3, B4, double letter and photographs as well as those listed above Paper Weight (Thickness): 14 ~ 34 lbs / 52 ~ 127 g/m2 Hopper Capacity: 50 Sheets (20lbs) Interface: USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 Compatible) Operating System: Windows 2000 Pro (SP4)/ XP (SP2)/ VISTA (32-bit) Power Requirement: 100 ~ 240 VAC, 50 ~ 60 Hz Power Consumption: Operating- 28W or less; Standby- 6W or less; Sleep- 1W Dimensions (WxDxH): 11.2 x 6.2 x 6.2 inch / 284 x 157 x 158 mm Weight: 5.9 lbs

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6/25/2011

Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500 Instant PDF Sheet-Fed Scanner for PC Review

Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500 Instant PDF Sheet-Fed Scanner for PC
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
My old HP scanner (actually, it wasn't that old) died a few months ago and it was time for me to get a new one. I accidently came across the predecessor to the ScanScap S1500 (the S510) last week while I was having my taxes done and was amazed at the speed and compactness of it. My tax person also gave it glowing reviews. As I wasn't aware that Fujitsu manufactured scanners, I thought I'd do a little research which led me to reviews of the S510 here on Amazon. Rather amazingly, I was very surprised to find that the S510 had so many extraordinarily high reviews (something that I don't believe I come across too often, especially with items such as scanners).One of those reviews mentioned that a new model (this one - the S1500) had just been released by Fujitsu. After some more research (it wasn't yet listed on Amazon), I found that this scanner was available and that it had many new features. As it turns out, I was the "first kid on my block" to acquire one and I'm glad I did! This machine is incredible!

The speed is absolutely blinding - an incredible 20 pages per minute but, because it scans both sides of a page at the same time, double sided documents scan at 40 PAGES PER MINUTE! Wow! As with previous models, this scanner is very small and appears to be well built: it's quite heavy for its small size and fits very nicely on my small computer desk. The scanning quality is equally spectacular - it scans up to 600 dpi in color, grayscale, and black and white and mine came with a good assortment of software (Adobe Acrobat 9, Rack2-Filer, and ABBYY FineReader). It scans documents beautifully! While I've been too busy scanning the billions of pieces of paper that have cluttered my life for years (this scanner will actually do that quickly and efficiently - something I've always just dreamed would be possible), I haven't yet tried to scan photos; I suspect that this scanner will do a good job but that another type of scanner would probably do better for archival purposes).

The only problems I've had were with Acrobat (I already have Acrobat 9 Pro on my computer) - I found that importing previously scanned documents into Rack2-filer were always listed in reverse order (ugh!) and Fujitsu tech support replicated the problem. They suggested, however, that I completely uninstall (not just repair) Acrobat and reinstall it. That did the job. BTW, I received great tech support from Fujitsu.

One interesting thing is that this scanner does not come with TWAIN drivers. Because of this, it is not possible to use it to the same extent as other scanners. Just the same, my reason for getting this scanner was to create .pdf files and this scanner does it like no other.

Overall, I'm thrilled with the Fujitsu S1500 - there is no question that it is the best one I've had (and I've had many) and is well worth the money (the S1500 is also the most expensive scanner I've ever purchased). I would recommend this to anyone who needs to scan documents.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500 Instant PDF Sheet-Fed Scanner for PC

Product Description:
One button scanning to searchable PDF, Scan everything from business cards to A3 sized documents

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6/24/2011

Doxie, the amazing scanner for documents Review

Doxie, the amazing scanner for documents
Average Reviews:

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I got a Doxie because it's so portable.

It powers entirely though the USB, so if you have a laptop you could basically use it anywhere.I used it once in a hotel once, and once in my university library, both for sending documentation that needed to be rushed.But mostly I scan receipts and goofy stuff like forms from my insurance company.

It's been reliable, but the one time it was acting up, the support people were quick and efficient.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Doxie, the amazing scanner for documents

Product Description:
You've got paper. Get the smart scanner that makes it easy to archive and share.
Scanning documents doesn't need to be complicated: introducing Doxie, the modern mobile scanner that makes scanning all of your paper easy -- at home, at work, and on the go. Doxie works with the apps you already use, so it's easy to scan and share, automatically. Doxie is small, ultra-portable, USB powered, and for just $129, highly affordable for your home or business.

