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Which scanner is good for OCR

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Name: tosh9i
Date: July 24, 2004 at 15:56:50 Pacific
OS: Windows XP Pro SP1
CPU/Ram: 2600/784
Comment:

I want to purchase a scanner that has both a flatbed and Auto Document Feeder. Basically, I want to use it to scan documents into my computer. And I have no intention of scanning and pictures or photos.

I keep on hearing the samething about how new scanners do a superb job scanning photos, then they say something like "oh yeah, it can also scan documents."

So what I'm looking for is a scanner that was MAINLY designed to scan documents not photos.

Note: I heard that the Scanjet 5550c was made for scanning documents, but all the customers say it sucks, mainly the sofware. 2 out of 5 stars.

Tosh Hida



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Response Number 1
Name: StuartS
Date: July 24, 2004 at 16:52:44 Pacific
Reply:

Its not the scanner you should be looking at but the software. Most scanners will do OCR and most come with some kind of OCR software, and a lot of it is crap.

Thee 5550C is a good scanner. I have a friend who has one but they don't use OCR. They scan documents into PDF format which it does very well. It doesn't do to bad of job of scanning documents into MS Word, but it is a bit awkward, especially when it comes to double sided documents.

If it is OCR you are after you can always purchase some commercial OCR software of which there are many to chose from. The only difference between OCR and PDF in this context is that the OCR document is editable. If all you want to do is scan documents for archiving, then PDF is more than adequate.

Stuart


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Response Number 2
Name: ham30
Date: July 24, 2004 at 18:27:08 Pacific
Reply:

The software you get bundled with hardware is almost always mediocre. You will need to pay for a decent OCR program. Even the most expensive OCR programs leave something to be desired.


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Response Number 3
Name: rayok
Date: July 25, 2004 at 11:32:28 Pacific
Reply:

I stopped scanning about a 18 months ago - since then I use my digital camera to photograph documents - its portable and quicker, documents are easily readable and I can even OCR them on the odd occasion that its required

Techy n Welsh


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Response Number 4
Name: XpUser
Date: July 25, 2004 at 11:36:23 Pacific
Reply:

They scan documents into PDF format which it does very well.

From there on, you can then use ABBYY PDF Transformer.

ABBYY PDF Transformer will convert any PDF file into Microsoft Word, Excel, HTML, or TXT format.

i_XpUser


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Response Number 5
Name: SkipCox
Date: July 25, 2004 at 20:12:25 Pacific
Reply:

Interesting site XpUser...thanks.

Skip


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Response Number 6
Name: tosh9i
Date: July 26, 2004 at 15:10:41 Pacific
Reply:

I just wanted to thank all of you for your input.

Feel free to continue posting more opinions.

Tosh Hida


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