I've finally made up my mind to actually do something about the amount of personal and business paper I deal with.
Here's my new ScanSnap scanner. It's just a little larger than about two books but it is definitely a powerful scanner for personal and small business use.
On the business side I've scanned about two filing drawers of client files onto my PC and than back it up to a thumb drive and an online storage site. Every piece of paper and email associated with a transaction is scanned and stored digitally. The only paper files I'll be keeping in 2009 are the ones that are active. Once closed, scan and store.
The speed of this machine is just incredible compared to other scanners I've used in the past. It scans at about thirty pages a minute, both sides at the same time. Files are automatically converted to PDF.
The scanner comes with the full version of Adobe Acrobat 8.0 Standard, as well as OCR software to convert directly to Word, Excel or PowerPoint.
Four different quality scanning modes. The one I've been using is the second best quality and it's more than I need.
I've scanned about four thousand pages so far and have had about three misfeeds. All the misfeeds were because I didn't remove the staples.
You can load the scanner with different size paper and so far...not a problem. When it scans it automatically recognizes color and black and white documents and doesn't slow down a bit.
One button scanning. Put the paper in the hopper, hit the green Scan button and watch the computer screen. Couldn't be any easier.
2009 is my year to go paperless.
The thumb drive contains two full file cabinet drawers of paper and is only about half full. More to go as I find the time, but I'm committed to making it work next year.
If you're looking for a downside to the ScanSnap it's the fact that it doesn't have a TWAIN driver. You can't use it with other scanning software or over a local area network. It has to be attached via a USB cable to a computer.
Other than that, so far its been bullet proof.
Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com
Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist
©2008 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved
Rich Iarossi is a full time licensed REALTOR®, working in Crofton, MD. My coverage areas are: Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Howard, Calvert, Queen Anne, and Baltimore City and County. I specialize in residential real estate, working with both buyers and sellers. Use the registration free search on my website at www.RichSellsHomes.com. If you’re not already working with a REALTOR®...I can help. Call me at 443-995-9595 (Cell) or 410-451-6255 (Office).
SKYPE ME: RichSellsHomes
This sounds like a real powerhouse piece of equipment that every office needs. Especially home offices that are short on space. How much does this beauty cost? Oh I suppose I could google it and find out. Thanks so much for the recommendation about the Scan Snap.
thanks for sharing - those of us that need to spend some of out profits before the end of year should think about this as a great tool.
HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY FOR THAT BEAUTY! I think that will be on my wishlist for my 2009 write-offs (business expenses)...
Great post, thanks, you saved me a lot of research time. Hopefully I can go buy this and save some trees
Happy new year
Anne
Great Idea, Richard...and just in time to take advantage of all the year end sales.
Happy Holidays!
Shawn
I have been wanting to buy a sheet feed scanner and this looks like a very good one. I will have to check it out. I also want to be paperless and will be once a get a good scanner. I already have all my broker documents accessible on the Internet. Thank you for the information.
Richard thanks for the review of the scanner. I think your on target for going paperless.
Interesting post and like one comment above, You saved me some time and some resaerch as I move forward in this area
Spectacular little gadget. I handn't heard of it but will definitely be looking into it. Get more organized while saving a few trees, I like it. KM
Richard, sounds like a real work horse for its size. Going paperless is a great idea for storing year end files. Thanks for the review.
Gail, I should have mentioned the price. Just under $400 on Amazon.com.
Richard, Another deduction can't hurt.
Mike, $400.
Anne, Check it out. It gets very good ratings.
Shawn, There has to be a lot of year end sales this year.
Mark, I'm drowning in paper records for retention purposes. This is going to help a lot.
Frank, When its done than it should be pretty easy to keep up.
Charlie, Lots of data available on the internet about this scanner.
Kristin, I need to get more organized.
Mike, For the price, it is a workhorse.
I love the ScanSnap. We bought four of them for the office in 2008 and the agents love them to.
Note that often Fujitsu has a $50.00 rebate so make sure and check their website to check for the form.
One other note: They have a special model "M" for the Macintosh.
The models for PC and Mac are not compatible because they come with a full version of Acrobat. (Worth about $350 by itself.)
Featured in the Group "Square Pegs!"
Jon, I'm very impressed with this machine.
Richard, Thanks! And in the midst of all your PC problems.
Looks like someone I know will be stopping by Best Buy on the way home today!
Pat, It's going to have to be an online purchase. I've never seen it in any store around here.
Richard, Interesting...this year I too, plan to scan all files upon closing to a pdf and store electronically. My paper files are just getting too large and bulky to continue keeping them...
I saw it for the first time last year at my Tax guys office. Thanks for the reminder. I think it might be my first equipment purchase in 2009.
Good for you to organize! It is a great idea! I have recently bought a hopper type scanner and it is extremely useful!!
Happy New Year!!
Mary, I'm choking in paper. I had to do something.
Scott, And your accountant will let you deduct it as a business expense too.
Caren, I've had other scanners in the past but this one beats them all, hands down.
It sounds great. Keep us posted on how it holds up.
"Once closed, scan and store" has been my motto for about five years now when I decided to go paperless. My office is 95% paperless at this point, and the other 5% probably will stay until certain laws change.
Along with online storage, one terabyte external hard drives are very fast and very affordable now. I back up my data to one of them once a week, and then store it in my off-site storage facility.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life -- make it a good start.
Excellent suggestion. I've been "paperless" for years - I put it in quotes because in this business, heck, in this world, you can only get but so paperless. Once scanned, it all goes right in the shredder, then into the recycle bin. I feel so green.
One caution though, although duplex scanners are wonderful gadgets, they don't do well with staples. A forgotten staple can leave a small scratch in the lense that translates to a streak down all pages scanned. I just don't want anyone to break their new toy before they get a chance to really enjoy it. :)
Thanks for the info - I researched this a year ago, but was unable to purchase - BUT I have been pinning away for a REAL document scanner - and reinvestigating my interest in the snap scan. I am ordereing it now - should have done it a year ago.