OK, I gave in. After writing my earlier Say Good-bye to Paper article about AP Technology Writer Peter Svensson's experiences with a Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500 scanner, I decided it was time for me to do the same. This morning I ordered a Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500M. The "M" stands for "Macintosh" although a Windows version is also available. The two scanners reportedly are identical, only with different software bundled with each.
The new scanner should arrive in a week or so. I'll probably use it for a few days, then write here about my experiences. I am looking forward to scanning BOTH sides of a piece of paper in three seconds. The same scanner also has a sheet feeder. I should be able to insert a stack of papers, press a button, and then walk away while the scanner does all the work. I have thousands of pages to scan so speed and convenience are important to me.
I have been converting my genealogy books and magazines to digital images for more than a year now, using my aging flatbed scanner, but progress has been painfully slow. I hope to speed up that process with the new scanner.
The Fujitsu ScanSnap scanners are rather expensive. Amazon.com sells the Windows version for $409.99 and the Macintosh version for $418.99. That's more than I wanted to pay, but I figure those prices are a lot cheaper than building a new addition onto the house to store all my books and magazines! I have been eyeing these scanners for some time but finally decided to purchase one today.
I also expect to "downsize" within a few years, moving to smaller quarters for my retirement years. There is no way that I can take all these genealogy books and magazines with me into smaller quarters. In my mind, I either scan these books and magazines now or else I throw them away or give them away. In any case, the only method of "taking them with me" is if they are digitized, consuming minimal storage space. A side benefit is that digital versions are easier to search than are the printed versions presently stored in boxes in the basement.
Fujitsu ScanSnap scanners have an excellent reputation. Will my new Fujitsu ScanSnap s1500m work as advertised? Stay tuned, I'll let you know in a couple of weeks.
