I have written before about the handheld VuPoint Solutions Magic Wand scanner. It is a great tool for use in libraries and archives for scanning documents and even pictures up to 8.5-inches wide (A4 size) and any length. I wouldn't use it on any fragile and delicate documents, however, as the rollers built into the scanner do exert pressure on the item being scanned.
I paid $99.95 for my handheld Magic Wand scanner a bit more than a year ago and I have used it a lot since then. I scan not only things of genealogical interest, but also most of the bills I receive in the mail, owners manuals (after checking the manufacturer's web site to see if the manual is already available as a PDF file), and much more. It is portable and easily slips into a backpack, briefcase, or even the smallest suitcase.
Now I see that the same units are on sale on eBay, listed as "manufacturer refurbished," for half that price: $49.99. That price even includes free shipping. Customers located in New York will pay 8.675% tax but the item will be tax-free in all other states. At this price, it only ships to U.S. addresses.
The "manufacturer refurbished" units include a 14-day return policy but any warranty beyond that costs extra. In addition to the scanner, you will also need to obtain a microSD memory card for storage. The memory cards cost from $10 up to $40 or more, depending upon the storage capacity.
The handheld VuPoint Solutions Magic Wand scanner scans either 600-by-600 pixels or 300-by-300 pixels. It scans in color and will scan photographs as well as papers and it also does a great job on bound books. For best results, scan bound books from left to right or from right to left. That is, from the bound edge going outward to the unbound edge.
I find the Magic Wand scanner works best for documents and black-and-white photos. It is OK for "quick scans" of color photographs when no other method is available. However, for a valuable color photo where I want perfect color reproduction, I prefer to not use this low-cost handheld scanner. Instead, I try to use a full-featured desktop flatbed scanner that is designed for the job or a portable Flip-Pal scanner, if I have one available at the moment.
I don't know how long the sale will last although I suspect it won't be available for long. You can learn more at http://goo.gl/BZfOJ.
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