Scanner for small business

[sfw520]

Does anyone have a recommendation on a scanner where older, more delicate, documents can be fed. I am trying to find something that documents of multiple sizes can be run through pretty fast...rather than doing them one by one on a flatbed. Thanks.

[The Old Sarge]

I'm no expert, but take a look at the line of scanners from HP (http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF02a/15179-64195-215155.html)

We use the Scanjet 7650 and are pleased with it. It does not feed widely different sized docs from a single stack very well, but if sorted into similar-sized stacks, it does quite well.

[InfoSourcing]

Document scanners come in diff shape and size, if you are considering to scan several documents through document feeder and manage it automatically, check this link they showcase several document scanners and solutions ...

http://www.accellus.com/docuSolutions/index.htm

[sfw520]

I went to the site, clicked on the scanners, but they didn't have any information about them. If anyone knows who does document imaging cheap let me know. I am looking at around 20,000 documents different sizes that just need to be scanned, 150 dpi, color...no indexing necessary.

[Greenstead]

20,000 documents = pages ?

If its a one off exercise (or infrequent) its not worthwhile to aquire the resources to scan and expend the effort to do the work internally. Scanning to good consistent quality is much harder than anyone ever realises, especially mixed format documents, and takes much time and effort to get right.

More sensible is to use a bureau who have the ability to perform the work in a few days with consistent good quality. (Good quality means each page image is correctly oriented, and text, if legible on the paper, is legible in the image). A bureau will have the process to manage mixed format and deliver CDs. Job done. Negotiate an all in page rate - in the uk its about £0.25 per A4/A3 page and about £1.50 per large size (>A3) page, with OCR - thats B&W - colur will be more. Don't scan to colour if not needed. Choose your format and output and file naming (pdf format is best choice, each document in a single file, highlight the text to use for the filename).
Resolution will be the same cost up to 300dpi. 200 dpi is minimum for legibility. 300dpi is necessary for OCR. Specify OCR with text under image - you will wish you had later.

[sfw520]

Yeah, that kind of cost isn't too feasible for me. I have looked into that, so far gotten a couple of quotes, one was a minimum of $3100, another $5500. If I was going to spend that kind of money, I would buy my own scanner that feeds documents and do it myself...I have time. I have been scanning individually on flatbeds, at 150 dpi, which is a good resolution, and doesn't take up near the memory that 300 dpi does. If OCR is what I think it is, it won't be able to pick up the text because these are handwritten documents.

[sfw520]

Actually looking at the Fujitsu Scansnap s500 in an article on this site. looks promising.

[JPnyc]

Greenie, is that you? (from pracnet?)

[Greenstead]

I guess it depends what your objective is.
If its all for yourself you might accept a limited quality and errors. Which is what 150dpi and diy scanning gets. If its for someone else then 150dpi is not good.
I am expert with scanning and do millions of sheets for clients via bureau, but I also scan for myself at home with a cheap HP 5550 sheet feeder scanner. Disc storage is cheap and should not be considered a factor. Scanning at 400dpi captures even fine detail. Scanning at 300 dpi is optimum. Anything less irretrievably loses detail - but if its just your personal bills and notes its ok - the measure is can you read the information that was on the paper.
It all depends what you need to get as the end result.
I am just trying to say don't underestimate the effort needed to get the result.
Good luck.

(And yes, its me)

[JPnyc]

**waves at Greenie**

[JPnyc]

jrenda, your post was removed for advertising, which is not permitted on the forums. Thank you for your cooperation

[heytimbo]

Hi Guys! I am an auditor and have to travel alot and am tired of hauling files around. I bought an HP 4215 multi function. This is a scanner-printer-fax. I have started scanning all of my source material into my comuter. The unit is very cheap and you should get it from $75-$99 dollars. Now the bad. The software included with the scanner is useless. It only recognized an odd size of paper. I was do disappointed that I was about to send it back, then I learned an interesting fact. I owned several other programs that coud control the scanner better than the HP software could. I own Omnipage Pro 15 and Adobe Acrobat Pro version 7. What I do is scann the images into Omnipage Pro. The scanner is sheet fed but with a straight paper path. This means it is not hard on delicate originals. I also scan in at 200 DPI. Then I save the file without performing an OCR operation. I do this if my goal is to archive paperwork only. I do this for several reasons. First is that the scanned images are in one single file of modest size. Next, the native Omnipage Pro file format (OPD) is very flexible. If needed I can easily make and Adobe Acrobat file, or I can OCR the file. I have been doing this for some time and have never had a need to increase the resolution.
By the way, I have been buying OCR software for many years; I have been buying Omnipage Pro since the first releases, as well as other programs. With out a doubt they have all been bad. Version 15 is the first release that has been actually useful. If your goal is to OCR large volumes of papers be aware that it is a very laborous and time consuming process.

The HP 4214 will handle 8.5x11 and smaller. I can scan BW, color, anything. I can even scann business cards. It is a great unit. It is being replaced by the HP 4315. I do not know if the software has improved.
Goo Luck