The Best Scanner

Today, the world seems to get by with far less paper, thanks to technology. Still, there are many instances where a piece of paper is the only option. When you need to turn a document or photo into an electronic file, scanners are the way to go. Even if you find you rely on it less than ever, you’ll at least occasionally need one, whether it’s at work or at home.

Digitizing paper documents isn’t the only reason to have a scanner on hand. If you have printed pictures, you can scan and save them to preserve them indefinitely. You may even be able to touch up that decades-old photo of your grandmother and make up for some of the fading that happened while it was “safely preserved” in a photo album. At the very least, you’ll be able to scan and save them to a cloud-based storage service, where they can be accessible to you and your loved ones indefinitely.

Shopping for a scanner can be overwhelming, though. Most of the scanners on the market today are not only efficient and affordable, but they provide high-quality scans. Some are better than others in those areas, though, so it can help to know what your own needs are likely to be before you buy. If you foresee regularly needing to digitize stacks of documents, a scanner with a good feeder should be high on your list. If you have boxes of photos you need to save and send to the cloud, high-quality photo scanning is a must.

Unless you’ll have a tech guru on hand to set up and troubleshoot issues with your scanner, you’ll also want one that’s easy to install and use. Some scanners do a better job of getting you online and connecting your devices. Others require extra work to get online and add additional computers. Make sure you know what you’re getting into when you pull your new scanner out of the box.

• Your first experience with your new scanner will be during setup. The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 provides easy installation processes, walking you through the steps to connect it to your Wi-Fi network.
• Once you’re online, you’ll also need to be able to connect to the devices in your home or office. The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, covering the most popular devices. The Brother Compact Mobile Document Scanner, on the other hand, is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux and TWAIN/WIA for PC/ICA for Mac/SANE drivers.
• You don’t have to save your documents to a device in order to scan, though. Some scanners will let you send items directly to the cloud.
• One issue with the Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 is that you can only connect wirelessly to one device at a time.
• If you need to edit your documents after scanning them, you’ll probably want good software for that purpose. Some scanners come with basic editing software that lets you make basic tweaks.
• If photos are your priority, stick with a model that has a scanning resolution of 4800 by 4800. You’ll get high-quality images from that. However, if you need to scan film or access 3D-scanning capabilities, you’ll need to choose from scanners that offer that functionality.
• The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 is designed for scanning paper documents, such as letters and memos. It’s not as good for tackling a wide range of document types with ease.
• Chances are you don’t have hours to waste on setting up and troubleshooting your scanner. The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 is easy to use with a minimal learning curve.
• Nothing comes in as handy as a document feeder when you’re dealing with a stack of paperwork. The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 and Raven Touchscreen Duplex Feeder Scanner have document feeders that can hold up to 50 sheets of paper at a time.
• You’ve probably experienced scanners that take a while to process each document. If you’re scanning multiple pages through a feeder, this can be especially important. The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 is rated at 25 pages per minute, which is faster than many competitors. You may also want to look for a scanner that features ReadyScan LED technology that cuts out that warm-up time that slows down your work.
• The good news is, scanners are more affordable than ever. You can get a great scanner at a reasonable price.
• It’s also important to consider size when you’re choosing a scanner. The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500 Document Scanner measures 11.50 by 6 by 6.30 inches, which means you’ll need to clear away significant space for it. The Doxie Go SE Portable Battery Scanner is only 12.25 by 2.25 by 1.75 inches, while other scanners measure 11.90 by 2.20 by 1.40 inches.