#Quick desktop scanning archive#
We don’t recommend using a portable document scanner to archive photos-we suggest using our upgrade pick for that-but we also used each model to scan a glossy color print just to see if the results were good enough for email and social media. We compared the 300 dpi scans with both the original prints and scans we made using the flatbed scanner on an average inkjet all-in-one. To check image quality, we scanned several other documents, including a star chart designed for lens sharpness testing, a document from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) meant to mimic a typical office report, and a couple of photos printed on regular copy paper. To evaluate OCR capability, we scanned both an IRS 1099 tax form (PDF) and a simple text document with the same sentence repeated in descending font size from 12 points to 4, exporting the results as both searchable PDFs and (where possible) editable text files. It’s certainly a nice feature to have, but one we think most laptop owners can do without. Some include built-in batteries, so they can operate in a truly wireless fashion: no USB cable, no power brick, not even a laptop. Most scanners today can run on either USB or a typical AC adapter, so if you want to travel light, all you need is a USB cable. Diverse power options: The fewer accessories you need to carry with your scanner, the more portable it is.Speed: The best portable document scanners operate at around the same speed-about 25 pages per minute-but all else being equal, we prefer a faster one.Any model around 3 pounds or less is okay in our books. Although machines with ADFs tend to be on the heftier side, we think a feeder is important enough to make the extra pounds worth it. Portable document scanners actually span a broad range of sizes and especially weights-from under 1 pound to well over 3 pounds. Portability: It’s right there in the name.With an automatic document feeder (ADF), you can slide the whole stack into a slot and let the machine work its magic.
#Quick desktop scanning software#
The hardware interface needs to be easy to navigate, and the desktop and mobile software should be powerful enough to get the job done but not so complex that it gets in your way when you’re working under pressure. Usability: If you hate using your scanner, you’re not going to use it.Stationary desktop scanners are faster, but they take up more space on a desk, and you can’t easily toss them in a drawer until the next time you need them. Easy to stow away: You probably won’t scan every day, which is why it’s great that these machines are designed to fold down into an even more compact profile for storage and travel.It’s a lot harder to accidentally discard digital copies, especially when you’ve backed them up to a cloud storage account. Scans are harder to misplace than paper: Even if you’re diligent about sorting and filing your receipts and tax forms, there’s always the chance you’ll inadvertently toss something out during a move or spring cleaning.That’s a lot better than spending an afternoon digging through dusty filing cabinets.
Makes documents easier to find: Since portable document scanners use optical character recognition (OCR) technology to turn printed text into searchable text, you can do word searches to find exactly the document you need in seconds.Creating digital copies means you can stay in compliance without drowning in a sea of paper. Reduces clutter: This may be the digital age, but a frustrating variety of documents still come exclusively on paper, and many of them need to be kept for years according to state and federal laws.
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