Best of 2004: Fujitsu ScanSoft

Price: $495 (Mfr. Price)
Type: Sheetfed scanner
Scan Speed: 15 ppm (normal speed)
Max. Scan Resolution: 600dpi
Special Features: One-button scan to PDF,
Manufacturer's Site - Fujitsu ScanSnap

If you use a lot of documents in your business, you know that there's got to be a better way to store them than to throw them in a bunch of boxes. The Fujitsu ScanSnap allows you to scan large numbers of documents quickly into PDF format, which makes an accurate, and searchable, copy of each. The price may put off some potential purchasers, but most of the reviewers said that, for many offices, it's worth it -- this makes storing documents as easy as it gets.

PC Magazine found that the ScanSnap actually worked faster than advertised, taking 1 minute 51 seconds to scan both sides of 30 pages, save them, and open the file. The reviewer laments the lack of a TWAIN or WIA driver, which may limit use from within a Windows application. On the other hand, he also compliments the scanner as being the most efficient business card scanner he's tested.

PC World starts its review by saying that, "It's hard to imagine cleaning up a messy desk by putting one more thing on it, but that could happen with Fujitsu's useful and innovative ScanSnap color scanner." In their tests, they were able to create PDFs of 20 pages in under two minutes, and were impressed by the unit's ability to skip blank pages (saving time and file space).

Desktop Pipeline reports that the ScanSnap is an easy-to-use and efficient tool for turning documents into PDFs. In fact, there is some complaint that "ScanSnap's dummying down can have its drawbacks," among them being a proprietary driver and a rather low default resolution. On the whole, though, the ScanSnap earns plaudits as fast, efficient, and cost-effective.