But you still have to initiate the scan from within the ScanSnap software. You also have the option to scan a document, recognize the text, and send it to, say, Microsoft Word in one step. But the ScanSnap S500 includes a version of Abbyy FineReader-FineReader for ScanSnap 2.0-as an alternative to optical character recognition. The new higher speed rating is 18 pages per minute (ppm), or 36 images per minute (ipm) when scanning in duplex mode (meaning both sides of each page).įujitsu still focuses on scanning to PDF, with JPG as a second choice, and it relies on Adobe Acrobat 7.0 to handle the scanned files.
Basically, you install the software, plug in the power cord and USB cable, and let Microsoft Windows recognize the scanner. Measuring 6.2 by 11.2 by 9.2 inches (HWD) including the output tray, the S500 offers a 50-page automatic document feeder (ADF) and optical resolution of 600 pixels per inch. Now, with the third generation ScanSnap S500 ($495 direct), Fujitsu still leaves me wishing for drivers, but it's also boosted speed by about 20 percent, which is always a good thing. When I reviewed the second-generation model last year, I pointed to the improved software that made the lack of drivers more palatable, but I still missed having drivers. But I missed having a Twain and WIA driver so that I could start a scan from within any program with a simple scan command.
I also said nice things about it as a document scanner. When I reviewed the first-generation Fujitsu ScanSnap two years ago, I said it was the best business-card scanner I'd ever seen. Best Hosted Endpoint Protection and Security Software.