Designed to be easy to set up and use.
Using Doxie is easy -- just plug it in, launch the Doxie app, put in your document or photo, and press the button. Doxie makes stunning, high quality scans you won't find in scanners three times the price. Built-in tools for saving and sharing make getting organized a snap. Save as PDF, JPEG, or PNG... scan to your desktop, send to the cloud, even send to iPhone or iPad.

Works with Google Docs, Evernote, and more.
Doxie's built-in Cloud menu sends scans directly to popular web apps like Evernote and Google Docs -- or just click save for a PDF or JPEG to your desktop.

Cross-platform for both PC and Mac.
Doxie's modern, cross-platform desktop app offers a clean, uncluttered way to scan without configuration hassles. Simple and sophisticated -- that's Doxie, the amazing scanner for documents.

Doxie named Inc. Magazine's Best Portable Scanner!
Inc. Magazine named Doxie, the critically acclaimed mobile document scanner from the makers of IntelliScanner, as Best Portable Scanner in the 2010 Business Travel 50! Doxie is ideal for scanning at home, and on the go.

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6/23/2011

Epson WorkForce Pro GT-S50 Document Imaging Scanner Review

Epson WorkForce Pro GT-S50 Document Imaging Scanner
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
For the last year and a half, I've been using a Fujitsu S510 SnapScan page scanner, which is a natural competitor to the Epson GT-S50.So, when I was offered the chance to review the Epson, it seemed like a natural fit - somebody looking to purchase one is likely to also look at the other. (Go to Fujitsu ScanSnap S510 Sheet-fed Scanner to read that review. It was fairly far down, on page 4, when I last looked.)

Let's look at the two scanners...

First of all, both scanners are top fed and scan both sides of a page in a single pass.They are infinitely faster than the scanners built into the "all-in one" printers and suitable for high volume scanning...the Epson is rated for 1200 pages per day.

The Epson GT-S50 comes with both TWAIN and ISIS drivers, giving it with a clear advantage in interfacing with software from other companies. Almost every program that can read from a scanner uses one or the other.The ScanSnap, on the other hand, uses its own proprietary driver, which only ties into their ScanSnap Organizer program...a program that displays small images of the scanned pages. Both scanners come with OCR programs, for converting scanned images to editable text, but, with the TWAIN driver, only the Epson directly interfaces with different programs - OmniPage Pro, Textbridge, or whatever else you prefer.

The Epson driver offers more choices in output resolution.Whereas the SnapScan has four levels - Normal (150dpi), Better (200dpi), Best (300dpi) and Excellent (600dpi) - the Epson has eight levels ranging from 75 dpi up through 600 dpi.For some strange reason, neither company's software allows you to name the output file before scanning.After scanning, you'll need to manually rename each file with something recognizable. (The default date/time stamp doesn't give you any useful information if you need to find a file a month later).

The Epson ships with software for both Macintosh and Windows systems.I've tested both versions in a mixed Windows/Mac network and they both work smoothly.The Fujitsu ScanSnap, on the other hand, comes in dedicated Mac (S510m)and Windows (S510) models.I've only used the Windows version.

Both scanners are similar in their physical shape, although the Epson looks quite a bit larger...it's about 1" longer, 2" taller and an inch or two deeper than the SnapScan.It holds 75 pages in the input slot, versus 50 in the SnapScan.The Epson has a two-line display on the front.The SnapScan only has "scan" and "power" buttons.Both units are solidly built and give the feeling that they'll last for a long time...I've used my SnapScan for 30K+ pages and it's still going strong.Both units have user replaceable pads and rollers to keep them running smoothly.

How do they operate in real life?To begin my testing, I fed the same 42 page document through each scanner.The document was complex as they come, with both text and color graphics on most pages.It was also laid out to be used in a vertical flip chart (letter-size, but bound on the short edge)...from the scanner's perspective, the back-side of each page was upside down.My theory was that a scanner that could make sense out of it could handle almost anything...

The Epson scanned my test document faster than the ScanSnap, but software processing of the scanned image took longer.The ScanSnap took 3min 10sec from the start of the scan to PDF file creation, without using text recognition; the Epson took 4min 6sec.The OCR software runs in the background on the SnapScan, but runs in the foreground on the Epson.Because of this, the SnapScan can be used to scan the next document while the text is being recognized, while the Epson remains busy until it's completely finished.My test document tied up the Epson for 12min 20sec from the time that I started the scan until the OCR finished and saved the file.My computer's no slouch, but a faster computer would obviously shorten that time.If you use an outside text recognition package, you can always run it at a later time and eliminate this time waster.

