Since almost everything is done online these days, the latest demand is to have mobility in accomplishing tasks performed online. Businesses are not only becoming more global, but they are also becoming more mobile. If you are one of those people who have to take your work on the road, the latest technology is literally at your fingertips. The best portable photo scanner is a gadget that should be included in your business arsenal.
Since the inception of laptop computers, people want gadgets that are convenient and less bulky when it comes to travel. So technology manufacturers have come up with printers that are compact and equipped to do everything it is known to do and more.
When documents have to be uploaded and emailed or faxed to someone at a different location, quality and legibility is the key. So who offers the best product, with the most features at the best price? An online search will provide a clue.
Some of the familiar computer manufacturers are known to make scanners. Some of them include:
- Hewlett Packard
- Dell
- Compaq
- Canon
- Mac/Apple
Although these are top of the line desktop and laptop designers, there are makers of portable photo scanners that you may not have heard of. Their products are compact, unique, and made to scan cards, fingerprints, film, and photos with rich color and definition. Most of them use USB cables to transfer pictures, fingerprints and other documents on the spot.
The least expensive portable scanners are made exclusively for fingerprints, film and black and white photos. They can range from $40 to $100. Others in the higher price ranges are based on their unique hand held design or number of features. Options either are made with design features such as pass through, card reader and flatbed scanner.
Different versions of these designs have bits that determine the quality of the photo. Kodak, Fujitsu, and Canon are recognized for their expertise in producing the best quality photos. Therefore, it was an obvious choice to diversify their products to include top of the line options such as:
- Canon imageFORMULA DR-2580C Compact Color
- Kodak Scan Station 100
- Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 Instant PDF Sheet-Fed Mobile Scanner
Let’s talk about each one of them to give you a better idea on what these products offer.
Canon imageFORMULA DR-2580C Compact Color Scanner
The DR-2580C is a compact and small but powerful and versatile scanner. It supports a wide range of source materials, including plastic ID and insurance cards. Books and other fragile documents are easily scanned using the optional, user installable flatbed unit. Using the Folio mode function, scanning large documents up to 11” x 17” is a breeze.
Weighing only 4.2 lbs, and measuring 3.2″ x 12.0″ x 6.6″, the DR-2580C uses up only a small footprint on your desktop, and small enough to be taken on the road. It is not only one of the smallest on the market, but also one of the easiest scanners to use in its class. The one-touch scan buttons that you may customize to perform your most frequent tasks, make your work easier and convenient.
Size can be very deceiving, but the DR-2580C offers you the most advanced features in document scanning, such as the Contrast Adjustment, the Punch Hole Removal, and the new Rapid Recovery System. The DR-2580C scans at a fast rate of 25 pages or 50 images per minute (letter/200 dpi/portrait).
The DR-2580C comes packaged with Canon’s CapturePerfect, Presto! BizCard Reader SE, Nuance eCopy PDF Pro Office, OmniPage SE software, PaperPort Standard, Nocson EasyConnect (available via download from the Nocson website) and Kofax VRS, in addition to a full featured ISIS® /TWAIN driver.
Generally, customers are satisfied with its performance, and the only reported downside is that as quite an old model already at this time, there is not any word from Canon of any successor that would incorporate modern features such as networking, Bluetooth, wireless connectivity, or even just scan-to email. With a current retail value of $1095, you may find it at Amazon at much less, around $800.
Kodak Scan Station 100
The Kodak Scan Station 100 has networking capabilities which allows you to connect it into your local area network and all your workstations will be able to use the scanner. It likewise offers simultaneous two-sided scanning.
It also allows you to scan documents in black-and-white, grayscale and color, at speeds up to 50 images per minute. The On-screen preview gives you the chance to confirm the image capture and transfer. It also has USB drive connectivity for image storage.
One of the negatives that had been reported of this model is that the CPU and RAM are not adequate and not upgradable. With that said, the unit is slow to perform its wide range of tasks. Not quite portable with stats of 29.8 x 19.6 x 17.6 inches; 39.9 pounds.
Currently still selling on Amazon brand new for $1290 and used from around $440.
Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 Instant PDF Sheet-Fed Mobile Scanner
The Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 Document Scanner was designed to be the smallest Fujitsu scanner that could scan multi-pages and duplex scanning using only a customized single button. Its maximum supported document scan size is legal, with optical resolution of up to 600 x 600 dpi.
It may be USB or AC powered and has Manufacturer Warranty of up to 1 year. It measures only 15 x 5.8 x 7.5 inches ; and weighs 3.1 pounds, which is a good portable size.
Earning 4.5 stars out of 5 suggest that most customers who have reviewed the item had only praises mostly to say about it and the only downside reported was the poor software that came bundled with it. The ScanSnap S1300 is available new at Amazon for as low as $253 compared to its retail value of $295.
In a Nutshell
These are made with network options and maximum capacity. Many other portable options are made by manufacturers like Ambir, Plustek, and IrisScan. The USB capacity is 2.0 with 24 to 36 bits. These makers offer the more portable versions for everyday usage.
The best portable photo scanner depends on your personal and business needs. If you have a small operation like most small to medium sized businesses, a mid range price of around $300-$400 may be found online. To take the most economical approach, used products are available to those who know how to find a good deal.
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About James Wikkee