Portable scanners have become an increasingly popular tool, however they are not all created equal which is why it is important to understand what to know before buying a portable scanner. There are a number of types to choose from and some will definitely fit your needs and your budget more than others. When trying to decide which is right for you, there are a few key areas that you should focus your research and your decision-making on. Here is a quick look at what you need to know before buying a mobile scanner.
Understanding the Basic Physical Dimensions
The first thing that you need to look at when deciding which portable scanner will best fit your needs is the physical dimensions. Since you plan on carrying around your scanner, it needs to fit in your carrying case otherwise you would end up needing a separate case just for it, which is counter-productive. In the worst case, you would end up deciding that it isn't worth the hassle and end up leaving it in your closet gathering dust. In terms of dimensions, you should pay close attention to both the size and the weight. It is surprising how much these dimensions can vary from one model to the next. You should also find out what the power source is. There are a number of different options and some of them simply won't be convenient for you, depending on when and where you plan on using it.
Does It Meet Your Basic Needs
Before looking at the bells and whistles, take a few moments to define your basic needs. If you will be using your scanner for bulk documents, then you will likely want one that is designed to handle it. This will largely be determined by the speed of the scanner and the available memory as well. You should also make sure that it can transfer the information in the format that you desire. Along with standard documents, you may need JPEGs or PDFs. If you plan on scanning a number of documents that were hand-written, then you will want a quality image analyzer so that it accurately converts it into text.
Additional Features To Consider
Along with the basics, there are some other features that you should know before buying a portable scanner. Once the basics are out of the way, there are some specific features which you may consider essential, depending on how you plan on using your mobile scanner. For example, some scanners will only operate in black and white, which may be a problem if you use a lot of charts or images. It is also increasingly common to need a scanner to effectively handle 3-D images, which is not always a standard feature. If you are working in volume, having a loader will allow you to load multiple documents, similar to a printer. This feature can save a lot of time in many cases, although it will also cause your portable scanner to take up more space.
When it comes to what to know before buying a portable scanner, the one thing that is most often overlooked is hardware/software requirements and compatibility. This is one of the easiest things to check on, so make sure to initially limit your potential candidates based upon this factor first.