The ScanSnap features automatic rotation of upside down and landscape pages.(Everything is fed in vertically on both scanners.) The Epson doesn't...you get what you feed in.In my test document, the ScanSnap flipped the upside pages right-side up.The Epson left them upside down.Even with the upside down pages, the OCR worked fine.

The Epson can handle mixed page sizes in one scan.You can drop all your receipts in and have them scanned at once.The ScanSnap needs all the pages to be the same size in each scan...a longer page is assumed to be a misfeed and aborts the scan.

The Epson has a straight through paper path.It can handle credit card and ID Card scanning.The ScanSnap doesn't and can't.This makes the Epson perfect for a medical office where health insurance cards are always being copied.

The Epson can scan documents up to 36" long.The ScanSnap stops at legal size (14").This is useful when you are scanning cash register receipts, but as a practical matter, I seldom run into anything else that's longer than 14"...at least not without also getting too wide for the scanner.

Using the default settings, the ScanSnap had a sharper output at 600dpi.Clicking the "unsharpen" box in the Epson software produced a scan that almost exactly matched the ScanSnap's output...why unsharpen actually sharpens is a mystery. In solid-color blocks, the Epson was clearly superior, producing a solid-color output.The ScanSnap had a lot of off-color noise that was clearly visible when enlarged.

The Epson also has the ability to drop out colors, which is useful when scanning something printed on colored paper.It would also be useful if you need to remove a red "confidential" or "top secret" stamp from a borrowed document.:)

Besides the drivers and other utility software, the Epson includes PaperPort 11 SE, which is a visual file organizer.It operates similarly to the ScanSnap Organizer.I didn't test it out...the last time I installed PaperPort 11 Pro (NOT the SE version), it messed up my computer so badly that I ended up reinstalling Windows to get rid of it.(If you have a minute to kill, go read the reviews on Amazon for PaperPort 11 Pro!)I assume that Epson's version is more reliable, but having been burned more than once, I'm not about to try any version of PaperPort ever again!Both scanners use the ABBYY FineReader software.It works nicely.The ScanSnap also includes a full version of Adobe Acrobat Standard...a $200 program if you were to go out and buy it separately.

So....which scanner would I buy?The short answer is that it depends on your application. If you're using both Macs and Windows machines, the choice is clear...the Epson works with both.Both scanners are built for years of use and each has unique features (e.g. card scanning) that point it in one direction or the other.The Fujitsu ScanSnap is designed to be a more "push the button and it goes" type of device.The Epson GT-S50 is more flexible.I like them both.

Update - August 3, 2009 - I've now had both machines running side-by-side for about five months.I now find myself almost always using the Epson instead of the ScanSnap. The reason is simple - the Epson NEVER double feeds. This may be a function of the newness of the Epson, but my Fujitsu isn't really that old, nor, at 19K pages has it seen much service.The double feeding has become a real problem...I have to carefully watch everything going through the SnapScan to make sure that it's not skipping a page.Not good.

Update #2 - November 14, 2009 - I upgraded one of my office computers to Windows 7 and the GT-S50 is working fine.There no drivers yet available for the ScanSnap S510...Fujitsu is estimating the end of December.Even their newer model, the S1500 won't have drivers for another couple of weeks.
I also need to add that I've have a less-than-satisfactory with Epson service.My GT-S50 keeps truckin' along, but another Epson scanner, a V500 Office started misfeeding after two weeks.Epson wouldn't ship me a replacement unit...their scanner service policy apparently requires that the scanner be delivered, at customer's expense, to a repair depot.That's not exactly the most customer-centric way of doing things...

Update #3 - January 27, 2010 - Fujitsu now has Windows 7 drivers available on their website.My s510 is now up and running.

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Product Description:
The Epson WorkForce Pro GT-S50 Document Imaging scanner...The WorkForce Pro GT-S50 document image scanner offers an amazing value with its remarkable reliability, powerful performance and easy-to-use features. With a daily duty cycle of up to 1200 sheets, plus a 75-page feeder, it?s ready to tackle any task in busy office environments. Scan everything from business cards to rigid ID cards and documents up to 8.5x36 inches. The GT-S50 easily scans both sides of one sheet in just one pass -- in color, grayscale or bi-tonal. It?s never been easier to electronically capture critical documents. Whether you need a faster way to access shared documents, a more affordable way to comply with government mandates or a better way to maintain the integrity of important documents, the GT-S50 is the perfect place to start. Designed by Epson, a leader in digital imaging, the GT-S50 offers robust paper handling capabilities and quality you can depend on -- all from a compact, desktop scanner.

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