Fujitsu's ScanSnap! is a very useful tool for anyone who needs to routinely store documents digitally into PDF format. However, it won't appeal to general home and business users who need to edit scanned text or capture high-quality images due to its limited functionality and average scan quality.

Pros: Fast; easy to use; includes full version of Acrobat 5.0
Cons: Saves in PDF or JPEG formats only; no TWAIN or ISIS support


The ScanSnap! is Fujitsu's smallest sheet-fed scanner to date. The scanner is designed for small offices and comes with a full version of Adobe's Acrobat 5.0 software (£259 ex. VAT) for saving documents in PDF format. Paper documents can be scanned by either pressing the Duplex (double page) or Simplex (single page) button on the front of the unit, or by using the supplied driver software. Copying can be cancelled during the scanning process by clicking Cancel in the driver software.

The single-pass scanner's software is one of the most intuitive we've used, primarily because there are so few options. Of the settings available, you can select from one of two applications to view scanned documents, specify the folder and file names of scanned images, specify scan quality (Normal, Best, Better), set the colour mode (Auto, Colour, Black and White), paper size (including Auto), and compression rate of the file (Low to High). All scanned documents are saved as a PDF or JPEG at a rate of up to 15 pages per minute. No OCR support is provided, so you can't edit scanned text.

Scanned documents can be viewed using one of the two supplied applications - Acrobat or CardMinder. The latter is Fujitu's utility for scanning, editing, and exporting business cards to popular PIMs, such as Outlook, Act! and GoldMine. Recognised business cards, including double-sided cards, can also be exported as CSV files. CardMinder even informs you as to whether the contact already exists in your contact database, giving you the option to either add, replace or cancel the new entry.

Details on business cards are generally scanned accurately, but on many occasions the software fails to recognise details - especially with cards that use unusual fonts - which then have to be inputted manually. It's also disappointing that the scanner doesn't invoke CardMinder automatically when you scan a business card - scanned cards are automatically saved as image files unless you scan them from within CardMinder.

What makes using the scanner so intuitive is that it automatically recognises whether documents are black and white or colour, and deletes unwanted blank pages straight out-of-the-box. The unit and its software are so easy to use and quick that you'll be scanning and managing documents within just a few minutes. Its relatively small size means you can also take it with you on business trips to use with your laptop, if necessary.

The ScanSnap! is suited to offices that require a small footprint scanning solution capable of converting paper-based documents into PDFs. It's not suitable for companies that require a high-resolution scanner for capturing colour photographs or complicated illustrations, or those looking for OCR capabilities. Its 50-page input tray may also be restrictive for companies who scan a lot of documents.

Specifications:
Size: 308x154x130mm
Weight: 2.5kg
Interface: USB 1.1
Image sensor: CCD
Light source: White cold cathode lamp
Scan resolution: 300x300dpi
Scan speed: 15ppm/30ipm
Paper sizes: A4, B5, A5, B6, A6, business card, letter, legal, custom
Paper weights: 52-104gsm
Paper capacity: 50 sheets
Software: Acrobat 5.0, PFU CardMinder 1.1, ScanSnap! Monitor

Links:
Fujitsu ScanSnap! Web site

BIOS, Oct 01, 03 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Scanner